Raw-Revolution Bars - New To Me

[Doe]

Yesterday I went to Ocala to see mom and stopped at the HFS. I almost never look at the stuff on the shelves but this happened to catch my eye. I only bought one Chocolate & Coconut bar. It was good, very much like RP's Brownies.

teri

[juliebove]

I buy these for my daughter. I can't eat them because they have almonds in them. At least the flavors I was interested in.

[LightLover]

I just mailed them:

Hi,
Can you tell me why there is no tresholdtemperature on your bar?
I would like to see a text like: all ingredients in this product
are not heatend above the temperature of .... degrees Fahrenheit.
Educating is important, and the word raw doesn't mean anything
(is not objevtive) without explanation.

I have to be a little bit like a schoolmaster. :o

LL

[Doe]

Yes, the one I got has almonds. The woman said they have had them there a good while.

[Doe]

LightLover, I agree.

What the FDA actually constitutes as raw is utterly rediculous. It is something like not heated above (315) for longer that (10) min. Wish I remembered where that is. My numbers may be high but it was totally absurd.

That's why the nut butters on the shelf can be labeled "RAW" and still sit in warehouses and on the shelf rather than needing refrigeration.

[andypdx]

I just mailed them:

Hi,
Can you tell me why there is no tresholdtemperature on your bar?
I would like to see a text like: all ingredients in this product
are not heatend above the temperature of .... degrees Fahrenheit.
Educating is important, and the word raw doesn't mean anything
(is not objevtive) without explanation.

I have to be a little bit like a schoolmaster. :o

LL
I used to eat these. In fact, in the cupboard, I have an entire case of these uneaten. As part of my investigations into the "raw-ness" of the products I was consuming, I emailed several companies to get the skinny. I emailed this company asking them about the maximum temperature to which their ingredients were subjected - TWICE!

I never got a reply.

I figured that if they didn't want to own up to their manufacturing process, I wasn't going to eat their products.

Perhaps we should ALL email them today. Perhaps THIS will get their attention???

[LightLover]

LightLover, I agree.

What the FDA actually constitutes as raw is utterly rediculous. It is something like not heated above (315) for longer that (10) min. Wish I remembered where that is. My numbers may be high but it was totally absurd.

That's why the nut butters on the shelf can be labeled "RAW" and still sit in warehouses and on the shelf rather than needing refrigeration.

Doe, do ya think that all nutbutters that are raw, following the rawfood-temperature rules, can only be sold right from the refrigarator?
And is this implying that butters on the shelf are not raw?
Is this also true for other kinds of products?
Interesting issue..

thanks, LL

[Damzlfly]

I used to eat these. In fact, in the cupboard, I have an entire case of these uneaten. As part of my investigations into the "raw-ness" of the products I was consuming, I emailed several companies to get the skinny. I emailed this company asking them about the maximum temperature to which their ingredients were subjected - TWICE!

I never got a reply.

I figured that if they didn't want to own up to their manufacturing process, I wasn't going to eat their products.

Perhaps we should ALL email them today. Perhaps THIS will get their attention???

I have a few of these as well...I am in the process of 'cleaning house' in the processed raw department. I'm taking them on my trip next week with hopes to pawn some off on my aunt and use them as lunches and just get rid of them. No more of that crap for me. Convenient, yes...but fresh is better.

[Dimond]

The chocolate is not raw, but I never was able to get a clear answer on how raw the others are.

[LightLover]

Andypdx, do you have a list of raw products which are proved ok after your research..? ;)

LL

[Doe]

LightLover, nut butter that still contains enzymes will last up to 6 mo. without refrigeration. So if made at home or made to order there is no need to refrigerate if it will be used in that amount of time.

The nuts in the butters on the shelf were very likely raw prior to grinding. However either in the grinding or canning process the enzymes were destroyed. Otherwise there would have to be refrigerated to prevent spoilage since sitting time in warehouses and stores may be anywhere from several months to years.

Many do eat MaraNatha or other brands of raw butters that are on the shelf. EachPeachPearPlum said just today or maybe yesterday that it is what they use. I believe Rawkinlocs also uses them.

Each person must choose their own battles. If refrigerated is not available where you live and you don't want to make it or order it online, then do the best you can.

[LightLover]

Doe,

So all (not cooled) shelfproducts with have, let's say more than 6 months shelflife, have a (big) reduced enzymactivity..?:eek:

ll

[Somtam]

A few months ago, I purchased some of these bars from Amazon. After I had gone through more than half the case, probably 5-6 weeks after the purchase was made, I got an e-mail notification from Amazon saying that the manufacturer had recalled the chocolate-raspberry bars because they believed their big curly metal pot scrubber got mixed into the batter. :eek:

I didn't remember feeling any aluminum-flavored, crunchy bits in my mouth as I ate the bars. But then I wasn't consciously looking for tiny remnants of pot scrubbers in my mouth. At that time, I had about 5-6 bars left and was too lazy to return it for a refund. While I thought the manufacterer proved itself responsible in alerting our attention to this (or was it a preemptive measure to prevent possible lawsuits?), this whole experience kind of turned me off on this particular brand.

[LightLover]

Have a nice meal !! Just read this answer below from the company.
Well, at least she did respond quick, so maybe in the future this will be a fine product.

------
Wow, Alice, about quick professional answers you are the best!

Believe me: I think in the future the companies which are in the deepest detail clear about these processes

will sell the most, even when not 100% raw, according to the treshholdstandards.

Don't forget also to update the package itself.

regards, Marcel

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 11:24:57 -0700
From: alice@rawindulgence.com
Subject: Re: your raw-revolution bars
To: marcelikelaar@hotmail.com
CC: dave@rawindulgence.com


Marcel, you are right. We are in the process of updating our website to include more information. The coconut is heated above 120 and the cocoa powder is not raw. We do not use really raw cashews, we use raw conventional. If you have any other feedback, we appreciate it. On our new packaging, I will discusss with my partner what you suggested.
hope that helps
thanks!
Alice Benedetto
President
Raw Indulgence

marcel ikelaar <marcelikelaar@hotmail.com> wrote:

[Doe]

Somtam, :eek:

I am not one to buy raw bars. Actually, I've only bought 2, ever. The first was a Larabar and was gross. It was very, very dry. This one tasted good. It is not something I'm likely to buy again though. It's too easy to make my own when the craving strikes.

Anything that is processed, even at home, can end up with something that does not belong there. Not long after receiving my Vitamix as a gift I made one of the cheesecakes posted here. Never having made one and without specific directions I put everything in the container and started blending.

It was very frustrating to say the least. The blender kept overheating and shutting off. After maybe 5 or 6 times trying to get this stuff blended I inadvertently stuck the pusher in without the lid on. It cracked the pusher and sent it and my hand flying. I spent maybe half an hour going through the filling to make sure there was no black plastic specks in it. There were not and I finished the filling and we ate it.

I now know to grind the nuts first and add the lime juice, then the other ingredients that have been gently warmed to thin them. It now takes less than 10 minutes to have it ready to pop in the refrigerator and most of that time is forming the crust.

LightLover, I've been thinking and it may have been only 2 or 3 months and not 6.

My neighbor ordered me some raw nut butter fresh made once and it got held up in the delivery process due to holidays. After it finally arrived she contacted the maker to see if it was still good to eat after maybe a week of not being refrigerated. That's when she was given the info about shelf life. It's been a couple of years ago so I'm not sure what it was. My mind is going with the 2 or 3 at the moment.

It would really depend on the product as to how long it will last fresh before spoiling. Something that will sit and never spoil does not have enzyme activity. That is why the shelled nuts in the baking section of the store are steamed to kill the enzymes and then dried before packaging. Otherwise they would go rancid before ever being sold.

We keep our fresh shelled nuts in the freezer until used. I'm not sure how long it would take for them to go rancid. I do remember that happening in my childhood to unprotected shelled pecans.

By law a raw nut must be labeled "Raw". This protects people from getting them unknowingly. So if it is not in the shell and does not say "Raw" it is not. If it does say "Raw" it is according to FDA standards but may not be to the raw foodist. That is why almonds will still be labeled "Raw" even after being pasteurized. The government standards are not the same as those of the raw foodist. To them the almonds will still be raw, to us they will not.

teri

[LightLover]

Somtam, :eek:


It would really depend on the product as to how long it will last fresh before spoiling. Something that will sit and never spoil does not have enzyme activity.

teri

* Maybe products like "miso" are an exception. They do have enzymactivity I think and have a long shelflife. So maybe the nutbutters also have some activity, even if they have a longer shelflife? Although they miss the ferments
which the miso gives the activity.

* To make it a little complicated: it is not so that products with a short shelflife always do have enzymactivity: look for example at bread.

LL

[LightLover]

Like playing card: pass me the mango, i give you the almonds.:)

ll

[littleangelbear]

The 'raw' energy bars have so much fat, IMHO. It's just not that energizing to me LOL. It's nice to have an option though if you're traveling, etc. I do Larabars now and then when I'm flying out west (it's a 3hr. flight for me and I don't feel like foraging in the airport LOL). But, I can't do a lot of nuts and fat, especially before I workout...so, I tend to use smoothies more :)

[Doe]

LightLover, now that is a very good idea. Do almonds grow there? They would still be raw when ours are not? You could go into business selling raw almonds!!! Or you could get a lot of people trading some really good stuff.

littleanglebear, I agree. They are a sometimes thng even homemade.

teri

[belleadonna]

I tried these once and didn't like them at all. I much prefer Think Organic Raw bars. They are (r)awesome.

[LightLover]

littleangelbear : I mostly think they are to sweet and not to fat.
If they lower the fat, than they will be even sweeter..
That's how different people can be.:rolleyes:


ll

[LightLover]

LightLover, now that is a very good idea. Do almonds grow there? They would still be raw when ours are not? You could go into business selling raw almonds!!! Or you could get a lot of people trading some really good stuff.

littleanglebear, I agree. They are a sometimes thng even homemade.

teri

Haha Doe, there is not so much growing here in abundance ..just like my hair, (pass me the hair please, Pierre...) maybe the "warming-up"
will help? You know my posts and I think you believe i will never sell
something that is not completely understood and clear..
Are you my first customer..? :D

ll

[LightLover]

I tried these once and didn't like them at all. I much prefer Think Organic Raw bars. They are (r)awesome.

I can't buy them over here. But also this product only says "raw" on their website, without temperature-explanation. So that's no guarantee...


LL

[littleangelbear]

littleangelbear : I mostly think they are to sweet and not to fat.
If they lower the fat, than they will be even sweeter..
That's how different people can be.

I don't personally like things that are overly sweet or overly fat :) So, that is why energy bars don't work very well for me--unless I make my own, that is :)

Yep, everyone IS different :) I am not trying to create any argumentation in this thread or dissonance--I was just sharing my own 2 cents. Though we all have different tastes and things that work for us, we're all still all human and for my own spiritual beliefs, we are all One, a part of the greater whole :)

Namaste,
L

[belleadonna]

I can't buy them over here. But also this product only says "raw" on their website, without temperature-explanation. So that's no guarantee...


LL

Well don't know about the temperature thing. They are made with just nuts, dates, coconut, cocoa, and the apricot ones with dried apricots. Wouldn't think one would need to heat that but who knows. I guess we could ask them. I love them though and they only have 9 grams of fat.

[momma-rawma]

I can't buy them over here. But also this product only says "raw" on their website, without temperature-explanation. So that's no guarantee...


LL

You can buy Think Organic from their website (cheaper than what I can get in my store!!!) not sure on the shipping costs though.

[andypdx]

Well don't know about the temperature thing. They are made with just nuts, dates, coconut, cocoa, and the apricot ones with dried apricots. Wouldn't think one would need to heat that but who knows. I guess we could ask them. I love them though and they only have 9 grams of fat.

Nuts: Often treated with high heat during shelling process
Dates: In many cases, they are dehydrated by application of direct heat.
Coconut: Usually dehydrated with direct heat
Cocoa: Almost definitely not raw cocoa
Apricots: ones with dried apricots.

The maker of the bar itself may have not used heat during the manufacturing process, but the ingredients that they used are more than likely NOT raw, primarily due to the fact that sourcing such ingredients comes at a MUCH HIGHER COST then using standard conventionally processed ingredients.

The sad truth is that most of the companies in the growing "raw food bar" market segment don't seem to give a flying flip about OUR interpretation of the word RAW. Since there are no strict federal guidelines for use of the word "raw", they use it with impunity.

If you sincerely care about eating foods that have not been processed over a certain temperature, AND you still wish to find products that will mesh with your ideas about convenience, then you will have to do a bit of research. As far as I can tell, none of the nationally popular "raw" bars are REALLY raw. I have seen a few exceptions with certain smaller boutique/regional companies, and others found online, but short of making your own bars with ingredients that are REALLY raw, your choices are going to be a bit limited (for the present time, at least)

[belleadonna]

Duly noted. Thanks. :D

[LightLover]

Andypdx, if you like to share, you can mail your "accepted products"
to me.

I am sure I can learn a lot from that.:)


LL