Save Raw Almonds from USDA pasteurization w/o labelling

[Guest guest]

Save Raw Almonds

Dear Arnold Gore,

 

Like many, AAHF was appalled by the recent USDA decision that all raw

almonds sold as of September 1, 2007 would have to be pasteurized (including

organic almonds) while still be labeled as “rawâ€. _Watch our PSA!_

(

)

The new protocols require all raw almonds grown and sold in North America

to be pasteurized, thereby killing off any wayward bacteria. How? By

quick-steaming the nuts, or spraying them with propylene oxide (PPO), a

chemical so

nasty that it was banned by both the National Hot Rod and American Motorcycle

Racing Associations, where it had been used as a fuel before being deemed

too dangerous. PPO is also a carcinogen. For these and other reasons, most

countries, including the EU, ban imported nuts treated with PPO.

We have joined with the Organic Consumers Association and the Cornucopia

Institute among other groups to make a change.

We are currently working with Congress to address this issue and requesting

the USDA to do a minimum 180-day suspicion for a full review and to reopen

public comments. We will also be asking for an organic exemption as well as

truth in labeling.

_Click here to read our letter to Congress and USDA_

(http://www.healthfreedom.net/index.php?option=com_content & task=view & id=273 & Item\

id=)

_Click here to read the draft letter from Congress to USDA_

(http://www.healthfreedom.net/index.php?option=com_content & task=view & id=274 & Item\

id=)

_Click here to read our Scientific Director thoughts on pasteurization_

(http://www.healthfreedom.net/index.php?option=com_content & task=view & id=275 & Item\

id

=)

 

 

(http://ga4.org/campaign/raw_almonds/kswie542id7655?)

Send a letter to the following decision maker(s):

Your Congressperson

Your Senators

Below is the sample letter:

Save Raw Almonds

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

As one of the millions of Americans who eats almonds, I was appalled by the

recent USDA decision requiring that all raw almonds sold as of September 1,

2007 have to be pasteurized (including organic almonds) while still allowing

to be labeled as " raw " . [The final almond pasteurization rule, Almonds Grown

in California; Outgoing Quality Control Requirements, was published in 72

Federal Register 15021 (March 30, 2007) (to be codified at 7 C.F.R.

981.442(b)).]

 

This ruling is not so much for safety but rather appears to be for

liability protection for large growers, particularly because the last outbreak

was

traced back to the largest almond orchard in California.

 

In 2001 and 2004 two outbreaks of salmonella poisoning were traced back to

almonds. According to the Center for Disease Control's documents, a total of

33 people were hospitalized; no one died and millions of pounds of almonds

were recalled.

 

The industry's federal marketing order, the Almond Board of California

(ABC), took action immediately after the 2004 outbreak. Under zero pressure

from

the public (and with about as much input) they voluntarily created, and then

asked the USDA to mandate, an action plan that went into effect on September

1, 2007. Not much effort was made to engage the public and to receive their

feedback.

 

The new protocols require all raw almonds grown and sold in North America

to be pasteurized, thereby killing off any wayward bacteria. How? By

quick-steaming the nuts, or spraying them with propylene oxide (PPO), a

chemical so

nasty that it was banned by both the National Hot Rod and American Motorcycle

Racing Associations, where it had been used as a fuel before being deemed too

dangerous. PPO is also a carcinogen. For these and other reasons, most

countries, including the EU, ban imported nuts treated with PPO.

 

I would like you to address this issue and request the USDA to do a minimum

180-day suspicion for a full review and to reopen public comments. I

furthermore urge you to request an organic exemption to pasteurization and for

truth

in labeling and no pasteurized almonds should be allowed to be labeled as

" raw " .

 

Thank you for reviewing this issue and I look forward to hearing your

feedback.

Sincerely,

 

Arnold Gore

 

(http://ga4.org/campaign/raw_almonds/kswie542id7655?) Take Action!

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What's At Stake:

A new USDA mandate requires raw almonds to be sanitized through treatment

processes that the industry generously describes as “pasteurization.â€

The rule requires “pasteurization†of almonds with a toxic fumigant or

treatment with high-temperature heat. The scheme imposes significant financial

burdens on small-scale and organic growers, lacks scientific justification,

damages domestic almond markets, and does not address the unsustainable methods

used on the industrial-scale almond orchards where the only traced-back

Salmonella outbreak occurred. And the treated almonds can still be deceptively

labeled as “raw!â€

 

Campaign Expiration Date:

December 31, 2008

 

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