Better Almond Butter

Jordyn Gatti, the founder and CEO of Better Almond Butter is on a mission to “make better food in a better way.” Although almond butter sounds like such a simple product, it really isn’t because there are two things consumers need to think about when selecting the most nutritious and delicious almond butter on the market:  the almonds and whether the almonds have been sprouted.

The FDA requires that all almonds grown in California (where the majority of US almonds are grown) be pasteurized either by a steam process or by being gassed with a fumigation chemical called propylene oxide (PPO) – a jet engine fuel additive that is considered carcinogenic in Europe – to prevent foodborne illnesses (specifically, to prevent the transfer of bacteria from the field to consumers).

By most accounts, steaming almonds is the better (but more expensive) choice but the flavor of the almond changes because moisture has been introduced to the nut, which changes the texture. Since the PPO method is cheaper, nearly all almonds are treated this way before they make it to the market. What this all means is that consumers cannot really choose a raw almond product unless they go to a local farmer’s market in California where they can purchase truly raw almonds in quantities of 100 pounds or less because the “almond rule” exempts small direct sales to consumers).

So, if you want truly raw almonds and can’t buy them directly from an almond grower, then purchase European grown almonds that are not pasteurized (and are prohibited from being treated with PPO).

The second aspect to consider is sprouting. Sprouting is the process of soaking the almonds in water until they begin to germinate thereby making them easier to digest because the enzyme inhibitors are broken down during the sprouting process.

Knowing the above, the Better Almond Butter company purchases their almonds from an organic farm in Spain where, unlike the US, pasteurization is not required.  With all the nutrition and flavor intact, the unpasteurized truly raw Spanish almonds are fully sprouted, dried, and then made into pure decadent and delicious almond butter.

Better Almond Butter is:

• Organic
• Gluten-free
• No Added Oils,Refined Sugars, Artificial Flavors, Colors, or Preservatives
• Non-GMO
• Paleo
• Sprouted

Choose from three products:

• Truly Raw:  For the purist, made with raw almonds only.
• Toasted: Lightly toasted, made with raw almonds only.
• Sweet & Salty: Made with raw almonds, honey, and a sprinkle of Himalayan sea salt.

Each 12 ounce jar is $18 and can be purchased directly from the company:  www.betteralmondbutter.com. Single serve packets (ten 1.15 ounce packets) in all three flavors can be purchased for $20. Shipping is free for all orders over $50.