ALERT: USDA Says Foods Labeled as 'Raw' Can Be Pasteurized

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ALERT: USDA Says Foods Labeled as 'Raw' Can Be Pasteurized

 

Under pressure from industrial agriculture lobbyists, the USDA has

quietly approved a new regulation that will effectively end

distribution of raw almonds, while putting many family farmers out of

business. The regulation is scheduled to go into effect in just a few

short days on Septmeber 1st, unless thousands of consumers take action

now.

 

The rule requires pasteurization of almonds, including organic, yet

allows those same almonds to continue to be labeled as " raw " .

Nutritionists point out that raw, organic almonds are far superior, in

terms of nutrition, than pasteurized almonds.

 

One of the FDA-recommended pasteurization methods requires the use of

propylene oxide, which is classified as a " possible human carcinogen "

by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and is banned in

Canada, Mexico, and the European Union.

 

Organic and family-scale almond farmers are protesting the proposed

rule, saying it will effectively put them out of business, since the

minimum price for the pasteurization equipment is $500,000.

 

The agency claims pasteurization is necessary, since there have been

two food contamination incidents with raw almonds since 2001.

 

But both of these incidents, in fact, were the result of blatant

mismanagement on large industrial-scale almond farms.

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