USDA Rejects Almond Board's Appeal for Delay of Treatment Plan

[Guest guest]

this ruling should not stand without a fight.

 

*** Yes, I'd second that. Keep the letters and phone calls going.

 

1) Pasteurized almonds can be labeled " raw " .

 

*** Also I wanted to expound on this. You'll recall a few years ago Trader

Joe's suddenly started labeling their almonds as " almost raw " . Their

supplier(s) had apparently implemented some form of pasteurization, in response

to the salmonella scares of 1999 and 2004 that led to the voluntary

pasteurization program. Trader Joe's didn't have to label accurately, it was a

marketing decision. The USDA has rules about the minimal info that must appear

on labels, but whether pasteurization is mentioned is left up to the retailer.

The nuts can be called " raw " , " almost raw " , " pasteurized " , etc. In the case of

Trader Joe's, they perceived that the label would favorably influence the buying

habits of their customers. Other retailers might not, so they might continue to

label their pasteurized almonds as " raw " .

 

This being the case, it occurs to me that most of the almonds we've been getting

in the last few years may have been pasteurized, especially those sold at the

larger chain stores like PCC or Whole Foods. I also find it disconcerting that

a product treated with propylene oxide can still be called " organic " . Just

another example of how producers and the USDA are fuzzying up the line between

organic and conventional.

 

All the best,

Nora

www.RawSchool.com