Is Blue Diamond Almonds Clean?

The Short Answer

Most Blue Diamond Almonds score a caution or avoid rating. They are overwhelmingly roasted in industrial seed oils and heavily processed flavorings, making the classic cans a poor choice for daily snacking.

If you buy their roasted or flavored nuts, you are eating canola, safflower, and sunflower oil. Their intensely flavored options—like the famous Smokehouse or Wasabi & Soy—also rely on maltodextrin and hidden glutamates to keep you reaching back into the can.

Why This Matters

Nuts are a healthy, whole-food snack—until food scientists get ahold of them. Roasting almonds in cheap seed oils introduces unnecessary omega-6 fatty acids. This processing can promote inflammation and counteract the heart-healthy benefits of the nuts themselves. Are Roasted Nuts Healthy

The flavored varieties are even worse. Blue Diamond uses hydrolyzed corn and soy protein in their Smokehouse almonds. This is a highly processed ingredient that contains naturally occurring glutamate, which acts on your brain exactly like MSG. Are Flavored Nuts Bad

If you want the health benefits of almonds, you need to eat actual almonds. Stop treating nuts as a vehicle for industrial oils and flavor enhancers. Cleanest Nut Brands

What's Actually In Blue Diamond Almonds

Blue Diamond's ingredient lists vary wildly by flavor, but most cans contain a combination of these red-flag ingredients:

• Vegetable Oil — Blue Diamond uses a blend of canola, safflower, and/or sunflower oil to roast their nuts and adhere the seasonings. These cheap oils are highly refined and inflammatory.
• Hydrolyzed Corn and Soy Protein — Found in savory flavors, this ingredient is created by breaking down proteins into amino acids. It contains free glutamates, which function identically to MSG without requiring an "MSG" label.
• Corn Maltodextrin — A highly processed starch used as a filler and flavor carrier. It has a higher glycemic index than table sugar, causing rapid blood sugar spikes.
• Natural Flavors — A proprietary blend of chemicals used to mimic the taste of smoke, barbecue, or fruit. The exact makeup is hidden from consumers.

What to Look For

Green Flags:

• Single-ingredient lists — The only thing that should be in a can of almonds is almonds. Raw Vs Roasted Nuts
• Dry roasted — If they must be roasted, look for "dry roasted" to ensure no cheap seed oils were used in the process. Nuts No Added Oil

Red Flags:

• Vegetable oil blends — If you see canola, safflower, or sunflower oil, leave it on the shelf.
• Yeast extract and hydrolyzed proteins — These are industry tricks to add MSG-like savory flavor without using the acronym MSG.
• Maltodextrin — A cheap, highly processed carbohydrate filler used to make flavor powders stick to the nuts.

The Best Options

If you find yourself staring at a wall of Blue Diamond products, you only have one truly clean option. Salted Vs Unsalted Nuts

The Bottom Line

1. Stick to the Whole Natural line. It is the only Blue Diamond product that is truly clean, containing nothing but raw almonds.

2. Avoid the flavored cans. Smokehouse, Sweet Thai Chili, and Wasabi & Soy are highly processed junk foods disguised as healthy nuts.

3. Check your roasting oils. If you want salted nuts, find a brand that uses dry roasting or organic olive and coconut oil rather than canola and safflower.

FAQ

Does Blue Diamond use MSG?

Technically no, but effectively yes. While they do not add pure monosodium glutamate to their products, their savory flavors (like Smokehouse) use hydrolyzed corn and soy protein. This ingredient naturally contains high levels of free glutamate, which triggers the exact same savory, addictive response in the brain as MSG.

Are Blue Diamond almonds sprayed with glyphosate?

It's highly likely. Glyphosate (Roundup) is heavily used in conventional California almond orchards to control weeds on the orchard floor. While Blue Diamond notes the chemical isn't applied directly to the trees and the kernel is protected by the shell, the only way to completely avoid glyphosate exposure is to buy certified organic almonds.

Are Blue Diamond almonds pasteurized with PPO?

Blue Diamond claims they no longer use PPO. California law requires all almonds to be pasteurized to prevent Salmonella. While the toxic chemical fumigant Propylene Oxide (PPO) is legal and widely used in the industry, Blue Diamond currently states they rely on steam, blanching, or roasting processes instead of PPO.

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References (4)

1. 1. fooducate.com
2. 2. heb.com
3. 3. yegexotic.com
4. 4. youtube.com