A new study led by Jordi Salas-Salvadó, MD, PhD, Member of the INC Scientific and Government Affairs Committee, was published by Archives of Internal Medicine, a professional medical journal published by the American Medical Association, on December 8th, 2008.

The study indicates that a daily serving of mixed nuts in a traditional Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, a group of metabolic abnormalities that includes abdominal obesity and risk factors for heart disease and diabetes, which affects almost ¼ of the adult population.

Professor Salas-Salvadó and his fellow researchers assessed 1,224 participants from the PREDIMED Study, aged 55 to 80 years, at high risk of cardiovascular disease. More than 60% of participants had metabolic syndrome. Volunteers were randomly divided into three groups:

• A control group that received advice on a low-fat diet.
• A second group that received advice on Mediterranean diet plus provision of 1 liter per week of virgin olive oil.
• A third group that received advice on Mediterranean diet plus 30 grams (1 ounce) per day of mixed nuts (15 g of walnuts, 7.5 g of almonds and 7.5 g of hazelnuts), about 3 whole walnuts, 7 whole hazelnuts and 7 whole almonds.

After one year, all groups had fewer participants with metabolic syndrome, the group eating nuts being the most successful. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was reduced by 13.7% in the group that received 30 g a day of mixed nuts, 6.7% in the olive oil group and 2% in the control group. Participants did not increase their physical activity, and their weight did not change over the one-year period.

The study concluded that a traditional Mediterranean diet enriched with nuts could be a useful tool in the fight against metabolic syndrome. The fact that the nut-rich diet reversed the metabolic syndrome suggests that nuts have beneficial effects on insulin resistance and pathophysiological characteristics of the metabolic syndrome, such as systemic oxidation or chronic inflammation.

The research team included Ramon Estruch, MD, PhD, General Coordinator of the PREDIMED Study, Emilio Ros, MD, PhD, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain, and Joan Fernández-Ballart MD, PhD, Rovira i Virgili University, Spain, among others.

The INC attended a press conference with Professor Salas-Salvadó, Dr. Ramon Estruch and Dr. Emilio Ros, to announce the results of this new research study, on December 15th, at Rovira i Virgili University, Reus, Spain.

The INC participated in the 17th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS), which took place in Cebu, Philippines, from 24th-28th November 2008. The INC was represented by Ms. Julie Adams, Member of the INC Scientific and Government Affairs Committee.

The CCFICS discussed the proposed draft Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct of Foreign On-site Audits and Inspections, which aims to provide a framework for use by governments to ensure a transparent approach for the use of audits and inspections when used for assessment of exporting country’s official inspection and certification systems.

The Committee agreed to forward the proposed draft Generic Model Official Certificate (Annex to the Guidelines for Design, Production, Issuance and Use of Generic Official Certificates) to the Codex Commission for final adoption. This generic certificate aims to reduce the complexity of multiple formats for certificates and to facilitate certification procedures.

The Committee expressed general support for developing guidance on national food control systems that would complement current Codex texts, and agreed to establish a working group chaired by Australia to prepare proposed draft Principles and Guidelines for National Food Control Systems.

The Committee reviewed views and experiences gathered by the electronic working group regarding the use of traceability/product tracing. It concluded that there was not sufficient information to clearly identify gaps or specific needs, and agreed to request the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committees to discuss the necessity of further guidance on traceability/product tracing.

The CCFICS 18th session was scheduled to be held in Australia, from 9-13 November 2009.

The INC represented by Mr. Jack Mariani, Chairman, Mr. Pino Calcagni, Chairman of the INC Scientific and Government Affairs Committee, and Ms. Goretti Guasch, Executive Director, recently travelled to China in the first steps towards preparation of the XXIX World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress.

The China Chamber of Commerce of Import & Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce & Animal By-Products (CFNA), as Congress host, welcomed the INC team who was met by Mr. Huo Jianguo, CFNA President, Mr. Bian Zhenhu, Vice President, and Ms. Chen Ying, Vice Director of Cereals and Oils Department. The visit took place at the end of November 2008, in Beijing where the INC and the CFNA had the chance to explore the possibilities for organizing the INC Congress, and visit the proposed venues for meetings and social events. Furthermore, both organizations discussed scientific issues and possibilities of collaboration, particularly as regards Chinese peanuts.

At the last expert working group meeting of November 20th 2008, Member States’ experts did not reach any agreement on the future EU MLs for aflatoxins in tree nuts. They did reach agreement on the following points:

• Keeping separate MLs for aflatoxin B1 for all tree nuts including almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios. MLs for aflatoxin B1 would be nevertheless adjusted in order to better reflect current ratios aflatoxin B1/total aflatoxins for each of the three nuts.
• Whether B1 maximum levels should be kept for almonds and pistachios is nevertheless still under discussion, as for these two nuts the average aflatoxin B1 levels are very close to the aflatoxin total levels.
• Amendment of the EU MLs for both aflatoxin total and aflatoxin B1 for tree nuts other than almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios.

The expert working group re-confirmed its previous agreement to align EU MLs for aflatoxin total in almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios to the new Codex MLs.

If Member States come to an agreement at the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH) meeting on December 2008, the amended EU aflatoxin MLs could enter into force by spring 2009 at the earliest.

The 2008 International Dried Grape Producing Countries Conference was held in Mildura, Australia, 17/18 November 2008, after the northern hemisphere harvest. The meeting brought together delegations from USA, Turkey, Argentina, South Africa and Australia to discuss and exchange information on world production, marketing and scientific issues.

Participants at the conference highlighted major issues about global recession and food availability. Common issues of concern included the need for ongoing promotion and marketing programs as well as research into health benefits of dried grapes.

The analysis of production estimates provided at the Conference showed that the total availability of Thompson Seedless Raisins (TSR) and Sultanas, including goldens, had remained steady as minimal stocks had been carried into the new season, and production levels across the main producing countries appeared steady -with Turkey producing a record 310.000 MT of Sultanas, while Iran and Australia showed reduced levels due to seasonal and weather impacts during the growing season.

The Conference gathered the following 2008 production estimates:

Country	Sultanas / Raisins	Crop plus carry forward Sultana / TSR stocks	Golden Seedless	Currants	Crop plus carry forward Currant stocks
Greece	400	400	0	28.000	28.000
Iran	40.000	40.000	10.000	0	0
Turkey	310.000	317.000	0	0	0
USA	255.300	332.800	15.600	2.900	4.000
Argentina	26.000	26.500	350	0	0
Australia	9.200	9.720	0	850	1.100
Chile	50.000	50.000	5.000	0	0
South Africa	27.900	33.900	13.000	2.250	2.350
TOTAL Packed MT	718.800	810.320	43.950	34.000	35.450

Conference participants received the latest information on Ochratoxin A, climate change and Good Agricultural Practices from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), the Department of Primary Industries Victoria (DPI Vic) and Ege University, among others.

Mr. Peter Jones (Australia) was elected Chairman of the Conference and Mr. Osman Oz (Turkey) and Mr. Chris Gunlund (USA) were elected Deputy Chairmen. Mr. Ross Skinner (Horticulture Australia), the Conference convenor, was elected Secretary.

The next Conference will be held in Hamburg, Germany, on October 15-16, 2009.

The statistical office of the European Communities (Eurostat) has recently published the “Food: from farm to fork statistics” pocketbook, a comprehensive summary of data from the EC providing statistical information on how the food chain evolves in Europe. The publication gives key indicators for each step of the production-consumption chain, agricultural inputs, primary production, food processing and consumption.

The publication is divided into five parts: an overview; the primary production stage; the processing stage; the distribution stage; and consumption-related issues.

According to the pocketbook, EU-27 imports of fruit and nuts increased between 2000 and 2007, averaging a yearly growth of 4.6%. The main exporters remained practically unchanged between 2000 and 2007.

Volume of extra EU-27 imports of fruit and nuts, EU-27 (1000 tonnes)
	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
Fruit & nuts (not incl. oil nuts), fresh or dried	9.124	9.585	9.673	10.421	10.572	11.261	11.732	12.515
Bananas	3.998	3.880	3.947	4.128	4.075	3.983	4.453	4.750
Citrus fruit	1.757	2000	1.797	1.924	1.834	2.181	2.041	2.164
Dates, figs, pineapples, avocados, guavas, mangoes	653	708	730	827	925	1.081	1.272	1.330
Apples, pears & quinces	824	958	1.031	1.174	1.244	1.343	1.157	1.313
Grapes	629	623	680	722	790	872	942	935
Source: Eurostat

Volume of extra EU-27 imports of fruit and nuts, EU-27 (2000=100)

Source: Eurostat

Origin of extra EU-27 imports, fruit and nuts

Source: Eurostat

Preserved and prepared fruits and nuts recorded a continuous growth between 2000 and 2007, with average growth of 6% per year. Thailand was the main source in 2007, followed by China whose share increased from 6 % in 2000 to 16 % by 2007.

Volume of extra EU-27 imports of preserved fruit and fruit preparations (1000 tonnes)
	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
Fruit, preserv. & fruit prep's	1.089	1.131	1.210	1.406	1.442	1.452	1.532	1.640
Fruits, nuts & other edible parts of plants, prep. or preserv.	817	836	880	1005	1061	1059	1114	1143
Fruit & nuts, frozen	239	258	298	362	345	354	373	444
Source: Eurostat

Volume of extra EU-27 imports of preserved fruit and fruit preparations, EU-27 (2000=100)

Source: Eurostat