Almond Growers seek delay of Pasteurization rule

[Guest guest]

From Mercola:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In January, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that virtually all almonds would have to be pasteurized as of September 1. This new rule was a result of Salmonella outbreaks in 2001 and 2004 that were traced back to raw almonds.

The California Almond Board is now requesting the USDA delay the implementation until March 1, 2008 in order to ensure there’s enough pasteurization capacity available to comply, without disrupting the flow of nuts to the market.

The USDA has stated it will consider the request and publish their decision in the Federal Register by September 1.

San Francisco Gate August 7, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This San Francisco Gate article states that “pasteurization†is a process where “the shelled and hulled nuts are laid out on a conveyor belt that passes through a moist burst of steam to heat the kernel surface to about 200 degrees, killing any pathogens present.â€As gentle and safe as this may sound, pasteurizing almonds means they are no longer natural or raw. Anytime you heat a food much above 105 degrees you start destroying the value of the food. The higher the temperature the more damage that is done. The requirement to pasteurize ALL almonds means that it may be next to impossible to find an almond in the United States that's still in the state nature intended, and no one knows how this process will impact the nutritional value or other properties of the nuts. This is not rocket science folks. Nearly everyone readily accepts that when you cook vegetables to death they do not provide the same nutritional value as when they are eaten raw. Similarly, I have documented the enormous problems with pasteurized milk. It would seem rational to conclude that one would see similar reduction in the nutritional value of the almonds once they are pasteurized. Fortunately hundreds of thousands of Americans are finally appreciating this truth and making a major shift to raw milk.

Meanwhile, in a letter received on April 30, 2007 from Mr. Richard Waycot, the president and CEO of the Almond Board of California (ABC) himself as a response to an article I had posted on my site, I was told that the ABC will not use any heating or radiation to “pasteurize†their almonds. Instead, he explained, they will use propylene oxide in their almond “pasteurization†process. In the FDA’s “Guide to Inspections of Manufacturers of Miscellaneous Food Products,†this process is referred to as “terminal gas sterilization.â€

Also, in April 2007, the FDA proposed relaxing the labeling requirements, and allowing companies to use the more palatable term "pasteurized", to describe irradiated foods ,if the radiation kills germs as well as the pasteurization process does. In essence, this means that almonds may not only be pasteurized, but irradiated. Apparently the term “pasteurized†is an OK substitute for “terminal gas sterilization†as well. If the FDA gets its way, as long as the food looks and smells normal, chances are better than good you won't ever know whether that specific food has been "nuked,†or “terminally gassed,†or not.

In his letter, Mr. Waycott also stated, "Pasteurized raw almonds do not differ in any significant way, taste, quality, or nutritional value from untreated almonds. Pasteurization simply reduces the presence of harmful bacteria on those almonds to safe levels while maintaining taste, quality, and nutritional value."

I don’t think so.

Even a simple search for proplyene oxide in Wikipedia provides the following information: "Propylene oxide is a highly toxic flammable chemical compound. It was once used as a racing fuel, but that usage is now prohibited under the US National Hot Rod rules for safety reasons. It is also used in thermobaric weapons. It is an epoxide."

The bottom line is that if any process kills bacteria, it has the potential to cause problems in humans, OR significantly change the quality of the food. The flimsy reassurances that “pasteurized†almonds -- after being treated with prohibited racing fuel -- would be the same as raw almonds are simply false.

As an aside, although many turn to nuts as a health food, I consistently find that overweight patients who find it difficult to lose weight are eating a lot of almonds or other nuts. It is one of the most common reasons why people cannot lose weight, or lose weight slowly, while following a low- or no-grain diet.

Like most whole foods, nuts can have important health benefits, just use them sparingly if you are overweight, and be sure to choose nuts that are ideal for your nutritional type.

 

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Community Comments ( 32 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Russ Bianchi

said:

 

August 9, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

21 Points

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Organic Pastures, which sells the raw milk I buy here in CA, are going to be offering true raw almonds starting this October. Not cheap, but certainly trustworthy, as far as being truly organic goes.

 

I've heard varying reports on the quality and the "true organic" status of European nuts. They'll have to prove to me that they aren't using ANY heat or radiation treatments AT ALL before I'll buy imports. I'm sure it will be like everything else-some will be truly organic, and some will not.

 

Cyndi

 

In a message dated 8/30/2007 8:34:51 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, barbara3 writes:

I already read that some stores are going to import really raw almonds from Europe where this nonsense is not being forced on people. I hope they do.BarbaraFrom Mercola:In January, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that virtually all almonds would have to be pasteurized as of September 1.

 

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[Guest guest]

I'm sorry, I went off on a tangent without realizing it, lol.

 

Cyndi

 

In a message dated 8/30/2007 9:24:22 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, barbara3 writes:

 

What I read was that the almonds are going to be truly raw but they didn't say anything about them being organic. That is as in defiance of forcing pasteuriztion on people.

 

Barbara

 

 

 

 

 

Organic Pastures, which sells the raw milk I buy here in CA, are going to be offering true raw almonds starting this October. Not cheap, but certainly trustworthy, as far as being truly organic goes.

 

I've heard varying reports on the quality and the "true organic" status of European nuts. They'll have to prove to me that they aren't using ANY heat or radiation treatments AT ALL before I'll buy imports. I'm sure it will be like everything else-some will be truly organic, and some will not.

 

Cyndi

 

Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL.com.

[Guest guest]

I already read that some stores are going to import really raw almonds from

Europe where this nonsense is not being forced on people. I hope they do.

 

Barbara

 

 

 

From Mercola:

 

In January, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that virtually all

almonds would have to be pasteurized as of September 1.

[Guest guest]

What I read was that the almonds are going to be truly raw but they didn't say anything about them being organic. That is as in defiance of forcing pasteuriztion on people.

 

Barbara

 

 

 

 

 

Organic Pastures, which sells the raw milk I buy here in CA, are going to be offering true raw almonds starting this October. Not cheap, but certainly trustworthy, as far as being truly organic goes.

 

I've heard varying reports on the quality and the "true organic" status of European nuts. They'll have to prove to me that they aren't using ANY heat or radiation treatments AT ALL before I'll buy imports. I'm sure it will be like everything else-some will be truly organic, and some will not.

 

Cyndi

 

[Guest guest]

Here is the link to the Organic Pastures Almonds:

 

http://www.organicpastures.com/whatsnew.html

 

Organic AND raw is good, lol. I hope more of these offers start popping up so it becomes cheaper.

 

Cyndi

 

In a message dated 8/30/2007 9:24:22 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, barbara3 writes:

 

What I read was that the almonds are going to be truly raw but they didn't say anything about them being organic. That is as in defiance of forcing pasteuriztion on people.

 

Barbara

 

 

 

 

 

Organic Pastures, which sells the raw milk I buy here in CA, are going to be offering true raw almonds starting this October. Not cheap, but certainly trustworthy, as far as being truly organic goes.

 

I've heard varying reports on the quality and the "true organic" status of European nuts. They'll have to prove to me that they aren't using ANY heat or radiation treatments AT ALL before I'll buy imports. I'm sure it will be like everything else-some will be truly organic, and some will not.

 

Cyndi

 

 

Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL.com.

[Guest guest]

Leslie, also be sure to check out your local produce. Many farmers do grow organically even if they are not certified, and it's important to support your local growers too. I'd go so far as to say I'd support a local grower before I'd buy say, USDA organic grapes from South America, or such.

 

Welcome, and thanks for unlurking. :-)

 

Cyndi

 

In a message dated 8/30/2007 12:56:44 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, leslie writes:

 

Hi, lurking newbie here. On the organic front. My husband is a huge label reader. When we purchase organic, it has to be California certified organic not just USDA certified. Evidently, California has stricter guidelines than the USDA. However, we’ve found that there are some things that California doesn’t bother certifying or we just can’t find as California certified so we have to ‘trust’ the USDA certification. Leslie

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Every day! You are lucky! We've had great weather for stone fruit this year, and they are YUMMY here too. And everyone seems to be having bumper crops of tomatoes too, I've never seen so many.

 

Cyndi

 

In a message dated 8/30/2007 1:52:48 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, leslie writes:

 

Where we live, we have a local farmer’s market every day, just in a different town, w/in about 10-15 miles of us – worth the gas. So if we miss one, we can catch one another day. Hubby is hooked. Especially when I just pull the celery out of the fridge and he can smell it across the room before I cut into it. We work with NGOs in Africa so we are all about the small farmer, fair trade and anything to help local growers. Especially the current crop of peaches. YUMMMMMMMM!

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

That's not a bad price for organic. And considering they will be raw too, even better. I don't know about regular almonds, I've been buying organics at WF just for snacking. I would guess they are still 6-7 dollars a pound.

 

Cyndi

 

In a message dated 8/30/2007 2:24:45 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, barbara3 writes:

 

What is the average price for almonds? I don't buy them so I don't know.... $10 per pound seems a lot!

 

Barbara

 

 

 

 

Here is the link to the Organic Pastures Almonds:

 

http://www.organicpastures.com/whatsnew.html

 

Organic AND raw is good, lol. I hope more of these offers start popping up so it becomes cheaper.

 

Cyndi

 

 

Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL.com.

[Guest guest]

That's OK, no problem. We have plenty to worry about the things that re being labeled as organic but they aren't. I'm sure you know that FDA recently approved 38 chemicals that can be used on various crops and still be labeled organic. Unbelievable but true.

 

Barbara

 

 

 

 

I'm sorry, I went off on a tangent without realizing it, lol.

 

Cyndi

 

[Guest guest]

Hi, lurking newbie here.

On the organic front. My husband is a huge label reader. When we purchase

organic, it has to be California certified organic not just USDA certified. Evidently, California has stricter guidelines than the USDA. However, we’ve

found that there are some things that California doesn’t bother certifying or we just can’t find as California certified so we have to ‘trust’ the USDA

certification. Leslie

 

 

RealSimple

[RealSimple ] On Behalf

Of Barbara

Thursday, August 30, 2007

12:39 PM

RealSimple

Re: [RealSimple] Almond

Growers seek delay of Pasteurization rule

 

 

 

 

 

That's OK, no problem. We have plenty to worry

about the things that re being labeled as organic but they aren't. I'm

sure you know that FDA recently approved 38 chemicals that can be used on

various crops and still be labeled organic. Unbelievable but true.

 

 

 

 

 

Barbara

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm sorry, I went off on a

tangent without realizing it, lol.

 

 

 

 

 

Cyndi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.12.12/979 - Release 8/29/2007 8:21 PM

[Guest guest]

Where

we live, we have a local farmer’s market every day, just in a different

town, w/in about 10-15 miles of us – worth the gas. So

if we miss one, we can catch one another day. Hubby is hooked. Especially when

I just pull the celery out of the fridge and he can smell it across the room

before I cut into it. We work with NGOs in Africa so we

are all about the small farmer, fair trade and anything to help local growers. Especially the current crop of peaches. YUMMMMMMMM!

 

 

RealSimple

[RealSimple ] On Behalf

Of cyndikrall

Thursday, August 30, 2007

1:44 PM

RealSimple

Re: [RealSimple] Almond

Growers seek delay of Pasteurization rule

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leslie, also be sure to check out your local

produce. Many farmers do grow organically even if they are not certified,

and it's important to support your local growers too. I'd go so far as to say

I'd support a local grower before I'd buy say, USDA organic grapes from South

America, or such.

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome, and thanks for unlurking. :-)

 

 

 

 

 

Cyndi

 

 

 

 

 

In a message dated 8/30/2007 12:56:44 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,

leslie (AT) obrien (DOT) net writes:

 

 

Hi, lurking newbie here. On the organic

front. My husband is a huge label reader. When we purchase organic, it has to

be California certified organic not just USDA certified.

Evidently, California has stricter guidelines than the

USDA. However, we’ve found that there are some

things that California doesn’t bother certifying or

we just can’t find as California certified so we

have to ‘trust’ the USDA certification. Leslie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get a

sneak peek of the all-new AOL.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.12.12/979 - Release 8/29/2007 8:21 PM

[Guest guest]

What is the average price for almonds? I don't buy them so I don't know.... $10 per pound seems a lot!

 

Barbara

 

 

 

 

Here is the link to the Organic Pastures Almonds:

 

http://www.organicpastures.com/whatsnew.html

 

Organic AND raw is good, lol. I hope more of these offers start popping up so it becomes cheaper.

 

Cyndi

 

[Guest guest]

I did a quick Google and

for organic, that’s cheap. The lowest I found

was $12 and then there’s the minimum pound

quantity. Eep.

 

 

RealSimple

[RealSimple ] On Behalf

Of Barbara

Thursday, August 30, 2007

2:21 PM

RealSimple

Re: [RealSimple] Almond

Growers seek delay of Pasteurization rule

 

 

 

 

 

What is the average price for almonds? I don't

buy them so I don't know.... $10 per pound seems a lot!

 

 

 

 

 

Barbara

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the link to the Organic

Pastures Almonds:

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.organicpastures.com/whatsnew.html

 

 

 

 

 

Organic AND raw is good, lol. I hope more of these

offers start popping up so it becomes cheaper.

 

 

 

 

 

Cyndi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.12.12/979 - Release 8/29/2007 8:21 PM

[Guest guest]

Thank you, but I wanted to know what is the price of average, store bought, non organic almonds.

 

Barbara

 

 

 

 

 

 

I did a quick Google and for organic, that’s cheap. The lowest I found was $12 and then there’s the minimum pound quantity. Eep.

 

[Guest guest]

Well, it is OK then, not too expensive. I just had nothing to compare it to.

 

Barbara

 

 

 

 

That's not a bad price for organic. And considering they will be raw too, even better. I don't know about regular almonds, I've been buying organics at WF just for snacking. I would guess they are still 6-7 dollars a pound.

 

Cyndi