Discover all the great recipes you can make with Hidden Valley^® in our recipes section.

Yes! Hidden Valley^® Original Ranch^® dressing was developed in the late 1950s by real ranchers, Steve and Gayle Henson. The Hidden Valley Guest Ranch is located near Santa Barbara in California and was favored by visitors who wanted to enjoy the natural surroundings. To read more on how this Ranch dressing became so popular, click here.

All Hidden Valley^® products are labeled in accordance with the FDA food labeling requirements, including the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (Title II of Public Law 108-282) which requires foods to be labeled that contain the major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans. Refer to the ingredients statement on the back of each Hidden Valley^® product to find the details.

Most of our products do not contain gluten. Products and ingredients made from grains containing gluten—such as wheat, rye and barley—will be clearly listed in the ingredient statement on the package label.

Only products that have been verified to be gluten free will have a “Gluten Free” statement. However, not all products that are gluten free will have this statement while we are in the process of updating our labels. Please refer to the ingredient statement on package labels or contact us for clarification.

We are always striving to improve our products’ quality and nutritional value and ingredient sourcing may change over time. For that reason, we do not provide gluten free product lists as they could quickly become outdated. The most up-to-date product information is on the package the product is purchased in.

We have a program in place to support the use of the “Gluten Free” statement. Products listed as “Gluten Free” undergo scheduled testing. All suppliers provide assurance that there are no ingredients that contain or are derived from gluten-containing grains. Our products are manufactured in facilities with stringent allergen control programs to prevent cross contamination.

For Hidden Valley^® Dressing and Dips Mixes, the recommended shelf life is located on the back of the packet as indicated by “Best Before” date. For instance, “14JUL11PG1” means we recommended you use the product by July 14, 2011; PG1 is the manufacturing code. Once mixed, the product is good for approximately 3 to 4 weeks, depending on the freshness of the date of the milk or sour cream used.

For Hidden Valley^® Bottled Dressing, the recommended shelf life is located on the back of the neck label as indicated by “Best If Used By Date On Label.” For instance, “15May10 BHG2” means we recommend you use the product by May 15, 2010; BHG2 is the manufacturing code. After the recommended shelf life date, the product may taste increasingly vinegary, but—because vinegar is a natural preservative—will still be safe to eat.

Hidden Valley^® Dressing and Dips Mixes and Hidden Valley^® Bottled Dressing are available nationally. If you can't locate a particular flavor in your local supermarket, try talking to a store manager to see if it can be obtained for you or through this link.

Yes. You can use low-fat mayonnaise, but please keep in mind that altering the recipe with low-fat mayonnaise, low-fat sour cream or other ingredients will slightly change the consistency of the dressing. Another option is to try our specially-formulated reduced calorie and low fat bottled dressings. Look for them in a store near you.

Yes. You can use low-fat sour cream, but please keep in mind that altering the recipe with low-fat sour cream or other ingredients will slightly change the consistency of the dip.

Hidden Valley^® Organic Ranch is made with USDA certified organic and National Organic Program compliant ingredients. Hidden Valley^® Organic Ranch is certified by QAI (Quality Assurance International), a leading agency in the certification of Organic products since 1989.

What does this mean for you and your family? Now you can add the Ranch flavor you love to all foods and know that you are enjoying the natural goodness of creamy organic buttermilk combined with zesty, organic spices!

In a bowl, combine 1 cup milk and 1 cup mayonnaise with 3 tablespoons of Hidden Valley® mix.

Mix well. Cover and refrigerate. Chill 30 minutes to thicken. Stir before serving.

Stays fresh 3 to 4 weeks.

Expert Q&A with Registered Dietician Jodie Shield

With the release of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and promotion of related nutrition programs, such as the Healthier U.S. School Challenge, nutrition is top of mind for many parents. One key takeaway from these initiatives is that Americans are not eating enough vegetables – especially kids.

Vegetables provide a cornucopia of vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients important for growing children. In fact, depending on their age and gender, kids need to eat anywhere between 1 to 2 ½ cups or more of vegetables each day. A moderate amount of ranch dressing can actually help kids meet their daily veggie goal. Kids can tend to eat more vegetables when paired with a savory something to dip them in, like ranch dressing.

Jodie Shield is a Dietary and Nutrition Expert and frequent consultant for The HV Food Products Company.

Expert Q&A with Registered Dietician Jodie Shield

Of course! Hidden Valley® is dedicated to helping kids of all ages love their veggies. While it is important to pay attention to sodium levels, most experts – including myself – are more concerned about the vegetable intake first. As the 2010 Dietary Guidelines highlight, most Americans – especially children – fall short of meeting their daily vegetable quota. (For kids, that can range between 1 to 2 ½ cups or more each day.) In my opinion, the minimal amount of sodium kids may get from dipping vegetables in ranch dressing is offset by the maximum amount of nutrients they get from eating their veggies. Plus, as parents we have the option of helping our kids balance their sodium intake throughout the day during other meals.

Jodie Shield is a Dietary and Nutrition Expert and frequent consultant for The HV Food Products Company.

Expert Q&A with Registered Dietician Jodie Shield

Our bodies need a small amount of fat to provide energy, produce hormones, and absorb certain nutrients – in particular, fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.

However, as the 2010 Dietary Guidelines emphasize, eating too many high fat foods without balancing energy needs can lead to weight gain. If you are concerned about fat, look for reduced light or fat free options, like Hidden Valley® Fat Free Ranch dressing.

Jodie Shield is a Dietary and Nutrition Expert and frequent consultant for The HV Food Products Company.