Frequently Asked Questions

FISA Lab flavor systems are manufactured in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico at an FDA registered and FSSC 22000 certified facility. Every shipment enters the United States under USMCA at 0% import tariff.

FISA Lab ships technical samples within 15 business days of an approved flavor brief. Samples ship via FedEx International from Monterrey and are provided at no charge to qualified food manufacturers, including domestic shipping in the United States and Mexico.

Every FISA Lab formulation ships clean label by default with no artificial colors and no MSG in any production run. Clean label is the manufacturing baseline rather than a premium tier and applies to snack, meat, and prepared food systems alike.

FISA Lab operates an FDA registered manufacturing facility with FSSC 22000 food safety certification. Product qualifies for USMCA preferential origin, enabling 0% tariff entry to the United States. Documentation ships with every order for buyer receiving and audit files.

FISA Lab minimums are tiered by product family. Snack seasoning systems start at 551 lbs (250 kg) per SKU in 44 lb bags. Signature prepared meat SKUs start at 309 lbs per SKU in 44 lb bags. Full pallets of 2,200 lbs are available for production runs, not a required minimum. Development samples have no minimum quantity.

Snack seasoning systems start at 551 lbs (250 kg) per SKU, shipped in 44 lb bags. Full pallets of 2,200 lbs are available for higher-volume production runs but are not required. Development samples have no minimum quantity.

Signature prepared meat SKUs such as Pastor CDMX, Birria Jalisco, Cochinita Pibil, Adobo Carnes and Asado de Puerco start at 309 lbs per SKU, which is seven 44 lb bags. Full pallets of 2,200 lbs are available for production runs. Development samples have no minimum quantity.

FISA Lab develops custom flavor profiles from a submitted target sample, a competitor product, or a written brief. Every custom formulation ships clean label. Initial custom samples are delivered within 15 business days of an approved specification.

FISA Lab actively supplies customers in Southern California, Texas, Illinois, Arizona, and Utah, and ships nationally across the United States and Mexico. USMCA 0% tariff applies to every shipment crossing into the United States.

Products manufactured in Mexico and shipped to the United States under USMCA qualify for a 0% import tariff when preferential origin documentation is provided. Every FISA Lab shipment qualifies, which reduces landed cost versus equivalent product sourced from non-USMCA countries.

FISA Lab replicates an existing snack seasoning from a submitted sample of the finished chip or the current bag. The R&D team delivers a clean label match with equivalent flavor intensity and adhesion, validated on the customer's production line before scale-up.

Removing Red 40 does not alter the flavor compounds, but color drives flavor perception. FISA Lab formulates with natural colorants calibrated to match the visual intensity of the current profile and manages line validation with the buyer through the transition.

FISA Lab formulates topical seasoning systems for tortilla chips, totopos, pork rinds, chicharrones, extruded snacks, pellets, corn chips, popcorn, nuts, and beef jerky. Custom development is available for applications outside the standard portfolio.

FISA Lab recommends applying the sample at the buyer's standard seasoning load rate on the actual production line, matching drum speed, application rate, and process conditions. On-line validation is the only reliable way to evaluate adhesion and intensity performance before scale-up.

FISA Lab manufactures under FSSC 22000 with a Certificate of Analysis on every shipment. Raw material sourcing, formulation, and production protocol are fixed per SKU. If a batch deviates from the approved specification, FISA Lab reships at no charge.

FISA Lab develops each profile independently to the brand's specification and supplies all profiles from a single quality system. One supplier, one Certificate of Analysis format, and one lead time envelope apply across every SKU in the co-packer's portfolio.

FISA Lab supplies a Certificate of Analysis, FDA registration documentation, FSSC 22000 certification, and USMCA preferential origin documentation with every shipment. Documentation format is standardized across every SKU to simplify co-packer receiving and third party audits.

FISA Lab replicates an incumbent supplier's profile from a submitted sample or the current product. The R&D team delivers a clean label match for brand approval, allowing the co-packer to switch suppliers without triggering a reformulation on the brand side.

FISA Lab treats every brand specification as confidential and does not share formulations across clients. Non-disclosure agreements are available on request and are executed prior to receipt of any target sample or proprietary ingredient statement.

FISA Lab ships reorders of approved formulations in 15 business days from firm purchase order. FISA Lab recommends placing a reorder at 30 days of remaining inventory to maintain continuous supply through the buyer's production schedule.

FISA Lab standardizes a multi-location carnicería program by developing a single seasoning system, documenting a gram-per-pound application rate, and delivering the same profile batch after batch to every location. Reorder lead time is 15 business days.

FISA Lab develops Pastor, Birria, Carnitas, Carne Asada, Fajita, and fully custom prepared foods profiles for supermarket hot bars and delis. Development uses the supermarket's existing recipe as a reference and outputs a clean label system with a documented application rate.

FISA Lab manufactures private label seasoning programs under the retailer's brand with no FISA Lab branding on the finished pack. FISA Lab handles formulation and production while the retailer owns the commercial relationship with the end customer.

A FISA Lab carnicería program starts at 309 lbs per SKU on signature meat systems, shipped in 44 lb bags. Full pallets of 2,200 lbs are available for higher volume, not required. FISA Lab issues a proposal after reviewing location count and weekly protein volume.

FISA Lab develops regional profiles against culinary references from their origin markets: al pastor from Mexico City, birria from Jalisco, cochinita pibil from Yucatán. Production runs in Monterrey with regional ingredient sourcing under FSSC 22000 controls.

FISA Lab formulates to the buyer's mixing parameters, protein type, temperature envelope, and line-specific process. The output is a formula built for that line rather than a standard formula adapted after the fact, and it is validated on the buyer's equipment before scale-up.

FISA Lab supplies Chorizo, Longaniza, specialty sausage systems, marinated and seasoned meats, regional Mexican protein systems, and sauce and dressing bases. Custom development is available for any processed meat application outside the standard portfolio.

FISA Lab ships production line validation samples within 15 business days of an approved specification. FISA Lab recommends testing on the actual production line under real process conditions before committing capital to a first production run.

FISA Lab formulates flavor systems designed to hold profile integrity through repeated freeze-thaw cycles and extended frozen storage. Shelf life validation and stability data are available on request per SKU and support the buyer's IQF and retail freezer programs.

FISA Lab issues a standardized Certificate of Analysis that includes ingredient declaration, allergen statement, microbiological results, and physical parameters. The document is available in English and Spanish and uses the same format across every FISA Lab SKU.

FISA Lab supplies the food manufacturers that produce ready-to-heat proteins for c-store food programs. C-store operators without a current protein partner can request an introduction to a qualified FISA Lab customer, or FISA Lab will engage the operator's existing supplier.

FISA Lab data across c-store RTH programs identifies Pastor CDMX, Birria Jalisco, Carnitas, and Carne Asada as the top-performing profiles by turn rate. All four are in the FISA Lab standard portfolio and ship clean label with no artificial colors and no MSG.

FISA Lab locates the consistency in the seasoning system rather than in the c-store kitchen. FISA Lab supplies the same profile to the protein manufacturer in every batch, so the RTH protein arrives at location 1 and location 500 with an identical flavor foundation.

FISA Lab does not guarantee c-store margins because they depend on the operator's price structure and cost base. NACS 2024 industry data reports c-store foodservice at 28.7% of in-store revenue and 39.6% of gross profit, with operators citing Mexican protein programs among the highest-margin categories.