Positively processed: Better Almond Butter debuts organic, sprouted, unpasteurized nut butter

28 Feb 2018 --- Brand new start-up - Better Almond Butter - delivers unpasteurized, organic and sprouted nut butter “packed with health benefits,” says the budding company. By heading to Spain to grow their almonds, they skip the process of pasteurization necessary for US almonds. This process “zaps nutrients and flavor from the almond itself,” Rachel Cleary, Director of PR and Marketing Better Almond Butter tells NutritionInsight. Sprouted almonds supply extra vitamins to the organic, unpasteurized spread.

“By using unpasteurized almonds all of the nutritional value of the almond stays intact,” Cleary says. “The farm that grows our almonds does not pasteurize the almonds after growth and the farm is certified organic. Once the unpasteurized almonds are imported we then send them to a facility in Vermont that preforms the sprouting process.”

The company reports that the most commonly used method of pasteurization occurs by gassing the almonds with a chemical called propylene oxide (PPO). PPO is considered a probable carcinogen and is illegal to use on food in most other countries in the world, yet all almonds grown in the USA must undergo pasteurization treatment, Cleary says.

Positively Processed
To optimize the nutritional content of the mighty almond, they are also soaked, “Our sprouting process involves soaking the nuts until they begin to germinate. The sprouted almonds are then slowly dried at a very low temperature. This sprouting process breaks down the enzyme inhibitors, releasing the full nutritional content of the nut and makes our almonds more digestible. The sprouting process actually increases the Vitamin C, B and Carotene content drastically in the almonds.” 

Breaking into the competitive nut butter market requires standing out. Innova Market Insights data reflects the popularity of products that have returned to historical processing techniques, such as sprouting. It reports, “a +46 percent CAGR in 'sprouted' launches (2012-2016, global),” ranging from chia to quinoa and of course, almonds. The sprouting process activates the almond in an age-old process that has recently experienced a resurgence. Consumers are not only demanding healthier products, but also more authentically pure items. 

Better Almond Butter currently offers three flavors: Truly Raw, Toasted, Sweet & Salty. It is available for purchase on Amazon, Food52 (launching March 12th) and BetterAlmondButter.com as well as a growing list of grocers along the east coast.

Speaking about future launches, Better Almond Butter tells NutritionInsight, “We are about to launch On-The-Go Squeeze packets as well as Almond Powder that can be used in everything from shakes to baking.”

By Laxmi Haigh