Alert: USDA Says Almonds Labeled as Raw’ or ‘Organic’ Must Be Pasteurized

ALERT
OF THE WEEK:
USDA SAYS ALMONDS LABELED AS ‘RAW’ OR ‘ORGANIC’ MUST 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 smaller almond
farmers out of business. The regulation is scheduled to go into
effect on September 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, to pasteurized almonds. One of the FDA-recommended
pasteurization methods involves the use of propylene oxide, which
is classified as a carcinogen in California 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.
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