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This may or may not come as a surprise, but if you’re buying raw almonds grown in the United States, they’re not actually raw.
Even if they’re labeled “raw.”
It has been brought to my attention that some people still aren’t aware of this fact, so I thought it might be a good idea to revisit the topic today.
Effective September 2007, the USDA ordered all almond growers to “sterilize” almonds in one of several ways: heat them using steam, irradiate them using a controversial ionization process, roast or blanch them, or treat them with propylene oxide (PPO).
PPO is a known carcinogen, and most countries, including the EU, have banned imported nuts treated with PPO. The chemical is so nasty that it’s even been banned by both the National Hot Rod and American Motorcycle Racing Associations, where it had been used as a fuel additive before it was deemed too dangerous.
The new rule created deceptive labeling. Almonds that have undergone chemical treatments or heating for pasteurization are still labeled “raw.” Consumers who purchase “raw” almonds may well think that those almonds are natural and unprocessed. Moreover, there will be no label requirement to specify what kind of pasteurization treatment was used among the many approved methods or combination of options. [source]
Frustrating, isn’t it?
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Had I not been a raw food enthusiast at the time, this news would have probably slid right under my radar. As I recall, there wasn’t much media coverage, and I only found out about it through a raw food forum, full of outraged consumers worried about the impending ban.
In a panic, I drove to the nearest Trader Joe’s and bought as many jars of truly raw almond butter as I could possibly store in my pantry.
I was stocked up for at least 6 months.
When my supply had finally run out, I was surprised to find that even after the ban had passed, raw almonds and raw almond butter were still plentifully available on store shelves.
Only, it didn’t taste the same as the raw almond butter I stocked up on before the ban was passed.
That’s when I learned that even pasteurized almonds could be labeled as “raw.” In fact, they can be steamed, irradiated, or treated with chemicals, and still be labeled as raw!
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Luckily, there are still a couple loopholes for purchasing truly raw almonds:
1) You can buy directly from farmers–> either at farmer’s markets or online. My favorite online suppliers include:
- Bremner Farms sells unpasteurized raw organic almonds directly from their farm, starting with 5 lb boxes going up to 30 lb boxes.
- Amazon also sells truly raw almonds, like this 2 lb bag from Sunfood.
- Blue Mountain Organics sells truly raw Italian almonds, starting with bags as small as 8 oz. and up to 25 lbs.
- One Lucky Duck also sells unpasteurized raw organic almonds.
2) You can also buy almonds that were grown outside of the USA.
I’ve noticed that my local Whole Foods has started carrying truly raw Italian almonds near the bulk section. Check your local grocery store, or talk to the store manager to request that they start carrying them!
Note: If you do choose to buy raw almonds grown in the USA, I’d recommend sticking to organic varieties, to avoid the chemical pasteurization process. These pasteurized “raw” almonds tend to be cheaper than the truly raw varieties, and if you plan using them in grain-free baked goods, they don’t need to be raw anyway! However, avoiding chemicals is always a good thing, if you ask me.
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Reader Feedback: Were you aware of the raw almond pasteurization in the United States? If so, do you make an effort to buy truly raw almonds?
I had absolutely no idea about this. Thank you for bringing it up. Can’t tell you how much I’ve learned since finding your site!
This is new to me. Thank you for posting.. I am continually frustrated with the American food system.
I probably don’t know what true raw almonds taste like. I didn’t know this info, but was curious when I would buy what I thought were raw almonds and they tasted stale or steamed.
Makes me wonder what type of almonds are used in boxed organic almond milk!
My neurotic raw days are over…now I don’t care if they are raw or not, I just get organic almonds and am happy 🙂
As far as almond butter, I sometimes splurge and get the organic kind, but it’s a spendy habit and there are other investments I like better…aritisana coconut butter or tahini, hello!
I still buy the trader joe one from time to time but I don’t eat it that often. You have to weigh your risks…I eat so many awesome organic vegetables and healthy foods that even if they did use this chemical, which they may not, my exposure to it is very small. I imagine that there are chemicals just as bad used on non organic produce all the time…and in meat and dairy it’s probably way worse and I’m not exposed to those at all. So I take the minimal risk and get the benefit of eating one of my favorite foods once in a while 🙂 Truth be told, I eat way more peanut butter than almond butter anyway and I always buy the TJ organic one because it’s organic, it tastes awesome, it’s more cost effective, and I love it 🙂
Unfortunately, we probably breathe in much worse just walking outside in Los Angeles 🙁
Hi Jeanne, FYI – Even though I am a Nutritionist I don’t go too crazy with eating raw or watching everything, however, two substances I want to ensure are clean and stable is the fats and water I consumer. I believe they can make the greatest impact either good or bad on our bodies. So the biggest concern with nuts being processed or cooked is they may cause the very delicate polyunsaturated fats in them unstable causing them to be equivalent to trans fats and very toxic to our body.
Hi there, can you give me further information on what you feel is truly “safe” healthy water to drink? Thank you.
I’m totally shocked…I wonder whether I even know what real raw almonds taste like!
no, i wasnt, and now this makes perfect sense. we just bought a big bag of raw almonds at Sams Club (like costco) and i returned them after tasting them. they were awful. even the texture is different. they arent near as crunchy as real raw. This is so frustrating!
I also bought a bag of raw almonds from Sam’s ( last week) and they literally killed me ( I have been eating alomnds all my life), ended up in ER and the reaction was that bad that if there would have been a delay by couple of min I would have crashed right there and then.
now i am so scared…
This is so interesting and just another great example that the food labels often lie! Thank you for bringing this to my attention!
I highly recommend Briden Wilson Farm in California : http://www.homegrownalmonds.com/natural-raw-almonds.html I’ve been purchasing almonds from them for the past three years. They grow the almonds so you know exactly where they’re coming from.
unfortunately I cannot endorse this business. This is a CA Prop 8 endorser/donator. Thanks for suggestion. I’ll look elsewhere for raw almonds. Have a great day
To zungod… I also Buy locally and would rather support locally. So that being said, what’s wrong with buying unprocessed truly raw almonds directly from your local farmer…. Online.
I’ll buy from them because they supported Prop 8. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
Thanks for making mention of it, “zengod”!! 🙂 BECAUSE they ARE in support of Prop 8, I will make sure to support their business!!!
I heard from another e-mail source that all almonds from California have more toxins in them than the good.
Unfortunately, they’ve also allowed the continuous radiation contamination and deception of the triple meltdown in Japan to severely contaminate produce, fruits, nuts, meat, dairy, fish, sea salt, kelp, seaweed, water and everything food in CA, OR, WA, HI, AK, Mexico, Canada, the Pacific and the Gulf with massive amounts of Fluoride, Cesium, Iodine, and hundreds other radioactive toxins.. Be wise, avoid feeding your family food grown and produced with these dangerous isotopes or expect to see infertility, heart disease, cancer, thyroid illness, brain damage, organ damage, hair loss, bone damage and loss, fatigue, and a whole lot more. Nuclear energy is produced with Fluoride, Uranium and Plutonium.. Fluoride is worse than Utanium. I’m usually a big advocate for buying US so this is sad for me to do. In the last 3 years, we’ve stayed diligent knowing everything we consume is from other states while watching our neighbors and Friends, who’ve refused to believe it, just in 3 years, develop testicular cancer, kidney cancer, non-hodgkins, infertility (several couples), water on the heart and chronic infection, Hodgkin’s, rapid aging and hair loss, stopped menstrual cycles (16 yr old and 45 yr old), and mental illness.
Are you saying it’s not safe to buy food grown in the pacific NW? I live in WA state……
Hi Patty, I’m very much interested in your research. Could you please share more for I have been seeking answers regarding the food industry and why the attack on our foods or moreso people. I live in Washington State. I’m open to knowledge, please share….
Purposely,
Lee
Hi Lee, I can’t find any studies supporting what Patty says, but I do see a National Academy of Sciences study that demonstrates the amount of additional radiation exposure from eating blue fin tuna after the Fukushima disaster is less than the naturally occurring exposure from eating a single banana. I think you’re going to be okay in Washington.
There’s a very interesting Radiolab podcast called Double Blasted about a man who happened to be in both Japanese cities when they were bombed. People thought that the descendents of victims of those attacks would be marked for thousands of years, but that hasn’t happened.
Regardless of all that, take care and live well,
Casey
Thank you! I’ve been looking for a supplier of raw almonds and will add this one to my list.
I was aware of the US not having truly raw almonds anymore but am able to easily pick up almonds from other places here. Though to be fair, who’s to say what their laws are? I’ve never checked any others and like yourself only knew about the USA law due to also coming from a raw food background.
Well, other countries do not have their political process controlled by big-ag corporations the way it is here. (Although Britain is moving in that direction) They actually protect their people before corporate profit. If I cant find organic, my next step is find something imported from the European Union.
I don’t focus too much on choosing raw foods, but the labeling loophole is scary! Food companies get away with so much.
SO True!