WASHINGTON — A group of California almond growers and sellers is suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture over a year-old rule that requires them to pasteurize their nuts.
They say it's ruining their business by driving organic- and raw-nut enthusiasts to unpasteurized foreign imports.
In a lawsuit announced Wednesday after it was filed in federal court in Washington, 15 growers and wholesale nut handlers seek reversal of the rule that was imposed in September 2007 after salmonella outbreaks that were traced to raw almonds.
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.
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.
Source: The Associated Press
Latest from Quality Assurance & Food Safety
- FDA, CDC Investigate Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Live It Up Dietary Supplement Powder
- USDA FSIS Announces New Deputy Administrator of Field Operations
- ProVeg Incubator Launches Fast-Track to Impact Program for Alt-Protein Startups
- Kerry Releases 2026 Global Taste Charts
- FDA Shares Australia Certificate Requirements for Bivalve Molluscs and Related Products
- FDA Announces Update from CFIA on Certificate Requirements for Certain Meat, Poultry Products
- NIMA Partners Introduces the Next-Generation NIMA Gluten Sensor
- IFT to Host Community Conversation on Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030 Report
