Dr Billy Health

Un-Raw California Almonds

The Almond Board of California, the guys who oversee virtually 98 percent of the almonds grown and consumed in the United States and Canada, is implementing a plan to heat-treat (pasteurize) all almonds at temperatures far higher then required to kill the enzymes, oxidize the valuable fatty acids and markedly derange many nutrients contained in “The King of Nuts” and yet, intentionally have these “Cooked” nuts falsely labeled as “raw.”

This “Regulatory” Fiasco represents several problems rolled onto one.

First of all, misrepresentation in labeling is bad, wrong, fraudulent, and dangerous. It technically is, and certainly should be, illegal.

Raw never has meant cooked, and cooked never has been raw.

But unless something is done to reverse this shortsighted decision, starting in the summer of 2007, virtually all almonds available in the USA, Canada and Mexico labeled RAW, will in fact no longer be “raw” due to a mandate passed by the USDA, FDA and the California Almond Board, who announced two days ago that all almonds including organic must be pasteurized. (((Information is available at the following link)

Action Plan on cursory almond Pasteurization

The law was been passed with little public input (if any) and virtually no notification. All pasteurized (Cooked) almonds available in the marketplace will still be labeled as Raw Almonds.
This can this be considered, heck it is fraudulence…
Information on the label will be an out right lie.

Making choices based on sound information should be recognized as a basic right, no matter what the choice is about.
But sound, solid, reliable information is absolutely critical with regards to certain consumer item categories, food and medicine among them. And almonds are both.
Almonds are not only a valuable commodity and important to California’s economy, but are (Or can be) a highly nutritious food and are also rightly called a medicine… All foods have specific medicinal properties.

Regarding many energetic/medicinal properties, chemical compounds nutrient levels and free radical verses antioxidant ratios a cooked (Pasteurized) almond does not resemble a raw (Live) almond.

That little bit of food-for-thought has nothing to do with whether or not it is wise to pasteurize this high quality Live food in the first place.

The issue raised by the plan is not merely that all California almonds will now be sterilized, but that cooked almonds will be deliberately and falsely labeled as raw.
I am simply making the point that it is important and on less than fair, that the information on a food package be reliable.

It’s only right, and that should be enough, but beyond that, what with food sensitivities generally and common intolerances to “Heated Oils / Oxidized Fats” as just one example it can become a matter of health verses illness that consumers know whether they are eating raw or cooked almonds.

As to whether all almonds should automatically be sterilized (Heat treated / Cooked) and why…

Reportedly, the primary reasons for passing this law are two isolated outbreaks of salmonella, in conjunction with [conventional] almond farms a few years ago.

The almonds in the initial outbreak were traced to three California orchards that were all contaminated with SE (salmonella). SE also was isolated from unopened packages of the nuts.

Almonds are California’s largest agricultural crop, with an annual value of $1.5 billion; California produces approximately 80% of the world’s almonds and almost 100% of the almonds sold in the United States

In May of 2004 the almond industry suddenly found itself a salmonella outbreak that sickened more than two dozen people and prompted a nationwide recall.
Federal regulators have received reports of 25 people falling ill, most likely from raw almonds supplied by Paramount Farms in California.

Organically grown almonds were not implicated, and to the best of my knowledge no salmonella outbreaks have EVER been associated with organic almonds. Consumers of organic produce will likely be the most bothered by the prohibition of Raw/Live nuts.

Admittedly, many of us are “Raw/Live Nuts”. And darn proud of it!

At least 5 percent of the commercial (Conventionally grown) almonds consumed in the United States are consumed raw, according to the industry. Likely a much higher percentage of organic almonds are consumed raw.

What about salmonella?

Well a severe case is no fun and according to the CDC, approximately 1.4 million cases of Salmonella contamination occur annually in the US, with about 40,000 being culture-confirmed cases, leading to an estimated 1,000 deaths each year. But eating almonds is NOT the easiest way to contract the infection. Eating a nut is just about the hardest way to pick up a salmonella infection

More on this soon…

What is salmonella?
Salmonella is a bacterium that is found in the intestines of many animals. There are many types of salmonella, most of which can infect humans. Illness from salmonella can vary from mild diarrhea to serious disease, such as typhoid fever.

What are the symptoms of salmonella infection?
For most people, salmonella causes diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever. The person feels like heck. In fact, many (Some say most) cases of the flue (Influenza) are actually mis-diagnosed or mis-assumed, and are in fact food poisoning and a high percentage of food poisonings are specifically salmonella infections. In salmonella poisoning blood or mucous may appear in the stool. The diarrhea and other symptoms usually begin 18-36 hours after exposure and may last 48-72 hours, but the person may carry salmonella in his body for weeks or months and be able to infect others.
Rarely, salmonella can get into the blood and infect organs such as the heart, lungs, and bones. Death from salmonella is rare.

How is salmonella spread?

Because salmonella is most commonly found in animals, people often become infected by eating foods contaminated with the bacteria (((usually foods of animal origin such as meats, poultry, and eggs))). Salmonella is passed in the stool and people can also become infected by coming into contact and accidentally consuming feces from an infected animal or other human.

Young children are often infected after handling pets such as chicks, ducklings, and especially reptiles, such as iguanas and turtles.

How is salmonella treated?

In most cases, the only treatment is to drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration. A doctor may give antibiotics to those at risk for severe complications. As soon as this link is active (((click here))) for rational treatment suggestions

How can salmonella be prevented?

* Don’t eat or drink animal products

* Wash hands well after using the toilet, cleaning the toilet, after changing diapers, after handling soiled towels or linens, and after handling pets and pet cages.

* Wash hands well before, during, and after fixing food.

* If you do eat animals, please thoroughly cook all foods from animal sources, especially chicken, beef, pork, meat dishes, and eggs.

* And after preparing raw meat, thoroughly wash and rinse all utensils, bowls, and counters.

* Use a separate cutting board to prepare raw meats.

* And use a clean plate for cooked meat.

* Never return cooked meat to the same plate used for raw meat.

* Marinade or BBQ sauce used on raw meat should not be used on cooked meat.

* Do not eat raw or partially cooked eggs, as in eggnog or homemade ice cream.

* Pay attention to the fact that most of these suggestions have to do with eating or handling animal products… and that in the same list of cautions about exposure to “Flesh and Dairy” are notes on safe “Toilet” etiquette.

This is not my list, it reflects what the FDA and the CDC (Center for Disease Control) state, and clearly helps illustrate how dangerous it is to eat meat and dairy… and also… just how easily you can be contaminated just by touching something that many people eat without a thought.

* Keep food at proper refrigeration temperatures.

* Keep pets out of food-preparation areas.

* Do not clean pet or reptile cages in the kitchen sink or in the bathtub.

* Iguanas or other reptiles should not be allowed to roam the house.

* Do not let children handle reptiles without supervision.

* Reptiles should not be kept in childcare centers.

* Households with children under 5, pregnant women, and persons with depressed immune systems, such as AIDS, should not have reptiles.

* Periodically do a parasite cleanse… Everyone in the house including pets.

But even if producing uncontaminated raw almonds were not possible with out some kind of sterilization , and of course it is possible, why kill them with heat when there are other technologies that can be employed to kill harmful microorganisms without requiring heat pasteurization.

Ozone treatment, and CO2 fumigation to name two, are extremely effective at reducing microorganisms and yet require no high temperatures. And there are others.

The false information labeling rule goes into effect in the Fall of 2007. It’s only months away.

If you value the live-ness of raw food and / or just don’t like being lied to, let them know what you think. If we put the pressure on we can shed light on an important issue which could preserve our access to “Live” almonds, and hopefully will at least make it harder for processors to print lies where only truth is appropriate and where the difference can be a matter of life or death. Please, help us chose LIFE.

I predict that there will be significant outrage and response to help the cause. But people need to know about the sneaky dealings, so please tell everyone you can and hopefully the California Almond Board will hear from enough of us to make a difference and to make a point.

By the way, you may want stock up on almonds now because I’m guessing that if we do not get an agreeable response in a timely fashion there will be an organized boycott of California Almonds… We will do what we must to preserve “Truth in labeling” and raw food integrity.

A watchdog Mike Adams has some thoughts on the situation.

At the end of Mike’ article Food Scam: Almond Board of California to falsely label pasteurized almonds as “raw” is the main contact info that has been used this week and I suggest (Ask) that you make good use of it. But if you would like to do more please contact any or all of the people below.

This list was forwarded by my brother and was probably generated by someone in Mendocino California where they really don’t like getting pushed around or having their rights trampled.

These are the people to contact….please fax, call
or email them and if you are in the neighborhood, drop in and pay a friendly visit

And the suggestion is’ don’t ask, but politly demand:

1. A true almond label that states clearly that ”
almonds have been
pasteurized”

2. A second consumer choice label that warns that
the “almonds are raw and
unprocessed”.

3. That you will not tolerate the pasteurization of
your almonds and having
them still labeled as a “raw almond”. That this is a
fraud and a lie.

4. Tell them that the proposed marketing order
denies consumers of freedom
to identify and choose whole unprocessed foods.

5. And you may as well let them know that there will be a major boycott

Marketing Committee Members

Scott Hunter, Chairman

Hunter Farms

12237 Rose Avenue

Livingston, CA 95334

Work: (209) 564-9991

Fax: (209) 394-8007

Email: scotthunter@nextel.blackberry.net

Dan Cummings, Vice Chairman

Cummings-Violich, Inc.

1750 Dayton Road

Chico, CA 95928

Work: (530) 894-5494

Fax: (530) 891-4946

E-mail: dcummings@cvinc.ws

Stacey Humble, Associate Director, Global Marketing
www.shumble@almondboard.com

John O’Shaughnessy

Blue Diamond Growers

1802 C Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

Work: (916) 446-8576

Fax: (916) 446-8461

Email: joshaughnessy@bdgrowers.com

Susan Brauner

Blue Diamond Growers

1802 C Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

Work: (916) 446-8354

Fax: (916) 325-2880

E-mail: sbrauner@bdgrowers.com

Board of Directors of the California Almond Board

Chairman David Phippen

13909 Leroy Ave.

Ripon, CA 95366 (209) 599-6111 (209) 599-4008 fax

Vice Chair Doug Youngdahl

Blue Diamond Growers P.O. Box 1768

Sacramento, CA 95812 (916) 446-8595 (916) 329-3320
fax

Member Susan Brauner

Blue Diamond Growers P.O. Box 1768

Sacramento, CA 95812 (916) 446-8354 (916) 325-2880
fax

Member Wil Hunter

Hunter Farms 1621 N. Lincoln

Livingston, CA 95334 (209) 277-5840 (209) 394-8007
fax

Member Christine Long

Hilltop Ranch, Inc. 13890 Looney Rd.

Ballico, CA 95303 (209) 874-1875 (209) 874-1877 fax

Member Mike Mason

Panoche Creek Packing 15810 Arabella Ave.

Bakersfield, CA 93312 (661) 746-7877 (661) 746-7875
fax

Member Dean Nelson

Sierra Valley Almonds, LLC 12800 W. Shields Ave.
Kerman, CA 93630

(559) 280-2148 (559) 843-9010 fax

Member Dan Cummings

Cummings-Violich, Inc. 1750 Dayton Road

Chico, CA 95928 (530) 894-5494 (530) 891-4946 fax

Member Rick Kindle

Gold Hills Nut Co., Inc. 11805 Newport Rd.

Ballico, CA 95303 (209) 634-2022 (209) 634-0407 fax

Member Doug Wells 16508 W. River Rd.

Livingston, CA 95334 (209) 394-7246

Mark A. Kastel

The Cornucopia Institute

kastel@cornucopia.org

608-625-2042 Voice

866-861-2214 Fax

Please communicate your concerns to the following office:

http://www.almondboard.com/utilities/FORMContactUs.cfm

http://www.almondboard.com/utilities/FORMContactUs.cfm

The Almond Board of California
1150 Ninth Street, Suite 1500
Modesto, CA 95354 USA

Their phone number is
Telephone: (209) 549-8262
Fax: (209) 549-8267

Thanks a lot!

Billy

P.S.

There is another interesting and threatening side issue attached to the “Sterilization mania” that is underway.

There is a corporate move underway to sterilize (Castrate, desexualize, emasculate, fix, geld, make impotent, make infertile, mutilate, spay, neuter, subvert, supersede, terminate-the-life force-of, efface, expunge, invalidate, a-vitalize, kill, negate, nix, nullify) all commercially relevant plant producing seeds, (Nuts are seeds). And then [big chem companies] to supply all the seeds for everything that is grown as food or feed, and eventually floral plants as well.

The conniving conspirators here are the world’s biggest and richest chemical conglomerates. Clearly, Monsanto, rated at about 80% of the problem is “public enemy number one” and that heartless mega-corp enjoys the nearly full support of the U.S. federal government. A lot of money changes hands, a lot of “Favors” are exchanged, a lot of science is twisted and a lot of whistle blowing is silenced by what ever means are required.

The seed that the chemical giants supply will only produce Mule Plants (Sterile Plants) which are seedless, or produce “Dead” seeds.

This way, anytime anyone wishes to grow just about anything, oh say, beans in the back yard to feed the hungry kids, of the varieties of food plants grown on small and large farms that pass through the market and end up on your table they will have to pay the likes of Monsanto illegitimate ransom for a packet of seeds… and the seeds will be designed to require the application of poison chemicals also sold only by the big chem. Giant(s)

This would create a dependence on the big chemical companies who’s aim it is to own all major seed suppliers, and who obviously manufacture all the poison agricultural chemicals, and who ARE also the GMO monsters who’s irresponsible experiments forced upon the people and the planet threaten food security in a whole new innovatively morose way.

Look here for more informative articles on the GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms), Bio-Tech insanity threatening food security.
Get it
Thanks!

Billy

Filed under: Alerts! on April 4th, 2007