Tag: Steam pasteurization

Following *Salmonella* outbreaks in the mid-2000s, a 2007 regulation mandated that all California-grown almonds—which make up nearly all almonds sold in North America—be pasteurized. But what does pasteurization do to almonds and how does this critical food safety step affect the final product you buy?

According to research from UC Davis, pathogens like *Salmonella* and *E. coli* can survive on walnuts throughout the shelling process and for long-term storage. This potential for contamination has led the walnut industry to commonly pasteurize most commercial raw walnuts to ensure consumer safety, despite the 'raw' label.