Mandatory Almond Pasteurization Program Announced

Beginning Sept. 1, 2007, all almonds must be pasteurized before being sold to consumers in North America. The food-safety action plan, initiated by the Almond Board of California (ABC), Modesto, CA, in collaboration with USDA, applies to all food product manufacturers that use almonds as an ingredient.

The impetus for the program, according to ABC, was to prevent future occurrences of food-safety incidents, such as those that occurred in 2001 and 2004, in which raw almonds were recalled due to the presence of Salmonella. Further, the goal of the plan was to develop more-effective, practical technologies for reducing potential contaminants in almonds, and to ensure the entire industry adopted the food-safety measures.

Almond pasteurization has been implemented on a voluntary basis over the past two years, and many manufacturers already use pasteurized almonds with no impact on the final product. Multi-year research conducted by independent sensory experts and lab analyses show pasteurized almonds do not differ in any significant waytaste, quality or nutritional valuefrom untreated raw almonds. Pasteurization treatments do not cook the almond; therefore, the raw characteristics of the almond are not changed.

Food product manufacturers that provide further processing of almonds and wish to continue to purchase unpasteurized almonds must apply to become a Direct Verifiable (DV) user before September 1, 2007. Manufacturers should contact their supplier to discuss their pasteurized almond needs, and should determine whether their own manufacturing processes satisfy the requirements of pasteurization, potentially qualifying them to apply for Direct Verifiable User status. Pasteurization methods that have been accepted include oil roasting, blanching, several steam processing methods (which can meet USDA Organic Program standards), and propylene oxide (PPO) treatment.

Manufacturers that wish to receive untreated almonds should download a Direct Verifiable (DV) User Kit and an Auditor and Processing Authority Kit. Each kit contains updated, relevant applications/forms, contact sheets and fact sheets, last updated on June 6, 2007. DV users will need to submit their applications to the ABC prior to August, 2007, in order to complete the process before the Sept. 1 compliance deadline.

The Final Rule for the Mandatory Pasteurization of California Almonds was published in the Federal Register on March 30, 2007. Click here to view other information related to the pasteurization program.