- Question – 27 Feb 2007:
Hello, I just ordered 12 bottles of your Absolute Goji juice. A friend of mine just started selling Freelife Goji and insists her product is far superior because they do not pasteurize it at all. She claims that the polysaccharides (sp) get destroyed even with “flash pasteurization.”
Can you briefly tell me if this is true? Does flash pasteurization destroy a lot of the valuable nutrients in the juice?
Thank you,
Rosemary Kelly
- Answer: Dear Rosemary,
That is a completely false statement. A polysaccharide is basically a long chain of sugars and sugars like that need to be heated well above the 160 degrees that is attained in the flash pasteurization process to be negatively affected.
The “flash” process is only 15 seconds of 160 degree heat than a rapid chilling step to below 50 degrees.
Flash pasteurization is the safest and most effective of all preservation processes. It is also a very important public safety step to prevent salmonella.
My personal opinion is that FreeLife distributors will say anything to make a sale and/or they are just misinformed.
Thank you for your question and I hope this cleared up the false data that was told to you.
Sincerely,
Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc.
- Rosemary – 28 Feb 2007:
Thank you Dr. E. My friend who sells Freelife says they are the only company she knows of who use a cold-processing or cold-filtering process and sterilize the bottles (as you probably know, they have a patented 7 step process). This is why she says their product is far superior because there is absolutely no heat used at all.
Anyway, I will be very pleased to try your products. They come well recommended by sources I trust.
Thanks for your prompt reply
Warm regards,
Rosemary
- Answer: Dear Rosemary,
I am excited that you are becoming a new customer of ours. I am sure we will meet or exceed your expectations.
Just as an FYI: That seven step process is very standard in the industry. We sterilize all of our bottles and we cold press all of our berries too. The main reason we flash pasteurize is that we use real juice and fresh fruits and vegetables are susceptible to salmonella. (I am sure you have heard all of the news reports lately about the multiple salmonella outbreaks across the country). FreeLife does not need to F.P. because they dehydrate the fresh goji juice, ship the powder (concentrate) to America and then reconstitute it with water, lots of water.
I am always here to answer any question you may have.
Sincerely,
Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc.
- Rosemary – 28 Feb 2007
Thank you! I am already VERY impressed with you and your company and can’t wait to try the Absolute Goji when it arrives in a day or two! The juice is both for myself and my 84 year young mother!
–blessings,
Rosemary
- Rosemary – 03 Mar 2007
This was forwarded to me from Rosemary after contacting FreeLife with some questions. My “personal” opinions and feelings are in blue
Dr. E — thought you’d be fascinated by the email response I received from Freelife headquarters! Very interesting indeed!
P.S. I received my Absolute Goji yesterday and WOW! it is potent!
Rosemary
Thank you for your email. “We flash-pasteurize our Himalayan Goji Juice, and then immediately chill it prior to filling. It’s all part of our proprietary “chill-blending process. Unlike traditional pasteurization processes, flash pasteurization keeps the juice’s fresh flavors and nutritional integrity.” I hope you find this information helpful. It is all located on our website at www.freelife.com
California Academy of Health also uses “Flash Pasteurization” and “Chill blending.”
How is Himalayan Goji Juice different from other “juices”?
There is never any added sugar, artificial sweeteners, artificial colors or flavors in Himalayan Goji Juice, and goji is the only plant that has the 4 unique polysaccharides “the Master Molecules that are so important to your body’s defense systems.
California Academy of Health’s has never added and never will add artificial sweeteners or colors to our juice. Our goji juice also possesses the same exact 4 master molecules as F.L.’s goji juice. I have obtained a F.L. goji label from Australia (see below for ingredient section only). Food Labeling requirements are far more strict there than in the USA (meaning you have to tell the truth).
INGREDIENTS: Goji Juice Blend [Reconstitutes of goji (lycium barbarum) juice 90%, Grape Juice 4%, Pear Juice 2%, Apple Juice 1.25%, Pear Puree 1%, Natural Goji Berry Flavour (With Other Natural Flavours), Preservatives (Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate)]
The label clearly states that goji berry flavour (with other natural flavours) are added to the juice. These components as far as natural and artificial go are merely a play on words (it’s called spin). Yes they are carbon based so theoretically they are natural but to someone in the food industry like me, I lean more toward man made. I feel extracts are natural and flavor additives are not.
Is Himalayan Goji Juice organic?
Although Himalayan Goji Juice is not certified organic, it is produced to the highest standards of ecological and environmental responsibility. We are working toward a cooperative program of organic certification for our indigenous Asian growers. Until then, you can be assured that, like every FreeLife product, Himalayan Goji Juice is certified to be free of detectable pesticide and herbicide residues. Also, Himalayan Goji Juice contains no added sugar, artificial colors, sweeteners, or flavors.
California Academy of Health is also working with its partners in Asia to help them obtain organic certification. Our goji juice is also certified to be free of detectable pesticide, herbicide and heavy metal contamination. Again read the last sentence and than the label and you be the judge.
