Action Alert:
Stop Mandatory Almond Pasteurization
In response to outbreaks of Salmonella in 2001 and 2004,
California-grown raw almonds may no longer be available, due to a new USDA
mandate requiring them to be sanitized through treatment processes that the
industry generously describes as “pasteurization.”
The pasteurization rule requires fumigation of almonds with
propylene oxide a possibly carcinogenic chemical, or high temperature heat, and
allows almonds to be deceptively labeled as “raw” following these treatment,
imposes significant financial burdens on small-scale and organic growers, lacks
scientific justification, damages domestic almond markets, and does not address
the unsustainable methods used on the industrial-scale almond orchards where
the only traced-back Salmonella outbreak occurred.
For detailed specifics on these and other problems
associated with the almond treatment rule, please see the Almond Fact Sheet,
prepared by The Cornucopia Institute, on this issue at: www.cornucopia.org/almond/AlmondFactSheet.doc.
We need you to contact the USDA and key elected
officials now, and tell them to initiate a comprehensive review
of the necessity and effects of almond pasteurization – with public input –
before the rule is implemented on September 1. But even if this rule goes into
effect, please continue contacting key decision makers after September 1. We
will be investigating lawsuits and other actions to stop the regulation and
your letters will help us demonstrate continued public opposition to this
rule.
To help stop this unwarranted regulation, concerned members
of the public should first contact USDA Secretary Mike Johanns. Click
on www.cornucopia.org/almond/AlmondSampleLetter_USDA.doc
for a sample letter to USDA Secretary Johanns.
Email, mail or FAX your comments to:
Secretary
Mike Johanns
United States Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave SW
Whitten Building Suite 200A
Washington, D.C. 20250
(202) 720-3631
Email: agsec@usda.gov
FAX: (202) 720-2166
We also need help from key elected officials to make sure that USDA
hears the public and takes the appropriate steps leading to a full and public
review of the Almond pasteurization. Click on http://www.cornucopia.org/almond/AlmondSampleLetterCongress.doc
for a sample letter to these key officials. Email, mail or call-in your
comments to:
Senator
Tom Harkin
731 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3254
Fax: (202) 224-9369
Email:
dan_christenson@agriculture.senate.gov
Rep. Dennis Cardoza
Congressman, California
435 Cannon Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6131
Fax: 225-0819
Toll-free: 800-356-6424
Email:
anne.cannon@mail.house.gov
Rep.
Ron Kind
Congressman, Wisconsin
1406 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5506
Fax: (202) 225-5739
Email:
david.degennaro@mail.house.gov
If you know who your own member of
Congress is, please let them here from you too.
And we also ask that you share your personal email/contact
information to The Cornucopia Institute so that we can keep you up-to-date with
the latest news and action alerts on this issue.
You can contact us at: cultivate@cornucopia.org.
Welcome to VABF 
...SEARCH