PPO on Almonds aka Is There Engine Fuel on Your Almonds?
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Engine fuel on almonds? Is this really a thing? Find out all of the details about PPO on almonds, why it really is on there and where to get almonds that aren't sprayed with this toxin so you and your family can be healthier!
Before we get to the engine fuel and almonds issue, did you know that the “raw almonds” in the grocery store, health food store, or at Costco, are most certainly not raw almonds at all?
And did you know that they are most likely coated with a fuel additive. Jet engine fuel additive, to be specific. As in for racing cars and motorcycles.
I know. I couldn't believe it either.
Seriously—we've been eating gassed almonds.
Sort of.
I first heard about this situation about 3 years ago when visiting another whole foods friend in a Chicago suburb.
My friend told me something about a chemical called PPO being sprayed on almonds. Like many new scary-sounding bits of natural information (like heavy metals, mercury in fish, personal care products in water), I thought, “Oh yeah, sure.” Then I asked her to show me proof. Just in case she was right, you know.
Well, she produced a copy of an article outlining the problem. I got home, did my research, and found out that she was right.
Yes, Virginia, you just might be eating Gassed Almonds.
Why Did Companies Start Treating Almond?
The history of this situation is this: In 2001 and 2004 there were two outbreaks of salmonella poisoning that were traced back to almonds. 33 people became ill, but thankfully no one died.
As a result, tons of almonds were recalled.
The Almond Board of California (ABC) started pasteurization of all almonds as a result and asked the USDA to mandate it.
As it turned out, however, the issue wasn't about all almonds. It was that the company processing the almonds where the problem started had unsanitary equipment. So really the whole industry was affected instead of just correcting the real problem.
As a result, all almonds in the US are now pasteurized either by:
- steam
- freezing (this is rare) or
- PPO (propylene oxide).
What Is PPO?
PPO is a synthetic, highly-flammable, volatile liquid that is used primarily in the process of making polyethers and propylene glycol. It's also used as an additive for engine fuel in vehicles (hence the title of this post), and as a pesticide and for disinfecting or sterilizing of foods (source).
PPO has been classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a Group 2B, probable human carcinogen (source).
Sadly, PPO is a commonly used method to treat almonds, because it's cheaper than steam distilling almonds.
One source (discussing PPO on almonds) says that PPO is “a chemical so nasty that it was banned by both the National Hot Rod and American Motorcycle Racing Associations, where it had been used as a fuel before being deemed too dangerous“, however it appears that it was banned due not due to it being a carcinogen, but due to it explosive.
Is There PPO On All Almonds?
No, there isn't. However, it's on a lot of almonds.
At the time this post was written, PPO couldn't be used on organic almonds due to regulations and standards placed on organic foods.
Where to Buy Almonds That Aren't Sprayed With PPO
We love shopping at Costco, but sadly at the time this post was written, Costco stated that their Kirkland almonds are sprayed with PPO.
Since some companies only use steam, you can call and ask companies what they do and purchase from those that do not use PPO. Of course, a company's practices might change so you should follow up on occasion to make sure that they are are still doing things without PPO.
As mentioned, organic almonds do not have PPO sprayed on them.
However, if you don't want to spend the extra cost for organic, here are some conventional almonds that at the time of writing this post were not pasteurized with PPO.
Azure Standard
Azure Standard is a great company. They have organic almonds that of course do not have PPO on them, but their conventional almonds are also PPO-free.
They sell so many great products at fantastic prices and their mission statement is stellar as well.
“Sproutable” Pasteurized Almonds
Though I haven't done enough research into this to know if they are really more nutritionally beneficial than steamed almonds, I have seen these in stores and online but they are quite pricey.
Imported Untreated Almonds from Spain
Spain is apparently a good option for purchasing raw almonds, however these are also pricey. When I wrote this post, they were selling for about $13.99 per pound.
Find a Raw Almond Buying Club
Some groups buy almonds direct from almond farmers. There's a little loophole in the pasteurization law that makes it an option to get truly raw almonds as long as you buy them directly from a farmer. I had one of these out of my home and we bought loads of almonds every fall.
Buy Direct From an Almond Farmer
Not simple but it's a possible solution.
Grow Your Own Almonds
This is truly not feasible for most people, and almond trees take a while to have a good yield and
Call to Action
I highly recommend that everyone reading this post contacts the Almond Board to ask if they will consider halting the spraying of almonds since it never made sense in the first place.
Where do you buy your almonds?
Source: Local Harvest
https://www.costcoconnection.com/connection/201710?article_id=1237695&pg=NaN#pgNaN
Looks like starting January 2017, Costco has changed its process & now uses the steam pasteurization method for its signature kirkland almonds, however it looks like this change might only be for the almonds sold in 3lbs bags ..
I just checked and their large bags of raw almonds do say steam pasteurized right on the front!
Hi, I just read your article, very good information. I’ve always eaten healthy, but recently had a health scare that prompted me to look closer at the things I’ve been eating. I was buying almonds from Costco and other local health food Co-Ops but found they weren’t truly raw and some used PPO.
After a lot of searching I found a company in Chico CA that sells truly raw organic unpasteurized almonds. To be sure, I called the company and spoke with the owner.
He informed me that they are allowed to sell direct to the consumer as long as it’s less than 100 lbs. per order.
If you don’t mind, I’d like to share their info. Bremner Farms Roadside Stand. This is thier website: https://www.organicalmondsraw.com and they just informed me they have a new Facebook page that you can use to ask questions. https://www.facebook.com/BremnerFarms/
Hope this helps…
Thank you!
From the Canadian Food Inspection Agency:
According to the website, PPO not used in Canada, but used in the US for 50 years in agriculture (dried fruit, nuts and spices).
Concerning: “residues of this fumigant unless adequate ventilation/aeration of the treated commodity is provided”. However, the Agency found no residue in any of the samples they tested.
“One hundred samples of dried spices and herbs, dried fruit products, cocoa powder, and nuts (of both domestic and imported origin) were analyzed for PPO in 2009-2010. Additionally, nine hundred and sixty-four samples of dried spices and herbs, dried fruit products, cocoa and chocolate products/powders, and nuts (of both domestic and imported origin) were analyzed for PPO in 2010-2011. Propylene oxide was not detected in any sample tested. The overall compliance with the MRL for almonds or the GMRL (as applicable) was 100%.”
https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/chemical-residues-microbiology/chemical-residues/propylene-oxide/eng/1351917937884/1351918123486
Thanks for sharing this. Do you see their detection levels anywhere in this information?
I’m not clear if you are also saying that almonds labeled “Organic” are also sprayed with PPO? I hope not!!
They should not be.
When I went to the link you recommended for “unpasteurized” almonds,it says that they are still pasteurized?
Hi there. I just clarified the post – thanks. They are steam pasteurized but do not have PPO on them.
They are still pasteurized but with the steam method.
No need to worry. Ppo is not on your almonds anymore, it evaporated. Almonds are fumigated with ppo which means its in gas form, and since ppo is volatile( its boiling point is relatively low), any liquids that happened to condense will quickly turn to gas. Ppo is also deadly if ingested at the right amount, so if there was ppo on almonds, people would be getting sick and dying. You can look this stuff up on pubchem or an msds sheet. If you dont understand chem very well just ask a friend who understands chem
Well, people are getting sick and dying….I assume that you mean that they would be able to trace it to PPO, correct? I don’t think it’s accurate that people would be getting sick and dying if there was PPO on almonds but I do think it could be of course a factor of filling up our toxic buckets more than they already were. Do you see how your argument about getting sick and dying isn’t logical in this sense?
As for the PPO not being on the almonds any longer – can you give me data regarding that? If that is the case, why does this article state the amt of PPO that remains on the almonds? Is it not correct?
https://www.naturalgrocers.com/nutrition-and-health/nutrition-library/nutrition-article/almond-pasteurization/
Interested in your thoughts on what I have written – thanks in advance.
Im not sure why that article you posted claims that there is still ppo on almonds, but the 1 reference that it does have for the epa is not a working link, which invalidates the article.
I was simply using my basic knowledge of chemistry to explain to you how the process works. After much searching i actually did find an article from Canada (hoorah, for our neighbor up north) that did a study on ppo on foods, from reading the summary, it said no ppo was found. I sent a request for the full report…. so yeah you of course are welcome to download it too and read it, or i can let you know what it says once i get it.
(link deleted by blog owner since it doesn’t work any longer)
Oddly enough that link does not work that i posted, although it is correct, if you do a google search for “2010-2011 propylene oxide in foods canada”, it will be the first link
Thanks. I am happy to see it or have you check back in. I guess it would depend on their levels of detection as well. Pesticide-free, for example, depends on looking at a certain amt of pesticides. Same for gluten-free and any other “free” designations.
Any updates on almonds that are not steam processed (heat kills vitamins) or have PPO?
Sorry no updates. I think someone mentioned something in the comments about a store not having sprayed almonds any longer though.
Looks like the Kirkland brand of almonds sold in Canada are steam pasteurized:
https://twitter.com/costcocanada/status/790954204873560064
Thanks. I just tweeted on that convo. You are fortunate in Canada.
Please help you get the USAD to put an end to using PPO. PLEASE!
https://www.change.org/p/united-states-department-of-agriculture-usda-stop-the-pasteurizing-of-almonds-with-ppo
I’m just here to shed some light on the concern of ppo use . I’m an almond farmer and I own an almond processing facility . We put the boxes of almonds in gas chambers that use ppo to kill any spiders bugs or disease on the almonds themselves or any packaging used to transport or contain them . My farm had a salmonella outbreak in the early 2000s and some people got sick ,after that we started using ppo as a pasteurization method .
Hello Justin, I read that the issue was w/ dirty machinery. Do you know anything about that? I found documents highlighting that.