As I write today’s blog, at the end of August, our birdies' luscious almonds are being hand picked on an organic orchard in California. If we are lucky we may even have a video or picture of this for our product page. I’m excited because this means that we now have a source for truly raw unpasteurized almonds. Why does this matter you ask?
On September 1, 2007, the USDA, FDA and ABC (Almond Board of California) passed a federal mandate dictating the pasteurization of all almonds grown in the U.S.A., Canada and Mexico. Currently, all almonds sold in the USA for human consumption must be either gassed with toxic propylene oxide (PPO) or pasteurized. Unpasteurized almonds grown in Italy and Spain are still permitted in the United States, but not in Canada due to recent laws. This is all due to the occasional occurrence of Salmonella.
Pasteurization is more expensive than PPO gassing, and therefore almost all non-organic almonds imported into Canada are now gassed. PPO poses severe risks to human health and was banned in Canada in the early 80's when studies showed it to be a carcinogen. It was also classified as a possible human carcinogen by the World Health Organization in 1994. Proponents of PPO state that the gas evaporates and only a minimal amount of residue is left on the almond.
Organic almonds undergo pasteurization. Some companies have started using steam pasteurization, which may retain more of the beneficial qualities of almonds and an even less invasive “flash” process is now being used as well. But by definition, pasteurization applies heat that can kill the embryo. This reduces the nutritional properties and benefits of almonds by altering the fats at a molecular level and breaking down sugars into less healthy forms.
Most of us have no idea what process store-bought almonds have been through because there are no laws that require this information be disclosed on the labels.
However, our almonds from that organic orchard in California are tumbled and air cleaned only. Our best defence against tainted foods is ensuring our Parrots have a healthy immune system and we start the process by giving them the best foods we can.
I’m with Lady Gaga on this - raw raw ooh la-la!!