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. Information is available at the following link:
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 out right 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!!!

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 www.livingnutz.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 with any other questions, media relations, ideas or information you may have relevant to this cause.

PLEASE LINK THIS PETITION TO YOUR YOUR SITE see link at the bottom of the page.