Monday, September 15, 2008

Almond growers fight USDA pasteurization rule

Almond growers in California are suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture over a ruling they say has unnecessarily cost them a place in the raw-foods market. Last year, USDA ruled that U.S.-grown almonds must be pasteurized, following a salmonella outbreak was traced to the nuts.

The suit "contends that handlers who paid a premium for raw almonds have been paying as much as 40 percent less for the pasteurized variety, or rejecting them altogether," says Erica Werner of The Associated Press. "They argue that the rule was imposed without the proper rule-making process, didn't take key issues into account and should be thrown out."

According to the lawsuit, the Almond Board of California found that the quality of almonds were not affected by pasteurization, but almond producers have lost customers who are interested in untreated food and have received complaints from consumers. (Read more)

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