The USDA’s Almond Rule, issued in 2007, ordered all almond growers to “sterilize” almonds in one of several ways: heat them using steam, roast or blanch them, or treat them with propylene oxide (PPO). These are all poor options—PPO is a “probable human carcinogen” according to the EPA, and oil roasting, blanching, and steaming completely cook the nuts, so they are no longer raw. Calling such almonds “raw” is therefore misleading—they are actually cooked or chemically treated.
In issuing the Almond Rule, the USDA has completely overstepped its legal authority. The rule actually expands the USDA’s powers without congressional authorization, allowing the agency to mandate how dairy, fruit, vegetables, nuts, and animals are processed—something they have never before been allowed to do. Tell USDA to stop overstepping its legal bounds, and send a copy of your message to Congress: https://secure3.convio.net/aahf/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1396
