Tag: Natural almonds

An ounce of whole, raw almonds contains about 1 gram of sugar, a surprisingly low amount for a nutrient-dense food. This fact positions them as an excellent choice for individuals managing sugar intake, unlike many other common snacks.

In the United States, nearly all almonds labeled "raw" are not actually raw in the strictest sense, which creates significant consumer confusion regarding what's the difference between raw almonds and natural almonds. The key distinction lies in processing, with the term "natural" often overlapping with the market definition of "raw" due to mandatory pasteurization laws.

Since 2007, a U.S. federal law has required that all California-grown almonds sold commercially undergo pasteurization, making truly raw, unprocessed almonds a rarity in stores. Understanding how to know if almonds are raw is complicated by labeling laws that permit 'raw' designation even after pasteurization. This guide will help you decipher labels and identify genuinely unprocessed almonds.