Mandatory Pasteurization Concerns

This just landed in my e-mail box:

Mandatory Pasteurization of Almonds as of September 1st, 2007 has taken effect.

From now on it's impossible, in fact, illegal, to get raw Almonds in the United States. Nuts sold as "raw" are not actually raw any more, but processed. Here's what Jason Sinclaire has to say on that subject:

"Truly raw almonds, with their enzymes intact, are a living, nutrition-packed food. Raw almonds that have been soaked and sprouted are nutritionally superior food to heated almonds, and are more easily assimilated in the digestive
process. Heating almonds over 112 degrees destroys their enzymes, and greatly
diminishes their nutritional value. Heating also leads to rancidity of nuts."

Every almond sold commercially from here on out has to be pasteurized. Also, let's keep an eye on almond pricing, because almond growers are now required by law to truck their almonds to one of five just-built USDA approved pasteurization facilities in California and then back to their packing facilities on-farm, at their own expense.

As a grower of macadamia nuts whose primary market has for years been to raw foodists, this law is a huge concern. What might be next? Macadamias? Maybe limes?

Comments

Todd said…
And I understand that if steam heat is not used, then they can use propylene oxide which is a possible carcinogen. I'm going to call my congressmembers, but please share if there's anything else we can do.
October 9, 2007 at 10:51 AM
Anonymous said…
That's awful.

Holly
October 9, 2007 at 5:13 PM
Jill Richardson said…
Check out http://www.cornucopia.org - the Cornucopia Institute's been really active on this issue. I'm pretty upset over it. I heard there was a loophole for farmers who sell directly to consumers, but the farmer that sells directly to consumers at my local market is still going to pasteurize their nuts.

Amazing that people can get raw eggs and meat but not almonds.
October 9, 2007 at 8:44 PM
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