Great News!!! OK to eat Young Thai Coconuts

[RawTruth]

This was posted on a local (to me!) raw mailserve list. Its from Matt Amsden -- http://rawvolution.com/press.html -- owner/chef of a successful raw delivery service and recently-opened raw restaurant-deli in Santa Monica:

The Truth About Thai Coconuts and Formaldehyde.

Are you one of those whose initial excitement in discovering Thai Coconuts was quickly replaced with fear when you heard the rumor that the sweet treat is soaked in formaldehyde before reaching the United States?

I donÂ’t know where it started nor can I remember when I first heard it but the rumor is certainly wide-spread.

I have had dozens of friends and clients ask me about it in panicked phone calls or during my raw food preparation classes or visits to our café.

Some fearful raw-fooders have completely removed Thai Coconuts from their diets in response to the rumor and there are even raw restaurants that have deleted them from their menus.

In short, we have all allowed this rumor to spread based completely on hearsay and without any definitive proof.

My wife Janabai and I love Thai Coconuts and weren’t willing to leave them out of our morning shakes or delete them from our café’s menu until we received definitive proof that they are in fact, treated with formaldehyde.

Waiting for someone else to provide such proof was getting us nowhere. We decided to find the truth, not only for ourselves but also for our customers and for those spreading fear by way of a baseless rumor.

We contacted Michelson Laboratories. Michelson is a fully accredited microbiology and chemical testing lab with over 70 highly trained specialists and technicians located in Commerce, California.

Michelson was confident that after proper testing of a sample they could tell us definitively whether or not Thai Coconuts were treated with formaldehyde.

We supplied Michelson with a sample from our regular stock of Thai Coconuts and waited patiently as the testing process began.

As the weeks went on, Janabai and I decided that whatever the result, we would disseminate the information as widely as possible. We would either discontinue our use of Thai Coconuts and warn others or dispel the myth and continue to promote Thai Coconuts.

On Thursday, May 11th we received the results from the lab.

There was absolutely no indication whatsoever that the Thai Coconut sample provided to Michelson Laboratories was ever in contact with formaldehyde.

We were excited. Not just because we could continue to enjoy Thai Coconuts but also because definitive proof had finally been obtained.

A copy of the lab findings will be available at Euphoria Loves RAWvolution at 2301 Main Street in Santa Monica.

It is my hope that in the future, our raw food communities will not fall prey to lies and made-up stories. These rumors divide rather than unite and spread fear rather than information.

Please forward this text to anyone you feel may benefit from reading it.

Peace,

Matt Amsden, RAWvolution

[Ginger]

Right on!!

[Zena]

Awesome! I had never even heard the rumor, but that's good news!

[Raw_gives_you_wings]

Great news ...I REMEMBER hearing these rumors...yeay!

[ChaiLife]

This is fantastic news!!!! But I have to say that it had not slowed down my coconut munching in the least. They're just so yummy!

Thanks for posting this.

[robertandenith]

woohoo!!!!!!!!!

I too enjoy my thai coconuts in my green smoothies! thanks for this info!

[RawFoodieMom]

That's awesome. Thanks so much for sharing this!!! :)

[divaitalia]

Great news. I had heard it too but am slow to give up my coconuts. My dogs love them too!!!!!And mangos, papayas and bananas!!!!!

Nora from Rawschool did a similar experiment with coconuts and the dye they use when in shipment. She let them soak for a couple of days in this dye and the result was...........it didn't come close to the inside of the coconut. A coconut shell is pretty darn hard to crack so this was another rumour expelled about our beloved coconuts.

Divaitalia ;)

[jaurequi]

I'm not sure one test to one coconut applies to all coconuts shipped all over the world.

One of the stores I buy from sells young organic coconuts which have been certified and on the label it states they have not been treated with formaldehyde. So, either they are playing on fears, or there is a real reason to label their products this way.

Best,

[Arky]

I'm not sure one test to one coconut applies to all coconuts shipped all over the world.

Although I'd never heard the rumour up until now, I must say my first thought, upon reading the above 'safety report', was exactly the same as jaurequi. One test is all well and good, and it's great that they went ahead and did it, but it's a LOOOONG way from conclusive proof that all coconuts are formaldehyde-free.


J.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Thanks for dispelling the myth. I wonder who started it - or maybe there are actually *some* coconuts dipped in formaldehyde, just not theirs?

Perhpas depending on the country of origin, they are treated with different methods.

[Raw_gives_you_wings]

They didnt prevent me from buying Organic young thai coconuts from wheatsville or whole foods......I'm pretty sure that those are fine

[Cinnamon]

Thank you so much for this information, I'd also heard of this practice and although I'd not eat these very often because of that, now I won't hesitate! My favorite chocolate coconut pudding... yum!