Fw: VERY IMPORTANT ABOUT ALMONDS -- Organic Bytes #116: Top news, alerts and tips of the week

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USDA SAYS ALMONDS LABELED AS 'RAW' OR 'ORGANIC' MUST BE PASTEURIZED

Organic Bytes #116: Top news, alerts and tips of the week

ORGANIC BYTES #116Health, Justice and Sustainability News Tidbits with an Edge!

8/23/2007

Written and edited by Craig Minowa and Ronnie Cummins

IN THIS ISSUE

* ALERT OF THE WEEK: USDA SAYS ALMONDS LABELED AS 'RAW' OR 'ORGANIC' MUST BE PASTEURIZED * GRASSROOTS SUCCESS STORY OF THE WEEK: MONSANTO"S BOVINE GROWTH HORMONE BEING DRIVEN OFF THE MARKET * SUSTAINABILITY NEWS OF THE WEEK: NEW YORK TIMES EXPOSES USDA SABOTAGING ORGANICS * ONE OF WORLD'S BIGGEST CHARITIES PROTESTS U.S. SUBSIDIES * STUDY OF THE WEEK: FOOD GIANTS BRAINWASHING KIDS * ORGANIC BYTES READERS TALK BACK: --CLARIFICATION ON CORPORATE BUYOUTS-- --EATING ETHANOL PRODUCTION WASTE? COWS AREN'T GARBAGE DISPOSALS-- * PLANTING PEACE VIDEO OF THE WEEK: YOUNG IRAQ WAR VETERANS TELL US ABOUT A GROWING SOLDIERS' REBELLION THAT COULD STOP THE WAR

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ALERT OF THE WEEK: USDA SAYS ALMONDS LABELED AS 'RAW' OR 'ORGANIC' MUST BE PASTEURIZEDUnder 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