Proof that Natural Foods Threaten FDA & Pharmaceutical Companies – Walnuts Deemed ‘Drugs’

Did you know that walnuts have been classified as ‘drugs’ by the US Food & Drug Administration, and that some companies have been accused of misbranding them, only to be subject to government “seizure or injunction.” That’s a little harsh, but why?

Diamond Foods, who sells walnuts, was forced to remove certain statements about the healing properties of walnuts from their website because of the FDA’s interference. (You can see the warning letter Diamond Foods received from the FDA, here.) So – while the FDA promotes GMOs, vaccines, pharmaceutical meds that actually hurt people, chemotherapy, and radiation, they have a big problem with walnuts?

It is more likely that Big Pharma is intimidated by these small packages of healing power – that cost only about $3 a pound in some places. Is this why the FDA has censored information on walnuts?

There are over 57 different ways that walnuts promote overall health – but here are just a few concerning heart-health for your perusal:

Walnut Consumption Reduces Heart Disease Risks

Though walnuts are high in fat (they are healthful, beneficial  fats) numerous studies have shown that eating nuts reduces the chance of having a heart attack by eliminating blood clots.

Walnuts also provide a unique blend of polyunsaturated fatty acids (including omega-3s), along with nutrients like gamma-tocopherol which have demonstrated heart health benefits. The New England Journal of Medicine published the first clinical study showing significant reductions in LDL and improvement in the lipoprotein profile in response to moderate consumption of walnuts.

Additional studies have shown that walnuts improve endothelial function in ways that are independent of cholesterol reduction. Walnuts are so powerful that they help endothelial functioning by 64% when substituted for other fats in a person’s diet. Much of the underlying cause for heart disease is atherosclerosis, a progressive endothelial dysfunction in the body.

Walnuts Contain a Variety of Heart-Healing Nutrients

Aside from endothelial function support, walnuts also contain a host of healing nutrients, including arginine, polyphenols, copper, manganese, and again, omega-3s which support the inner arterial lining and guard against abnormal platelet aggregation in the body.

The US National Library of Medicine database contains more than 35 peer-reviewed published papers supporting a claim that ingesting walnuts improves vascular health and may reduce heart attack risk – and then some.

FDA Ignores Science, Public Health

The FDA’s language over walnuts resembles that of an out-of-control police state where tyranny supersedes rationality. Here is an excerpt from the FDA’s warning letter to Diamond Foods:

Excerpt from FDA Letter

“Based on our review, we have concluded that your walnut products are in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) and the applicable regulations in Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR).

…Based on claims made on your firm’s website, we have determined that your walnut products are promoted for conditions that cause them to be drugs because these products are intended for use in the prevention, mitigation, and treatment of disease.

…Because of these intended uses, your walnut products are drugs within the meaning of section 201 (g)(1)(B) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 321(g)(B)]. Your walnut products are also new drugs under section 201(p) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 321(p)] because they are not generally recognized as safe and effective for the above referenced conditions. Therefore, under section 505(a) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 355(a)], they may not be legally marketed with the above claims in the United States without an approved new drug application.

Additionally, your walnut products are offered for conditions that are not amenable to self-diagnosis and treatment by individuals who are not medical practitioners; therefore, adequate directions for use cannot be written so that a layperson can use these drugs safely for their intended purposes. Thus, your walnut products are also misbranded under section 502(f)(1) of the Act, in that the labeling for these drugs fails to bear adequate directions for use [21 U.S.C. § 352(f)(1)].”

The health benefits of walnuts are also accompanied by 0 (or hardly any) side effects, unlike many of the pharmaceutical meds approved by the FDA.

The FDA does not even consider the science behind the company’s claims and continues their unchecked censorship. This is just another attempt to inhibit the ability of consumers to discover lifesaving medical information. It ought to be a wake-up call for all who recognize the ramifications of this additional act of FDA malfeasance.

What is Promoted Instead of True Health-Saving Food

While the FDA gags those who would inform us about life-saving foods, endless advertisements for artery-clogging junk foods full of MSG, high fructose corn syrup, chemical dyes, carcinogenic preservatives, and reproductive-issue instilling GMOs, walnuts are targeted. Please.

McDonald’s French fries contain 17 different ingredients, many of which have been shown to be cancer-causing, yet a company who talks about the health benefits of a nut is struck down while McDonald’s doesn’t even get a slap on the hand. Or how about Coca-Cola company who sells drinks full of GMO sugar beets?

FDA Targets Other Health Foods

Walnuts aren’t the only target of the FDA, either. On the contrary, the FDA has issued loads of warning letters to companies making healthful foods (pomegranate juice, green tea, etc) that protect against atherosclerosis. The FDA is blatantly demanding that these companies stop informing the public about the scientifically validated health benefits these foods provide.

The FDA has also targeted makers of essential oils, and supplements.

FDA Allows Potato Chips to Be Advertised as “Heart Healthy”

O.k. – so what about potato chips – those are surely not recommended by the FDA.

Frito-Lay® is a subsidiary of PepsiCo, Inc., makers of Pepsi-Cola, and also a huge contributor to the anti-GMO labeling campaign to keep you in the dark about what is in your food. Frito-Lay® sells $12 billion a year of products that include:

• Lays® Potato Chips
• Doritos®
• Tostitos®
• Cheetos®
• Fritos®

The FDA has no problem allowing Frito-Lay® to state the following:

“Frito-Lay® snacks start with real farm-grown ingredients. You might be surprised at how much good stuff goes into your favorite snack. Good stuff like potatoes, which naturally contain vitamin C and essential minerals. Or corn, one of the world’s most popular grains, packed with thiamin, vitamin B6, and phosphorous—all necessary for healthy bones, teeth, nerves and muscles.

“And it’s not just the obvious ingredients. Our all-natural sunflower, corn and soybean oils contain good polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, which help lower total and LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol and maintain HDL ‘good’ cholesterol levels, which can support a healthy heart. Even salt, when eaten in moderation as part of a balanced diet, is essential for the body.”

Natural ingredients? This company is full of GMO pushers!

Pharmaceutical Companies Benefit From FDA’s Hubris

Based on what Frito-Lay® is allowed to state by the FDA, we should be eating their products daily. Who would want to ingest walnuts, pomegranate, or green tea when these fat calorie-laden, GMO pesticide laced, mostly-fried carbohydrates are so readily available? Of course!

As the aging population develops coronary atherosclerosis, pharmaceutical companies stand to reap tens of billions of dollars each year in profits. Is this the real reason why walnuts are a target of the FDA?

The FDA targets walnuts because they impinge on the financial health of certain companies, not public health. They threw out any care for our health long ago.

What’s more is that the FDA and FTC (Federal Trade Commission) are proposing new regulations that will stifle the ability of natural food companies to disseminate scientifically researched findings about foods that benefit the top three diseases in this nation – diabetes/obesity, heart disease, and cancer.