Almonds in the US

[Guest guest]

I admit I had gotten complacent about trusting labels, brands and

health food stores. Now I find I better be hyper alert about

everything consumed or used on my body. This has been a huge

education for me as I just learned that almonds are now pasteurized

with steam or chemically treated with Propylene Oxide.

 

From Wikipedia on this.

 

Because of cases of Salmonella traced to almonds in 2001 and 2004, in

2006 the California Almond Board proposed and the USDA approved rules

regarding the nature of almonds available to the public. From 1

September 2007, raw almonds will technically no longer be available

in the United States. Controversially, almonds labeled as " raw " will

required to be steam pasteurised or chemically treated with propylene

oxide.[6]

 

Between 60 and 70% of all propylene oxide is consumed making

polyether polyols for use in making polyurethane plastics. [3]

Propylene oxide is also used in the production of propylene glycol

(using about 20% of propylene oxide), [[polypropylene glycol],

propylene glycols ethers and propylene carbonate.

 

The United States Food & Drug Administration has approved its use to

pasteurize raw almonds beginning on September 1, 2007 in response to

several incidences of contamination by salmonella in commercial

orchards.[4]

 

It was once used as a racing fuel, but that usage is now prohibited

under the US NHRA rules for safety reasons. It is also used in

thermobaric weapons, and microbial fumigation.

 

One of the health food stores I go to had empty bins that were

labeled almonds but were empty. And at a coop, I was talking to a

member as they carry the ultra pasteurized milk. He told me that he

was at the store when the Food and Drug Administration person came

into the store. They had to pull all the raw milk and pour it down

the drain while the administrator watched!

 

As unbelievable as it is to me, it seems that there is a black market

source for foods that are not being processed and treated as per

government regulations.

 

Om lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu