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THE CRACKER
MAGAZINE
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September 2009 Issue
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| World News |
Gary Ford named President and CEO of American Council for Food Safety & Quality; US Department of Defense endorses Mediterranean Diet; peanut butter sales rebound; Michael Waring to chair INC Ambassador Group. |
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| MycoRed Project Approved by EU |
EU to move forward with MycoRed Project to analyze “Novel Integrated Strategies for Worldwide Mycotoxin Reduction in Food and Feed Chains”, a four-year project that includes nuts and dried fruit. |
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| INC 2010 Congress in Beijing |
INC will host its XXIX Congress in Beijing 21-23 May, 2010. Program features are already being planned for the next INC Congress and sponsorships are selling fast! Mark your calendars for another recordsetting event that includes a chance to visit the Forbidden City and the Great Wall! Look for program details in late Fall. |
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| Methyl Bromide Replacement |
Researchers at the American Council for Food Safety and Quality have uncovered preliminary lab results that indicate a combined fumigant may be more cost efficient and environmentally acceptable. |
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| Monaco 2009 Photo Gallery |
Over 600 delegates attended the INC Congress in Monaco for a program that encouraged cutting-edge business strategies, recapped the latest outlook for production trends worldwide and provided social venues for meeting new friends. |
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| Monaco Congress Series |
Keynote speakers featured family business challenges and opportunities; the functional effects of nuts on gut health; food safety and regulatory updates; and took an inside look at the safety and quality of nuts and dried fruit. |
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| Statistical Outlook |
Industry nut and dried fruit production forecasts are updated from the Monaco Congress Working group presentations for an early look at what to expect in the 2009 crop year and beyond. |
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| California Pistachio Update |
News from the Western Pistachio Association reveal a good year ahead for California pistachio industry. Strong plantings mean larger crops and an increased focus on marketing and promotional programs that target increased consumption as a key goal. |
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XXIX World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress, Beijing 2010
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The XXIX World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress will be held in Beijing, China, from 21 to 23 May 2010. All of the details will be rolled out shortly.
Don’t miss our next congress!
Snackex Asia 2010 will take place in Beijing from 25 to 27 May 2010, the week after the INC Congress, so travelers to China have the opportunity to attend the two events in a single visit.
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INC Exhibiting at ANUGA
Cologne (Germany), 10-14 October 2009
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Shortly ANUGA 2009 will open its doors, and INC invites representatives of the food and beverage industry to join us at this year’s ANUGA Expo in Cologne, Germany, from 10 to 14 October 2009. This year organizers expect more than 6,000 exhibitors from around 100 countries, and over 160,000 trade show visitors.
The INC will be exhibiting in ANUGA Fine Food, Hall 11.1, booth D-022.
We look forward to welcome you on our stand!
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Codex Alimentarius Commission
Rome (Italy) , 29 June - 4 July 2009
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The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) met for its 32nd Session, from 29 June to 4 July 2009, in Rome, and adopted more than 30 new international standards, codes of practice, and guidelines to improve food safety.
New standards adopted by the CAC include:
- Code of Practice for the Reduction of Acrylamide in Foods;
- Code of Practice for the Reduction of Contamination of Food with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) from Smoking and Direct Drying Processes;
- Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of Ochratoxin A Contamination in Coffee;
- Microbiological Criteria for Powdered Follow-up Formulae and Formulae for Special Medical Purposes for Young Children;
- Microbiological Criteria for Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-to-Eat Foods.
The CAC adopted the amendment to paragraph 10 Sample preparation in the Sampling plans for Aflatoxin Contamination in Ready-to-eat Treenuts and Treenuts destined for further processing: almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios, as follows:
AMENDMENTS TO PARAGRAPH 10, SAMPLE PREPARATION IN THE SAMPLING PLANS
FOR AFLATOXIN CONTAMINATION IN READY-TO-EAT TREENUTS AND TREENUTS
DESTINED FOR FURTHER PROCESSING: ALMONDS, HAZELNUTS AND PISTACHIOS
Treenuts destined for further processing / Ready-to-eat treenuts
Sample preparation – sample shall be finely ground and mixed thoroughly using a process, e.g., dry grind with a vertical cutter mixer type mill, that has been demonstrated to provide the lowest sample preparation variance. |
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The CAC also launched a new work project on establishing maximum levels for melamine in food and feed.
INC participated in the session represented by Pino Calcagni, Chairman of the INC Scientific and Government Affairs Committee, as an International Observer Organization.
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| New Scientific & Regulatory Issues on the INC website
Scientific Studies
- Escurriol V, Cofán M, Serra M, Bulló M, Basora J, Salas-Salvadó J, Corella D, Zazpe I, Martínez-González MA, Ruiz-Gutiérrez V, Estruch R, Ros E. Serum sterol responses to increasing plant sterol intake from natural foods in the Mediterranean diet. Eur J Nutr. 2009 May 3.
- Sari I, Baltaci Y, Bagci C, Davutoglu V, Erel O, Celik H, Ozer O, Aksoy N, Aksoy M. Effect of pistachio diet on lipid parameters, endothelial function, inflammation, and oxidative status: A prospective study. Nutrition. 2009 Jul 30.
- Joseph JA, Shukitt-Hale B, Willis LM. Grape Juice, Berries, and Walnuts Affect Brain Aging and Behavior. J Nutr. 2009 Jul 29.
- Srivastava KD, Qu C, Zhang T, Goldfarb J, Sampson HA, Li XM. Food Allergy Herbal Formula-2 silences peanut-induced anaphylaxis for a prolonged posttreatment period via IFN-gamma-producing CD8+ T cells. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009 Feb;123(2):443-51.
Regulatory Issues
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EFSA Labelling reference intake levels for omega-3 and omega-6
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has recently released the scientific opinion of the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies on labelling reference intake values for n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), intended to represent typical recommended daily intakes for adults.
The opinion follows a request from the European Commission to review and provide general advice on reference values for the purpose of labelling for fatty acids, in relation to the authorization procedure for health claims.
For the long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids – eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) – the panel has proposed a value of 250mg, which is in agreement with most recent evidence on the relationship between the intake of these fatty acids and cardiovascular health in healthy populations.
For omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the panel considers that the proposed labelling reference intake (2g) is consistent with recommended intakes for individuals in the general population in some European countries based on considerations of cardiovascular health.
For omega-6 linoleic acid (LA), the panel has proposed a new value of 10g, based on considerations of cardiovascular health.
The European Commission might review the 2006 nutrition and health claims regulation according to these new statements.
EFSA Labelling reference intake values for n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids
www.efsa.europa.eu
EFSA Annual report on Pesticide Residues
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has recently released the 2007 Annual Report on Pesticide Residues, which presents an overview on the results of the monitoring of pesticide residues in food commodities analyzed throughout the European Union during 2007 and assesses the exposure of consumers through their diets.
More than 74,000 samples of approximately 350 different commodities were analyzed for pesticide residues. Analytical methods allowed detecting in total 870 different pesticides. The results showed that the majority of the samples (96.01%) were compliant with the legal Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs), and 3.99% exceeded the legal limits for one or more pesticide.
As in previous years, the total number of pesticides found in fruit and vegetables (354 different pesticides) in 2007 was significantly higher than the number of pesticides found in cereals (72), given the different use pattern of pesticides in these crop groups and the heterogeneity of products included in the fruit and vegetable category.
The results provide evidence that for all evaluated active substances (except diazinon) the chronic (long-term) exposure does not raise consumer health concerns.
EFSA Annual Report on Pesticide Residues
EU List of third countries from which organic products may be maketed within the European Community
Commission Regulation 537/2009 of 19 June 2009 amending Regulation 1235/2008, as regards the list of third countries from which certain agricultural products obtained by organic production must originate to be marketed within the Community, was published on 20 June 2009 in the European Official Journal L. 156.
According to the new regulation, as from 27 June 2009 amendments will be introduced to the list of specifications of the following third countries from which organic products are recognized to be exported to the EU:
Australia:
- The following new control and certification body will be introduced:
Costa Rica:
- The following new control and certification body will be introduced:
India:
- Extension of the duration of the inclusion in the list up to 30 June 2014
- The following new control and certification body will be introduced:
- The name of the control body called “Ecocert SA (India Branch Office)” has been replaced by the following name: “ECOCERT India Private Limited”.
Israel:
- The name of the control body called “Skal Israel Inspection & Certification” has been replaced by the following name: “Secal Israel Inspection and certification”.
Tunisia:
- Tunisia has been added to the list of third countries recognized to have a system of production of the following organic products complying with principles and production rules equivalent to the ones applying in the EU:
- Unprocessed crop and vegetative propagating material and seeds for cultivation;
- Processed agricultural products for use as food composed essentially of one of more ingredients of plant origin.
Regulation 537/2009 is available in all languages at the following link:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu
Commission Regulation (EC) No 537/2009
FDA Draft guidance to address the risk for contamination by salmonella in food containing pistachio-derived products
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register of June 29, 2009, asking for comment on its Measures to Address the Risk for Contamination by Salmonella Species in Food Containing a Pistachio-Derived Product as an Ingredient Draft Guidance.
This draft guidance is intended for food manufacturers and processors who use a pistachio-derived product as an ingredient in a food product. It recommends measures to address the risk of Salmonella species present in pistachio-derived products (roasted in-shell pistachios and shelled pistachios that are roasted or raw).
Deadline for submitting written or electronic comments concerning the draft guidance was established on August 28, 2009.
FDA Draft Guidance for Industry: Measures to Address the Risk for Contamination by Salmonella Species in Food Containing a Pistachio-Derived Product as an Ingredient
Bitter aftertaste identified in pine nuts
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has received several reports in recent months of some consumers compalining of a biter after taste in pine nuts. According to the Agency, this issue does not represent any food safety risk. In fact, FSA has contacted the Poisons Centre in Belgium which investigated this phenomenon in 2001 but did not find the cause for the bitter taste, and no chemical differences were found between affected and unaffected samples.
FSA has emphasized that no adverse health effects have been associated with these symptoms.
Due to the lack of information on this phenomenon, the Agency is inviting people who have had the symptom and experts to contact them at: toxicology@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk.
www.food.gov.uk
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RASFF Notifications
EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed
Weeks 29-32, 2009
ALERT NOTIFICATIONS
Country of Origin |
Reason for Notifying |
Total Notifications |
Iran |
Aflatoxins (B1 = 29; Tot. = 32 µg/kg) in roasted and salted pistachios, raw material from Iran, processed in Netherlands |
1 |
Turkey |
Aflatoxins in shredded and roasted hazelnuts |
2 |
USA |
Aflatoxins in roasted and salted pistachios, via Denmark, raw material from USA |
1 |
Alert Notifications are released when a food or feed presenting a serious risk is on the market and when immediate action is required.
INFORMATION NOTIFICATIONS
Country of Origin |
Reason for Notifying |
Total Notifications |
Brazil |
Aflatoxins in groundnuts |
1 |
Ghana |
Aflatoxins in peanut butter |
2 |
Greece |
Traces of peanut in almond bars |
1 |
India |
Aflatoxins in peanut chews |
1 |
Netherlands |
Aflatoxins in shelled and blanched groundnuts |
1 |
Turkey |
Traces of peanut (124.4 mg/kg) in milky compound chocolate tablet with almond flavor cream filling |
1 |
Information Notifications concern a food or feed for which a risk has been identified, but for which the other member states do not have to take immediate action, because the product has not yet reached their market.
BORDER REJECTIONS
Country of Origin |
Reason for Notifying |
Total Notifications |
Argentina |
Aflatoxins in groundnuts |
2 |
Aflatoxins in groundnuts for bird feed |
1 |
Brazil |
Aflatoxins in groundnuts |
1 |
China |
Aflatoxins in peanuts |
9 |
India |
Infested cashew nut kernels with larvae of insects |
1 |
Iran |
Aflatoxins in pistachios |
9 |
Saudi Arabia |
Bromopropylate (0.17 mg/kg) in dried dates |
1 |
South Africa |
Aflatoxins in peanut butter |
1 |
Tajikistan |
Improper health certificate(s) in pistachios, dispatched from Turkey |
1 |
Turkey |
Aflatoxins in hazelnut powder |
1 |
Aflatoxins in hazelnuts |
7 |
Aflatoxins in pistachios |
3 |
USA |
Aflatoxins in almonds |
2 |
Border Rejections concern food and feed consignments that have been tested and rejected at the external borders of the EU and the European Economic Area when a health risk was found. The notifications are transmitted to all EEA border posts in order to reinforce controls and to ensure that the rejected product does not re-enter the Community through another border post.
http://ec.europa.eu
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Pistachios and Cardiovascular Health
According to a new study published in The Journal of Nutrition, consumption of pistachios may improve blood glucose level, endothelial function, and some indices of inflammation and oxidative status.
Researchers from Gaziantep University, Turkey,investigated the effect of the Antep pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) on blood glucose, lipid parameters, endothelial function, inflammation, and oxidation in healthy young men living in a controlled environment. They administered a Mediterranean diet to normolipidemic 32 healthy young men (mean age 22 years) for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, participants continued to receive the Med diet but pistachio was added for 4 weeks by replacing the monounsaturated fat content constituting approximately 20% of daily caloric intake. Researchers performed fasting blood samples and brachial endothelial function measurements at baseline and after each diet.
Compared with the Med diet, the pistachio diet decreased glucose, low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, and triacylglycerol significantly. Total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein ratios decreased significantly as well. The pistachio diet significantly improved endothelium-dependent vasodilation, decreased serum interleukin-6, total oxidant status, lipid hydroperoxide, and malondialdehyde, and increased superoxide dismutase.
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E-mail: inc@nutfruit.org