URGENT: Save Our Greens (another attempt to alter our food!?)

The Almond Board of California decided our almonds must be pasteurized!!!

...And the almonds may not even be labeled as such!

There is a growing number of people today that are following a raw food diet. There are countless testimonials of people who have experienced dramatic benefits after having moved to a raw diet. One staple of those on the raw diet is the raw almond. Most choose to eat organic raw almonds. Earlier this year it was decided that it would be mandatory for all almonds from California, destined for the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, to be Pasteurized starting in September 2007. All new almonds harvested on or after September 1, 2007, destined for wholesalers and retailers, were legally required to undergo pasteurization. It was primarily the "middle-men" who were pushing for this requirement.

There is a loophole... U.S. farmers are still allowed to sell truly raw (unpasteurized) almonds directly to the consumer. They do this by way of roadside markets, phone orders, mail orders, and the internet. Be sure to ask the farmer if the almonds have been pasteurized.

As it stands now, there will be no requirement to label almonds as "pasteurized". The pasteurized raw almonds might still be labeled as "raw". This not only misleads consumers, but because the almonds will have been subjected to a form of cooking could, potentially, cause raw foodists, who's bodies have let down their defense against cooked foods, to become ill. If they are to eat U.S. almonds, they may only be able to consume pasteurized almonds (possibly without even knowing it until becoming ill), which means they may be prevented from practicing their religion's teachings! In the United States we are guaranteed to have the freedom of religion. This ruling to require pasteurization restricts our religious freedom!

Here are some details regarding the decision to make almond pasteurization mandatory:

• Over the last six (6) years there were two (2) incidents of salmonella poisoning in conventional raw almonds (2001 & 2004).
• There have been NO (ZERO (0)) cases of salmonella poisoning among organic raw almonds!
• The decision was made by the Almond Board of California, which takes effect in September of 2007.
• All almonds produced in the state of California, destined for the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are required to be pasteurized (it's mandatory!)
• Even ORGANIC almonds will be required to be pasteurized, even though there has been absolutely no incident of salmonella poisoning among organic almonds.
• California is the ONLY U.S. state that commercially produces almonds.
• According to the Almond Board of California, California grows 80% of the world's almonds.
• The pasteurized almonds will not be required to be labeled as "pasteurized" and may only be labeled "raw", effectively misleading consumers! (Does this sound like fraud/false advertising?)
• It may be extremely difficult, as well as very expensive, to find any truly raw almonds.
• Followers of the Essene teachings are basically being prevented from eating a staple in their diet and honoring the teachings of Yashua (Jesus). Other raw foodists are also being prevented from eating a staple in their diet.
• The consumption of pasteurized almonds (incorrectly labeled as "raw") may make raw foodists sick.
• A diet of raw foods appears to be a key in overcoming and avoiding illness. This mandatory pasteurization threatens, not only the availability of raw almonds but, potentially, all raw foods! What if this mandatory pasteurization goes unchecked and more and more foods are no longer available in their raw states?
• There has been no long term study of the effect of the pasteurization on the structure of the almond in terms of the possibility of increased susceptibility of contamination after the pasteurization process.
• One of the possible methods of pasteurization uses propylene oxide, a highly flammable and "highly toxic" chemical used in thermobaric weapons. Foods treated with the chemical are banned in some countries, including Canada and Mexico, as well as the European Union.

Loophole:

Farmers with roadside markets are still able to sell their truly raw almonds directly to consumers, up to 100 pounds per person per day. This should also apply to internet and phone sales. Traveling to California is not convenient for most people in the US and especially from other parts of the world. Our first concern should be to have the ruling overturned, or at least delayed, so we may help the Almond Board of California come up with a better plan!

The ruling that started this pasteurization conflict:

Almond Board of California almond pasteurization plan

Web site regarding the religious aspects of the pasteurization decision:

What Would Jesus Pasteurize? - Does the mandatory pasteurization of almonds restrict religious freedoms?

Comments from raw food leaders:

"As a raw foodist, raw almonds are one of my chief sources of protein, calcium, B vitamins and healthy fats, besides being the only nut to have an overall alkalizing effect on the body, helping people to heal. I am passionate about ensuring the continued availability of raw almonds (and other truly raw produce) for ourselves and those generations to come."

Angela Stokes, raw food author and lifestyle consultant, RawReform.com

“Thanks to raw foods from God’s garden, I am a survivor of advanced stage melanoma cancer. Through the healing process and still today, I use raw almonds in many recipes and consume raw almonds on a daily basis. The thought of not being able to get raw almonds or purchasing almonds that are marked raw but are actually pasteurized already has my stomach churning….”

Jerrod Sessler, Health Minister, Speaker, Cancer Survivor! www.hope4health.org

Article on the dangers of pasteurization:

From:
National Health Information Center
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Food Prep May Be as Important as Ingredients Themselves
Frying, grilling can boost hazardous inflammatory toxins, scientists say

Grilled, fried or broiled animal products such as meats and cheeses
contain a class of toxins called "advanced glycation end
products" (AGEs), which have been linked to inflammation, insulin
resistance, diabetes, vascular and kidney disease, and Alzheimer's
disease, say a team from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New
York City.

AGEs are also produced when food products are sterilized and
pasteurized.

Recent articles on the subject:

Pasteurized almond rule has raw food fans going nuts
By Garance Burke, 06/26/07

What You Can Do:

Write letters:

Please consider writing Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger requesting his intervention in this issue. We should maintain the right to choose raw almonds. As there is no history of a risk with organic raw almonds, they should continue to be made available to consumers, preserving religious freedoms for followers of the Essene teachings and allowing other followers of the raw food diet to have access to almonds in a truly raw state. Consumers, in general, have the right to pure and properly labeled foods.

When writing the Governor or others, please consider sending copies to the ACLU, the U.S. Senators from California, your own Senators and Congressmen, and the media, as well as others from the resources below.

Sample letter from Dr. William Harris, MD

Send Press Releases:

Send press releases to the media.

Email:

Similar to the above section, please email friends, family, consumer groups, civil rights groups, government officials, and the media. Please be sure to include appropriate links to information on this issue to help educate people. Feel free to link directly to this site.

Place Posters:

Hang posters and signs so others may learn about our foods being altered, as well as not being labeled properly.

Protest!:

Consider organizing peaceful protests, such as outside the meetings of the Almond Board (info here.)

Call:

Consider directly calling individuals and/or agencies to raise awareness and to encourage changes to be made to ensure the availability of raw almonds.

Visit grocery stores:

Visit local health food stores and other grocery stores. Help them become aware of the pasteurization and labeling issues (if not already). Encourage them to request/demand truly raw almonds (at least the organic almonds) so that their customers can have the choice and can continue to honor their religious beliefs. It is possible, even likely, that many stores are unaware of this issue and may be surprised that the pasteurized almonds may not be labeled as such.

Protest:

Get out and hold signs, hand out flyers, educate people. Target opportune times and locations. (Some suggestions.)

Think outside the box:

Think of new ways to gain attention for this subject; to raise awareness and to help educate people, so we may continue to consume truly raw almonds, as well as honor the Essene teachings.

Almond pasteurization resources:

Cornucopia Institute Reveals Agribusiness Conspiracy to Mislead Consumers over Almonds

Also from The Cornucopia Institute: Fact Sheet - Mandatory Sterilization of Raw Almonds

The Authentic Almond Project

Pasteurization For Raw California Almonds Stirs Controversy

Mandatory Almond Pasteurization

Raw Almonds & Mandatory Pasteurization [including letter example]

Online Petition: Mandatory Almond Pasteurization is WRONG!!!

Raw almonds are an endangered breed... [has sample emails to US Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns]

From Living Tree Community: Extensive page of sample letters written regarding the almond issue

Other resources:

The Raw Network of Washington

Raw food information & links

Articles:

Almonds must be pasteurized, say new USDA rules
By Lorraine Heller

Food Scam: Almond Board of California to falsely label pasteurized almonds as "raw"
by Mike Adams

Contact Information:

Secretary Mike Johanns
United States Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave SW
Whitten Building – Suite 200A
Washington, D.C. 20250

John D. Negroponte
Deputy Secretary of State,

California Governor:

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-445-4633
http://gov.ca.gov/
http://gov.ca.gov/site/contact-governor
http://www.govmail.ca.gov/

California Senators:

Sen. Barbara Boxer
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3553

Sen. Dianne Feinstein
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3841

Write your Federal Senators and Representatives (locate here)

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Nat'l
http://www.aclu.org/contact/general/index.html

John Mackey, CEO
Whole Foods Market, Inc.
550 Bowie Street
Austin, TX 78703-467

The Almond Board of California
1150 Ninth Street, Suite 1500
Modesto, CA 95354
Telephone: (209) 549-8262
Fax: (209) 549-8267
Online contact form:
http://www.almondboard.com/utilities/FORMContactUs.cfm
http://www.almondboard.com

Board of Directors of the California Almond Board:

Chairman David Phippen
13909 Leroy Ave.
Ripon, CA  95366
Ph: (209) 599-6111        
Fx: (209) 599-4008

Vice Chair Doug Youngdahl
Blue Diamond Growers
P.O. Box 1768
Sacramento, CA 95812
Ph: (916) 446-8595
Fx: (916) 329-3320

Member Susan Brauner
Blue Diamond Growers
P.O. Box 1768
Sacramento, CA 95812
Ph: (916) 446-8354
Fx: (916) 325-2880

Member Wil Hunter
Hunter Farms        
1621 N. Lincoln
Livingston, CA 95334
Ph: (209) 277-5840
Fx: (209) 394-8007

Member Christine Long
Hilltop Ranch, Inc.
13890 Looney Rd.
Ballico, CA 95303
Ph: (209) 874-1875
Fx: (209) 874-1877

Member Mike Mason
Panoche Creek Packing
15810 Arabella Ave.
Bakersfield, CA  93312
Ph: (661) 746-7877
Fx: (661) 746-7875

Member Dean Nelson
Sierra Valley Almonds, LLC        
12800 W. Shields Ave.
Kerman, CA  93630
Ph: (559) 280-2148
Fx: (559) 843-9010

Member Dan Cummings
Cummings-Violich, Inc.
1750 Dayton Road
Chico, CA 95928
Ph: (530) 894-5494
Fx: (530) 891-4946

Member Rick Kindle
Gold Hills Nut Co., Inc.
11805 Newport Rd.
Ballico, CA 95303
Ph: (209) 634-2022
Fx: (209) 634-0407

Member Doug Wells        
16508 W. River Rd.
Livingston, CA 95334
Ph: (209) 394-7246

Agricultural Marketing Service

http://www.ams.usda.gov/
http://www.ams.usda.gov/civilrights/

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202/ 720-0583

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202/ 720-4722

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202/ 720-8998

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202/ 720-5115

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202/ 720-4276

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202/ 720-6766

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