permaculture

[lbsaltzman@aol.com]

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. 
Take action: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_6747.cfm


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