Masters Chefs’ Institute Recognizes Jones with Seal of Excellence

Jones Dairy Farm recently announced that two foodservice products, Jones Dry Aged Cherrywood Smoked Bacon and Uncured No Sugar Ham, surpassed the rigorous testing process to qualify for the prestigious Master Chefs’ Institute (MCI) Seal of Excellence, proving they meet the highest standards of quality and taste.

What Is the Master Chefs’ Institute?

The Master Chefs’ Institute is an independent organization made up of Certified Master Chefs — the highest level of culinary certification in the U.S. With only 74 chefs holding this prestigious title, MCI is a trusted authority in food quality.

“MCI is considered the quality control arm for chefs working in the field, few of whom have the time to evaluate food products and analyze their quality, performance, claims, or price to value relationship to the extent MCI does,” said Certified Master Chef Ferdinand Metz, founder and managing partner of MCI.

MCI’s mission? To evaluate, recognize, and promote exceptional foodservice products that embody the highest standards of culinary excellence. Their testing process is the most comprehensive qualitative and quantitative product evaluation in the industry, and only 20% of all products tested qualify for the Seal of Excellence.

How the MCI Seal of Excellence Is Awarded

Each product undergoes a detailed independent examination process that includes more than 1,000 test and evaluation points based on three major categories:

• Sensory assessment – Aroma, color, and overall taste
• Product performance – How it cooks and holds up in recipes
• Versatility – Attributes such as flavor, texture/tenderness, crispness, fat separation (bacon), fat/juice separation (ham), and appearance both as an ingredient and a main course

To qualify for the MCI Seal of Excellence, a product must score 80% or higher across all categories.

Jones Dairy Farm Dry Aged Cherrywood Smoked Bacon

What makes it special?

• Dry aged for up to 4 weeks to develop a deep, rich flavor
• Jones uses leaner, meatier “center cut” pork belly
• Cured with a century-old Jones family brine and naturally smoked over real cherrywood chips
• Available in 9/11, 14/18 and half slabs

What the Certified Master Chefs loved:

• Uniform cooking for the best eating experience
• Less fat loss with incredible flavor
• Crispy yet tender texture with minimal curling

Jones Dairy Farm Uncured No Sugar Ham

What makes it special?

• Made from lean, whole muscle pork — no fillers or trimmings
• Naturally smoked over hickory wood chips (never liquid smoke)
• No added sugar, MSG, nitrates, or nitrites
• Does NOT have a traditional lunch meat texture
• Available in fully cooked, whole boneless hams (3.5 lbs. average)

What the Certified Master Chefs loved:

• Natural, well-balanced flavor with a hint of juniper berries
• Perfect level of smokiness
• Excellent flavor and texture

Why the MCI Seal of Excellence Matters to Foodservice Professionals

In a recent foodservice survey commissioned by MCI, 91% of operators and purchase influencers said that MCI endorsed products would increase their confidence in the product’s quality of performance and 87% said that a seal endorsed product would help an operator better assess the products price to value relationship.

Jones Dairy Farm has always been committed to making simple, high-quality products —and now, we have the Master Chefs’ seal to prove it.

For inspiration for adding quality ingredients like Jones Dry Aged Cherrywood Smoked Bacon and Uncured No Sugar Ham to your menu, check out Jones Menu Ideas.