Unlike roasted nuts, raw nuts are not cooked prior to packaging. However, the USDA requires that raw nuts are pasteurized to prevent Salmonella outbreaks. The pasteurization process sanitizes the nuts using one of two methods: steaming or fumigation with the chemical propylene oxide (PPO).

Do walnuts need to be pasteurized?

The requirement to pasteurize almonds stems back to salmonella outbreaks in 2003 and 2004 in the U.S. and Canada linked to almonds. … There are no requirements at this time to pasteurize other nuts; our walnuts and pecans are not pasteurized.

Are raw walnuts really raw?

Because of legislation in the U.S., most of the nuts we buy are not truly raw. If they have been shelled, they have most likely seen steam, and many nuts are dried with heat in order to reduce moisture. They are not sprout-able. … Walnuts: Now considered a “super food”, walnuts are one of the nutritious nuts.