The big RAW fraud!

[T-Bird]

This is so frustrating!

Raw almonds are not raw. On a thread on the food section, raw agave is not always raw. And even if it is, seems it maybe like HFCS for the body anyway:eek:

All of trader's joes nuts are not raw. Can we trust their dates??? I'm not going to!

Can you imagine how many people hear about the raw food deal - like it conceptually - give it a try and decide that it is a fraud???

Because 50% of their supposedly raw diet was NOT raw due to fraudulently labeled products? And with the nuts - 50% of their diet may have been 80% of their calories!!!!

so then just to make sure everything is REALLY raw - we end up paying alot more money.

AS noted in another thread - truly raw should be easier to process (think almonds) and should be cheaper. But not!

Because of RAW FRAUD!

[eating2live]

Even TJs raw sunflower seeds?

Oops, I just read the other thread. Crap!

[T-Bird]

According to another thread - they are steam treated!

some report successful sprouting....idk!

[Aleesha Sattva]

time to take a deep breath and realize that most of what you want can be found...

no need to freak out... we've all known this for a long time :)

[Veronica01]

LOL Anything mass produced usually is treated with something anyways. It will be ok, it's everyone's choice to eat things like pastuerized nuts, agave, soy sauce etc.

You can live almost 100% raw without them tho, on fruits, veggies, greens, truly raw nuts and avocado... then without question you are raw. It's a choice what we put in our bodies. :)

[green jeanie]

oh veronica grasshopper.....raw is teaching you something particularly beautiful!;)

[filteredglitch]

i just do my best with everything i eat. sometimes it's not 100%, but i don't worry too much about it. no need to add stress. :)

[T-Bird]

Anything mass produced usually is treated with something anyways. It will be ok, it's everyone's choice to eat things like pastuerized nuts, agave, soy sauce etc.

It makes being raw sooooooo much more difficult. Not as in hard - as in tricky.


There's a thread right now someone thinking they had raw cashew butter......ground themselves at whole foods. The bin says "raw" and they believe it!

How many people give up thinking raw doesn't work? How many are trying so hard - making their own food from almonds and cashews they think are raw and aren't?

I can't believe you guys take this so lightly, honestly. Sure us nerds here are confabulating and putting our heads together to get to the bottom of this - and understand what the deal is. But for every one of us - there's probably 10 out there with WF and TJ nuts and dried fruits thinking they gave raw a real chance and that it just didn't work.

I for one think it's sad.

And I for one think "raw" on a label aught to mean something - mean it's raw.

[Aleesha Sattva]

if you don't succeed eating raw - it's not because you are taking in some non-raw nuts which you thought were raw.

does it please us that we can't buy raw nuts except from a very good source? no not particularly but hey, it's life! i have better things to concern myself with... it's one of those "why sweat the small stuff... and everything is small stuff" kinda things *smiling*

[juliew]

So can we trust nuts from rawguru.com?

[spicyfull]

I don't think its a fraud. I think you must read the fine print. RAW means different thing to some people, like here some say they are RAW and then they proceed to tell you what Percentage :confused:.

[T-Bird]

I don't think its a fraud. I think you must read the fine print. RAW means different thing to some people, like here some say they are RAW and then they proceed to tell you what Percentage .

How about the "vegetarians" who eat fish - and sometimes chicken????

You want to hit them over the head with a dictionary and say - look it up!

[Veronica01]

oh veronica grasshopper.....raw is teaching you something particularly beautiful!;)

Aww you're so cute.. haha thanks


T-Bird I really think you are not understanding the whole concept raw food is based on. Whole natural foods found in nature. We have been accustomed to premade, packaged processed foods and if you try to convince people to go raw or yourself to stay raw strictly because you eat raw desserts, treats, dehydrated items, questionable nuts, complicated dishes it's just tricking you to switch toxic food for raw food imitated to taste like toxic food...

A lot of raw people live either gourmet raw or simple raw and either way it's not really bothering most of them because it's a choice what you use for "ingredients" or eat as whole food.

When my family comes to town i am not going to go all out and make every single meal gourmet raw and TRICK them into thinking they can only live raw if they eat high nuts and oils and heavy meals that sit like rocks in their stomaches. I'm thinking for breakfast i will do green smoothies and fruit salads, for lunch fruit salad and green salad and maybe a raw semi-gourmet dinner and maybe a dessert, but not every night. It's great that people get interested in raw because the food can be gourmet and tastes amazing, but you will probably fail and eat cooked food when you travel or eat at a friend's if you never worked on eating simple whole fruits and greens as the staple to your diet.

A lot of people here that aren't concerned have been raw for a while and they know how often they like to eat gourmet or simple. Once you accept that you are responsible for all the food you "process" and cannot rely on industry for truly raw treats 100% of the time you might feel better.

I never fooled myself into thinking half the nuts i've eaten or agave as being raw as it's common sense that US regulations mandate pastuerization on almost everything.

[kaybee]

T-Bird--

I do definitely see your concern here. I also realize what others are saying about dont stress to much about it, but i do think that T Bird has a point here: IF it is true that not-truly-raw foods dont get assimilated into the body as well, and or in fact that the body does not even recognize them as "food" and/or has an IMMUNE RESPONSE to them and/or WHATEVER, then people who are trying raw, who do not get results from raw, but who are using things they are led to beleive are raw, but that really arent, will write raw off, thinking that it doesnt work, when really, they werent even really raw in the first place because some of the ingredients out of which they were getting a significant portion of their diet WERENT REALLY RAW. i think this IS a serious and frustrating issue, both for us individually, and for the promotion of the raw foods lifestyle and whether it "works." sure, many of these people are probably eating a far better diet even using "not really raw "raw"" products, but not everyone will experience this. to be honest, alot of my experience on raw has been frustrating, compared to other peoples. i ended up on raw because it is the only thing that doesnt make me feel awful. but thats not to say that it makes me feel phenomenal, either. I have not experienced the amazing energy, profound (or any) weightloss, or many other of the significant positive changes in their health that others have. But I was already eating cooked vegan (or mostly vegan anyway) , mostly wholefood before i started raw, so my diet was already fairly clean; perhaps then there wasnt as much "room" for my health to improve... but i really havent noticed the phenomenal changes. My point is just that there is a gap somewhere in my diet. something isnt quite right. AND I WONDER IF IT COULD BE THIS PERCENTAGE OF NOT-REALLY-RAW "raw" foods that is responsible, because this is something i think we often overlook, or just plain are not aware of, because of "treatment"/processing of natural foods that we arent aware of. I try to be careful about my stuff being raw... but T Bird is right--its very difficult sometimes. VERY. AND not to mention considerably more expensive, oftentimes. AND you often cant just go into a shop and buy stuff, you have to mail order it. OK, case in point: my pumpkin seeds wont sprout. they are organic pumpkin seeds, and i was hoping to plant them in the garden to get more of whatever kind of squash produces them. but they wont sprout. they are the only brand of pumpkin seeds available anywhere for miles, as far as i know, because they come in bulk from the wholefoods distributor who supplies all the health food shops. Other examples: white sesame seeds are usually warm temperature dried, above raw temperatures from what i understand, so they really arent raw either. we all know about cashews, and now of course theres the almond thing. i live in ireland, and guess where the natural health food bulk distributor gets their non-organic almonds from? the US...CALIFORNIA, I BELIEVE. so guess what? these arent really raw either, BUT NOONE IN THIS COUNTRY KNOWS IT!! I TRIED TO TELL THEM AT THE DISTRIBUTOR!! i used to live in seattle and the local hfs in my neighborhood ALSO did not know they were now using pasteurized almonds. ive heard that even hazelnuts have something done to them. most brazil nuts are high temperature dried. unhulled hemp seeds in the US are always sterilized. and the list goes on... So how raw really is your food? of course we want to focus our diet on fresh fruits and veggies, BUT EVEN THOSE ARE NOT FREE FROM HAVING BEEN MANIPULATED! and also, some people just need more nuts and seeds etc in their diets than others. Oh, and dont even get me started on oils.... theres a thread on here somewhere about an olive oil brand that i used to buy--says ON THE BOTTLE pressed below 99.5 degrees F or something. and cold pressed. and organic. so you would THINK that its raw, right? guess what? someone emailed the company and EVEN THOUGH THEY PRESS AT A LOW TEMP, THEY ACTUALLY HEAT THE OLIVES BEFOREHAND OR SOMETHING. so again, not really raw. and... did you know that the organic mangoes that you buy that are shipped in from mexico are HOT WATER BATHED? used to work at an organic produce delivery service. says it on the box. i always wondered why only about half (if that) the ones i brought home ripened properly and the rest rotted before ripening.... Even some SEAWEEDS that you would expect to be raw arent... and things like "raw" tahini--not really raw unless you pay like 20 bucks for it out of the refrigerator case--and even THEN it says on it that though they monitor the grinding temperature, the seeds were STILL warm temperature dried !!! ARGH!!

ok my point is that its great if some people can use alot of these "not really raw:" foods and not worry about it, or not have it affect them, and certainly many people who switch from SAD to RAW are eating a much much better diet than before. BUT, I am one of those people that TBird is talking about, in a certain sense, because I havent found raw to work as radically for me as it seems that it should, at least based on what other people have experienced with it. Now, im not saying for sure that this "raw/not-really-raw" thing is the problem, but i dont think it should just be dismissed, and i dont think we shoudl be unconcerned/un-frustrated about these things...

sorry for the rant. just my 2 cents worth. i think its often extremely hard to know if what your getting really is raw, even when you would have no reason to think otherwise...--take my pumpkin seeds for example :( and also, it IS more expensive to get really raw stuff, when it shouldnt be. further, for me, here, its near impossible to get alot of stuff that i was able to have good access to in the states, and my diet starts to feel pretty limited for a while. cant get raw olives, raw chocolate, raw carob, non-rancid walnuts or pinenuts (never mind trying to assure they are raw), etc. I dont know, but it does seem really frustrating to me.

[T-Bird]

T-Bird I really think you are not understanding the whole concept raw food is based on.

I think you're missing the entire purpose of my post.

That labels are there to serve to economic needs of the industry by misleading consumers. Not to provide consumers with meaningful information as they should. The poor, blind consumers who accept the food pyramid, the need for 3 servings of dairy everyday, etc, etc.

There should be more outrage at their shenanigans. More activism for an educated and properly informed consumer base. If almonds are steam pasteurized, why not label them that way?? WHY call them raw?

This is all part of the same ideology that led to mandatory pasteurization of almonds from california, and the new "food safety" laws that may outlaw certain organic practice, on and on and on because consumers are assumed to not think for themselves, but are rather stupid ill advised, and need the government to monitor food safety for us, mandate a stupid pyramid of death for all the schools and children to labor under until we're all just issued our soylent green wafers as the only "acceptable" and "safe" food product - as mandated by the government.

I mean - honestly - if the raw food community isn't even interested in getting the message out there that RAW means something - and it should represent that on a food label.

If the raw food community isn't even interested in standing up for the integrity of raw food and meaningful labeling of RAW.

Who is?

Who????

And I don't even regard this as a RAW issue - but a consumer rights issue. period.

When we don't know what we're buying - and the label doesn't tell us - and the government and big agriculture is in cahoots to 1) lower standards to get an "organic label" AND 2) mandate certain practices on the farm that we organic consumers don't want AND to allow fraudulent labeling of RAW after mandating pasteurization?

We are ALL in trouble. In more ways than I can even think of.

When our government considers us clueless sheep who need to be guided and even deceived at times for our better interest - wow, what Orwellian nightmare are we living in?

[freshlight]

Step by step you'll find out that we don't really need all those almonds, nuts etc. The best things you can get are the fresh juicy veggies, fruit and wild greens. It's much easier than you think.

Enjoy!

[Veronica01]

I think the whole US manufacturing system is corrupt anyways... the farmers pressure the fda to reccommend certain amounts of meat, dairy and wheat and the manufacturers market to primarily children and woman!

I totally agree that this is dangerous to mislabel and misreccommend foods to the masses, but I don't know how the government or the fda will change... until they start answering to the millions they make sick they're going to keep micromanaging food safety on any raw products. They already irradiate a lot of fruits and vegetables, they put pesticides on everything in the name of food safety so we don't have constant outbreaks.

I just don't understand why anyone would expect that they would never creep into raw food products and lie to us as consumers as well... they lie to everyone, they have their hands in everything, trying to make the world disease free by killing everything. Unfortunately i think it will get worse, so by all means create awareness for this and inform people, but i am not going to place my health in the hands of the US government or FDA... They affect almost everything we consume in Canada and there's nothing we can do about it.

The only change I see is years from now when they can no longer support any health systems because of the incredible load of sick and malnourished people. Before anyone changes the circumstances have to be so bad that any change is better than staying the same and as humans we tend to always learn the hard way.

No one has to base their food consumption soley on questionable nuts, oils and packaged food that claims to be raw was the point. If you are, then yes there is a need for concern. But we will never live in a perfect organic world as long as we're supporting US industry in any way shape or form, so deceit and misinformation is inevitable.

Also why does the government do anything? For money, to support itself, it treats us like sheep and we cannot place the blame entirely on them if WE are misinformed and eating up everything we are spoon fed. I realize most people do not question health reccommendations or the government, but people these guys used to RECCOMMEND smoking to pregnant women a few decades ago. They NEVER cared about optimum health of the general public. Food labels were created to put consumers at ease but the government didn't start regulating foods that show alarming nutritional values... if they cared they would outlaw certain fat levels, types of fat, preservatives, fake sugar susbstitutes...

[sport]

If the raw food community isn't even interested in standing up for the integrity of raw food and meaningful labeling of RAW.

Who is?

Who????

And I don't even regard this as a RAW issue - but a consumer rights issue. period.


This takes me back to my fight with the people that make Nakd bars about the fact that they say RAW on the label when they are not raw.
I had some understanding of the Consumer Protection guy not understanding but when I failed to get through to the people running Jason Vale's organisation I was stunned. He bills himself as The Juice Master and I would have expected that all of his organisation would know what Raw meant but they did not care. He is more interested in the money that he makes from selling the bars than in telling the truth.

[Myca]

How about the "vegetarians" who eat fish - and sometimes chicken????

You want to hit them over the head with a dictionary and say - look it up!


I read this and think now might be a good time to mention to all that I am not Vegan...or 100% raw all the time. In fact, two weeks ago, I was a cheater Atkins.
Probably more like 95-99% since I started raw. Absolutely no meat due more to the dedication of the diet and the fact I won't eat it raw.
I'm thinking my reasons for being here may not be as noble as many are.
I had plain yoguart in the start, before I was told it was not acceptable.
I have been very pleased with the results of my lifestyle change and think you all may be on to something here.
Waiting for my book to continue my education.

[Myca]

Veronica,
I believe the entire Food system is corrupt beyond what we can imagine, you are absolutely right.

[T-Bird]

I read this and think now might be a good time to mention to all that I am not Vegan...or 100% raw all the time. In fact, two weeks ago, I was a cheater Atkins.

I have no problem with that at all. It's claiming vegetarian status without living up to it, lol!

I had a friend said to me once "can you beleive I've been a vegetarian for 9 years? like it was some wonderous thing. She ate fish all the time.

Then this guy - I was a waitress years ago - he orders 2 pieces of chicken and a side of spagetti. He sends the spa back to the kitchen because he didn't realize it had meat sauce....he's a vegetarian.

Those things bug me - :eek:

Like they bug me crazy!!!:eek::eek:



:p

[RawSar]

lol people can be funny... some messed up at time lol.. but you have to laugh...

[Veronica01]

That's pretty funny, i've never heard of someone thinking vegetarian meant they could eat chicken or fish... mind you everyone i know still asks if i eat fish cuz it's so healthy.... i note the omega 3's found in fish come from the greens and algae they eat lol i don't need to eat the fish for that. Also you only need extra omega 3's if you are eating meat which contains omega 6 and it throws it off balance, but no one ever tells them that either!! I think people love labels and they want to define themselves or their products with a cut and dry label... but what's the neccessity when they don't even stand up to their label in the first place. Identity crisis? haha...

I hope one day to have a house and backyard big enough to grow most of my own greens and veggies and forget the corrupt farming system. :)

[*RayRay*]

There should be more outrage at their shenanigans.

more outrage IMO brings about more things to be outraged about....! I don't think pasteurized almonds are something to be outraged about......I think treatment of women in afghanistan is something to be outraged about.......just some perspective....;) (maybe i listened to too much NPR today!!:))


You can live almost 100% raw without them tho, on fruits, veggies, greens, truly raw nuts and avocado... then without question you are raw. It's a choice what we put in our bodies.




Step by step you'll find out that we don't really need all those almonds, nuts etc. The best things you can get are the fresh juicy veggies, fruit and wild greens. It's much easier than you think.

Enjoy!

so true Veronica and Freshlight !!

[Aleesha Sattva]

more outrage IMO brings about more things to be outraged about....! I don't think pasteurized almonds are something to be outraged about......I think treatment of women in afghanistan is something to be outraged about.......just some perspective....;)

i completely 100% agree with you. and while we are on the subject of it... focusing on the bliss and peace in your life will bring more peace and bliss... focusing on the outrage only brings more outrage.

i'll take the peace and bliss myself.

my column (http://www.timelessspirit.com/MAY09/walk.shtml) this issue is about shopping with your feet. supporting those companies (etc.) that you truly believe in. if whole foods is selling products that are not truly raw... don't shop there anymore. period. ;) that's my answer anyway. i have 1440 minutes in my day... and i'd rather spend them finding the light in this world... and assisting and loving others that being outraged about what is truly raw and what is not.

but please... continue this conversation... i think it's a good one... just not something that we need to lose any sleep over. ;)

[T-Bird]

my column this issue is about shopping with your feet. supporting those companies (etc.) that you truly believe in. if whole foods is selling products that are not truly raw... don't shop there anymore. period. that's my answer anyway. i have 1440 minutes in my day... and i'd rather spend them finding the light in this world... and assisting and loving others that being outraged about what is truly raw and what is not.

I totally agree - and I have not been back to whole foods since the almond thing. Not that I'd never go back - as I have 2 teens and I'd rather have some whole foods stuff available for them rather than what they would sub for it out on "the streets":(

What I've found very disappointing is the self centeredness of a lot of the comments here. Along the lines of "I don't eat nuts so I don't care. The issue isn't affecting me, so I won't do anything about"

Whereas I was hoping that we who should care about raw stuff could have taken some action. We could have got the word out to all are raw homies and had a campaign sending letters to WF and TJ that while we would would love love love it if they made truly raw nuts and seeds available for our purchase, that at a minimum we request that they please label their product appropriately so that those with an interest in the raw lifestyle can be properly informed as many have deceived by the labels.

Forget that - no one really seems to care outside their own little sphere. They know what to do/how to eat/where to source and who cares about the raw food movement gaining any momentum or affects on the health of someone in desperate straights who may decide to "try" raw food - purchase the bogus "raw food":( and chuck it in calling it a failure. They didn't find this board or any other info and they think the raw labels out there mean raw and who cares about them or their health.:(

[freshlight]

It's a misunderstanding! You can show how much you care by not taking any action at all: by not bying the nuts I show that they are not wanted. I keep asking in the hfs for some raw almonds and they promised to look into it.
I'll keep asking and not bying any "fraud" and by doing all of the above we can change the market.
It's actually us customers who rule it. So relax and enjoy :)

[T-Bird]

It's a misunderstanding! You can show how much you care by not taking any action at all: by not bying the nuts I show that they are not wanted. I keep asking in the hfs for some raw almonds and they promised to look into it.

ok:)

I guess I was wanting more of a sociopolitical dialogue on the topic.

[Veronica01]

T-Bird first of all I live in CANADA so I really hope you don't think I should be writing to congress or Trader Joes about pastuerizing almonds! I have absolutely no say in what gets imported to Canada, I have two options buy pastuerized nuts or don't buy then. I find that pretty rude that you are saying that is being self centered. If you want to go and start a revolution based on outrage and attack mainstream industry that is your choice, but it is coming from a negative place and will bring negative energy to the cause.

Why are people that choose fresh whole foods for their main food source INSTEAD of nuts being called self centered? If you didn't eat bananas and said so and I wanted to start up a cause that ALL grocery stores should only sell organic bananas, would I have the right to get mad at you and call you self centered for not helping a cause I believe in that doesn't bother you? Of course not.

Raw food brings out a passion for life in us, but you don't need to take that passion and be negative about it and start attacking others who don't feel the exact same way you do. We're individuals, not many people feel the same way about anything, that is not self centered!

[Lindsey]

It is so ironic this post came up as I was just having this conversation with my friend! I live in Ohio & took a trip to the Whole Foods Market & came across these "Raw Revolution" bars that advertised live foods, etc. So I bought some, got home (2 hours away) and looked a little closer to find out that in tiny print on the nutrition label the majority of them are 90% raw...which isn't horrible, but it is FRUSTRATING when something advertises "raw" & you get all excited only to find out it isn't raw. I've definitely been doing more due diligence before purchasing some items - but one thing I do rest assured in is that I am doing everything to eat 100% raw & that even when non-raw sneaks in without my knowledge, I am still eating WAY WAY WAY better than when I was.
Goodness knows we don't want the FDA regulating it!!! hahaha
:rolleyes:

[T-Bird]

T-Bird first of all I live in CANADA so I really hope you don't think I should be writing to congress or Trader Joes about pastuerizing almonds! I have absolutely no say in what gets imported to Canada, I have two options buy pastuerized nuts or don't buy then. I find that pretty rude that you are saying that is being self centered. If you want to go and start a revolution based on outrage and attack mainstream industry that is your choice, but it is coming from a negative place and will bring negative energy to the cause.

Why are people that choose fresh whole foods for their main food source INSTEAD of nuts being called self centered? If you didn't eat bananas and said so and I wanted to start up a cause that ALL grocery stores should only sell organic bananas, would I have the right to get mad at you and call you self centered for not helping a cause I believe in that doesn't bother you? Of course not.

Raw food brings out a passion for life in us, but you don't need to take that passion and be negative about it and start attacking others who don't feel the exact same way you do. We're individuals, not many people feel the same way about anything, that is not self centered!

This entire post suggests that you are centered on self, rather than larger picture of community, advocacy, etc.

If you interpret self centered as an attack rather than a description of centeredness, that is your choice.

[Veronica01]

I'd just like to know how I can be self centered if I live in a different country than where these nuts are being pastuerized? Like Eva said, by not buying them you are not supporting them.

[T-Bird]

Why you even think the comment was aimed specifically at you, I don't know.

Why you are reacting so strongly to the comment, I don't know.

I was trying to facilitate a dialogue on consumer rights, raw labeling, etc.

If you have no interest in such a dialogue, fine.

[Veronica01]

Because this entire thread has both of us are the most frequent posters.... and you've been commenting and quoting what i've said in your posts.

[Aleesha Sattva]

how about creating a letter writing campaign and then sharing it with everyone? giving them the addresses to send their letters to etc. THAT is way more proactive than simply complaining and then being unkind to those who are responding...

just a thought...

cause this thread isn't going to change anything... but action creates action!

[Veronica01]

Aleesha, I totally agree. Being pro-active is a much better use of time. :)

[fruitandveggies]

The thing that really scares me is not the nuts and oils (though that does anger me), its the fact that they are beginning to pasturize our nice, juicy produce. And, yes, they say that organic produce isn't affected, but remember who creates the standards for one of the biggest organic certifiers, the USDA, a federally-run department. Those are the same people who think that pasturization is no big deal in the first place, how could we trust their "standards" for organic agriculture?

And, yep, Aleesha, action creates action, indeed!

[ruffsongraw]

whoa....everybody chill.

nobody on here is responsible for this & many have dealt with it in their own way (not buying it, etc) and it IS frustrating to be lied to but it IS what happens in every area and i am afraid with the new administration this will get a lot worse.

we ARE treated like sheep, yes, and then "protected" by pastuerizing everything and then lied to on the label about it. i think most SAD ppl think that pastuerization isnt "cooking", so they believ RAW isnt lying OR they deliberately lie to sell more product to ppl who buy RAW.

it's a sad shame at best and a deceptive scheme at worst.

you can try to change things but it may not be possible. if it isnt inmpossible then you have to find your way around things that you know to be questionable OR not eat them at all OR eat them and know that those particular things might be cooked and choose to eat them anyhow. or search until you find a reliable source for that item in a truly raw state. it's personal choice.

and i do agree with above poster that if i accidentally eat a tiny amoutn of pastuerized or cooked thing, i STILL am eating a thousand times better than i did before.

and i think it IS about self b/c that is one thing we are in control of (what we eat) and lies on labels make that harder but ultimately it IS a choice we all must make and not get super stressed out b/c that will defeat many of the benefits we strive for with RAW.


jen

[T-Bird]

how about creating a letter writing campaign and then sharing it with everyone? giving them the addresses to send their letters to etc. THAT is way more proactive than simply complaining and then being unkind to those who are responding...


I'm very curious as to where you think I've been unkind?

[freshlight]

The thing that really scares me is not the nuts and oils (though that does anger me), its the fact that they are beginning to pasturize our nice, juicy produce. And, yes, they say that organic produce isn't affected, but remember who creates the standards for one of the biggest organic certifiers, the USDA, a federally-run department. Those are the same people who think that pasturization is no big deal in the first place, how could we trust their "standards" for organic agriculture?

Is this really the truth? I didn't know about it! Where did you get this info from?

[ruffsongraw]

it could be perceived as "unkind" to imply that a more chalant attitude about this is being self centered, when at the CORE it *IS* an issue directly relating to each person's self.

if a person isnt fired up/passionate about it, maybe they choose to spend their energy on other issues and that ultimately it IS a self-centered choice each of us make every day, to eat a thing or not based on possible lies on the label or possibly being pastuerized and weighing that info ....

its a very personal choice to become a "Label Activist" or not. should it be changed? yes. does everyone on here feel it is horrible & worth fighting for as you do? that is a personal choice, as is consuming the food itself, but i would not say that opting not to go to war over it is self-centered,altho in theory i completely agree with your views and your anger/frustration on this issue.
i rescue stray animals and to many that is silly and i ought to spend my energy on homeless HUMANSl ---to each his own.

if you create a petition, i believe that most here would be happy to sign it. but we all have to choose our battles. kudos & goodluck to you if this is yours.

jen

[fruitandveggies]

Is this really the truth? I didn't know about it! Where did you get this info from?

Freshlight, it was a big thread or two here several months back when the irradiation of spinach and lettuce OK from the FDA went in to affect.

Here's Raine's response from a letter written to the FDA about it:
http://rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=43981

Here's some articles about it:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/119015.php
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/news/20080821/irradiation-ok-for-spinach-iceberg-lettuce

Yes, its not officially mandatory for companies to do this, but if you're a conventional farmer who doesn't want to lose everything to a potential case of E.coli or other such bug, wouldn't you irradiate?

Grr!

[freshlight]

Hey, thanks!

[Crissy Snow]

does anyone know if the blue diamond brand is raw? It says raw almonds but I dont know. And why does almonds list it has saturated fat? I thought it had poly and mono fats?

[Ilse W.]

Crissy Snow - Blue Diamond, a California company, flash-pasteurizes their almonds like all commercial growers in CA have to.

T-Bird - Flash pasteurization is not the same as regular pasteurization. The heat does not penetrate the almonds very far, that's why they will still sprout. Let's not forget that the reason we eat raw is that our bodies need the enzymes in the food in order to digest the food and absorb the nutrients in that food. Enzymes BEGIN to get detroyed at above 104 F, but it takes 20 minutes to completely destroy them. That's why the nut folks are by law allowed to call their flash pasteurized almonds "raw".
Just to set some records straight, a lot of people are concerned about this and wrote to their congress people, to the California Almond Board, etc. etc. This forum is not the only place you find people concerned about what they put into their bodies. Don't think just because we don't scream about it here at the moment, we didn't get into it hot and heavy at the time.
If you want to get raw nuts at WF or TJ's, get the imported ones. Also, when in doubt, ASK.
We should also remember not to become fanatical about all this raw stuff. Eating raw is a lifestyle choice, not a religion. If you are REALLY that worried about stuff in stores, grow your own.

Uff, getting off the soap box now.

[RawSar]

Lots of great points everyone !
I will sign the petition for sure !