New FDA Law Requires Organic Almond Pasteurization
From Rich Johansen
8-21-7
Today, Monday, August 20, 2007 many Almond Farmers attended a meeting
in Modesto, California that sealed the future of Almond crops
everywhere. What food will be next?
Description/ History -
Starting in August or September of 2007, raw almonds available in the
USA, Canada and Mexico, will no longer be "truly raw" due to a
mandate passed by the USDA, FDA and the California Almond Board,
announcing that all almonds including organic must be pasteurized.
This means that the Almond farmer will have to truck thousands of
pounds of almonds to one of the five facilities that are already set
up for the pasteurization process and then truck them back again to
the processing plant. Besides having a vital part of our food supply
pasteurized- -against our will, it will now have a huge cost attached
to it. Information is available at the following link:
http://www.almondbo ard.com/Programs /content. cfm
?ItemNumber= 890&snItemNumber =450
Action Plan and Pasteurization - Frequently Asked Questions
The problem is the law has been passed with little public input (if
any) or notification whatsoever.
In addition, all pasteurized almonds available in the marketplace
will still be labeled as raw almonds. Can this be considered
fraudulence or an outright lie? Are you willing to give up your food
freedom choices?
The primary reasons for passing this law are two isolated outbreaks
of salmonella, in conjunction with conventional almond farms a few
years ago. To the best of our knowledge no salmonella outbreaks have
EVER been associated with organic almonds.
Within the past 10 years tomatoes, spinach, green onions, peanuts,
grapes, melons, lettuce, and sprouts have all been linked to
salmonella outbreaks. Does that mean we should eliminate all fresh
produce? Absolutely not!!! But they are going to try.
Almonds, the heartbeat of all nuts, literally, have been associated
with reduced risk of heart disease, a rich source of calcium,
magnesium, vitamin E, protein, fiber and antioxidants to name a few .
These amazing and life enhancing health benefits, will be
devastatingly reduced if not completely eliminated in the
pasteurization process.
Three of the potential suggested methods of pasteurization are:
- Propylene Oxide (PPO) Fumigation (propylene oxide was also used as
an insecticidal fumigant till 1988 when its registration was
terminated. California Prop.65 rates PPO as a CARCINOGEN. (Cited from
www.mbow.org)
- High Heat (which degrades the integrity of the nuts and enzyme
structure).
- Steam Pasteurization (will also further devalue the nutrients,
enzyme activity and antioxidants. )
This is a call to all those who care about their health, we need to
join forces by bringing this to the attention of everyone from the
mass media to the common consumer before it goes any further than
almonds! It is our basic right to choose unprocessed foods!
We have created a petition that we will present to the California
Almond Board, the FDA and the USDA.
Go to http://www.livingnu tz.com and click on the almond
pasteurization petition link on the front of our page and sign your
name as well as your state, town and zipcode.
E-mail us at: info@livingnutz. com. This e-mail address is being
protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it with
any other questions, media relations, ideas or information you may
have relevant to this cause.
Just say NO! Shout it, write it. Do not put up with this crime
against humanity!!!
Dr. Janet Rueger [mailto:jlrueger@foothill. net]
From Rich Johansen
8-21-7
Today, Monday, August 20, 2007 many Almond Farmers attended a meeting
in Modesto, California that sealed the future of Almond crops
everywhere. What food will be next?
Description/ History -
Starting in August or September of 2007, raw almonds available in the
USA, Canada and Mexico, will no longer be "truly raw" due to a
mandate passed by the USDA, FDA and the California Almond Board,
announcing that all almonds including organic must be pasteurized.
This means that the Almond farmer will have to truck thousands of
pounds of almonds to one of the five facilities that are already set
up for the pasteurization process and then truck them back again to
the processing plant. Besides having a vital part of our food supply
pasteurized- -against our will, it will now have a huge cost attached
to it. Information is available at the following link:
http://www.almondbo ard.com/Programs /content. cfm
?ItemNumber= 890&snItemNumber =450
Action Plan and Pasteurization - Frequently Asked Questions
The problem is the law has been passed with little public input (if
any) or notification whatsoever.
In addition, all pasteurized almonds available in the marketplace
will still be labeled as raw almonds. Can this be considered
fraudulence or an outright lie? Are you willing to give up your food
freedom choices?
The primary reasons for passing this law are two isolated outbreaks
of salmonella, in conjunction with conventional almond farms a few
years ago. To the best of our knowledge no salmonella outbreaks have
EVER been associated with organic almonds.
Within the past 10 years tomatoes, spinach, green onions, peanuts,
grapes, melons, lettuce, and sprouts have all been linked to
salmonella outbreaks. Does that mean we should eliminate all fresh
produce? Absolutely not!!! But they are going to try.
Almonds, the heartbeat of all nuts, literally, have been associated
with reduced risk of heart disease, a rich source of calcium,
magnesium, vitamin E, protein, fiber and antioxidants to name a few .
These amazing and life enhancing health benefits, will be
devastatingly reduced if not completely eliminated in the
pasteurization process.
Three of the potential suggested methods of pasteurization are:
- Propylene Oxide (PPO) Fumigation (propylene oxide was also used as
an insecticidal fumigant till 1988 when its registration was
terminated. California Prop.65 rates PPO as a CARCINOGEN. (Cited from
www.mbow.org)
- High Heat (which degrades the integrity of the nuts and enzyme
structure).
- Steam Pasteurization (will also further devalue the nutrients,
enzyme activity and antioxidants. )
This is a call to all those who care about their health, we need to
join forces by bringing this to the attention of everyone from the
mass media to the common consumer before it goes any further than
almonds! It is our basic right to choose unprocessed foods!
We have created a petition that we will present to the California
Almond Board, the FDA and the USDA.
Go to http://www.livingnu tz.com and click on the almond
pasteurization petition link on the front of our page and sign your
name as well as your state, town and zipcode.
E-mail us at: info@livingnutz. com. This e-mail address is being
protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it with
any other questions, media relations, ideas or information you may
have relevant to this cause.
Just say NO! Shout it, write it. Do not put up with this crime
against humanity!!!
Dr. Janet Rueger [mailto:jlrueger@foothill. net]
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