cancer fighting food, but that's what the U.S. Department of
Agriculture has ordered on all almonds beginning September 1, 2007.
The order requires almonds be pasteurized by quick-steaming or
spraying with propylene oxide (PPO), a known carcinogen. In fact PPO
is so bad that the National Hot Rod and American Motorcycle Racing
Associations have banned its use, because it is so dangerous.
Even after the process, growers can label their almonds as "raw." Raw
almonds are normally rich in flavonoids, which are known for their
antioxidant activity. Antioxidants have been proven to fight against
cancer and heart disease.
http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/jafcau/2006/54/i14/abs/jf0603937.html
Dr. Robert Verkerk of the Health Freedom Foundation said that "even
with a few seconds exposure to steam, some of the vitamins and enzymes
will be degraded from their original state. Obviously this happens
every time we cook foods, but it does mean that a truly raw nut will
be likely to have a slightly different profile to one which is steam
pasteurized."
http://www.healthfreedom.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=275&Itemid=
Almonds sprayed with PPO can't be exported to the European Union.
Carbon dioxide treatment that is increasingly used in grain may be
less damaging than steam.
http://asae.frymulti.com/abstract.asp?aid=23553&t=2.
If you are in the United States, you can protest this action by
expressing your opposition to your Congressman. Go to
http://www.house.gov/ to find your Congressman.
