|
|
The International Point of reference and platform of the nut and dried fruit sector
Santiago de Chile was the site of the INC's XXVII World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress, May 9-11, where international professionals gathered to exchange views, meet world-wide colleagues, strengthen commercial relations and explore new initiatives.
The international participation was significant with 408 professional visitors from outside Chile, which represents 93% of total visitors.
The traditional Working Group presentations announced the expected crops for the different nuts and dried fruits, and issued the current market situation, covering key supply and demand developments. Congress attendees had 20 presentations to choose from, which ranged in topic from market dynamics and trends in nuts and dried fruits, to research on nutrition and regulatory affairs. Over 50 specialists in the fields of production, trade, nutrition and food law from all over the world presented their views on key industry topics.
On Saturday 10 May, Goretti Guasch, INC Exectuvie Director reviewed the INC activities in 2007, presented the Five Year Strategic Plan of Actions and showed an online demonstration of the renewed Database.
The Congress also hosted a session devoted especially to the latest news on nuts and health. On Sunday 11 May, Maureen Ternus, MS, RD, Executive Director of the INC-Nutrition Research & Education Foundation, gave the presentation “Latest News on Health Message”, focused on current research and the INC-NREF activities.
Celebrated within the framework of the Congress, the Scientific Seminar presented the results of the INC Scientific and Government Affairs Committee Meeting, held on Friday 9 May 2008. Pino Calcagni, Chairman of the Committee, gave a presentation on Saturday 10 May, on the committee activities in 2007 and the 2008 Action Plan. The seminar addressed key issues in the nut and dried fruit industry: Codex and EU aflatoxin limits in tree nuts, microbiology limits on nuts and dried fruits, latest situation on EU and US health claims and new UNECE agriculture quality standards.
Exhibition area
The exhibition area, located immediately next to the Conference Room, completed the program of activities as the perfect place for making business contacts, consolidating relations and finding agents, distributors, importers and suppliers. The main business activity of exhibitors was machinery, followed by trade associations and laboratories.
 |
<< Total Participants by Country
|
Total Participants by Region:
|
|
Total Participants by Product:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UNECE Working Party on Agricultural Quality Standards Specialized Section on Standardization of Dry and Dried Produce
Geneva, Switzerland, 23-27 June 2008
The INC, represented by Mr. Pino Calcagni, Chairman of the Scientific and Government Affairs Committee, is attending the UNECE Specialized Section on Standardization of Dry and Dried Produce, to be held in Geneva, 23-27 June 2008. Among others, the agenda comprises the following issues:
- Review of UNECE recommendations:
- Pistachio kernels and peeled pistachio kernels
- Blanched almonds kernels
- Revision of UNECE standards:
- Hazelnuts kernels a
- Inshell walnuts
- New UNECE standards:
- Inshell macadamia nuts and macadamia kernels
- UNECE colour gauge for inshell walnuts and walnut kernels
- Dates, whole
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Codex Alimentarius Commission
31st Session, Geneva, Switzerland, 30 June - 4 July 2008
The INC is participating at the forthcoming 31st Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, to be held in the International Conference Centre, Geneva, Switzerland, 30 June – 4 July 2008.
Among others, the session will discuss the following issues:
- Amendments to the Rules of Procedure;
- Codex Standards and Related Texts submitted for adoption;
- Strategic Planning and Financial Matters;
- The implementation of the Joint FAO/WHO Evaluation of the Codex Alimentarius and other FAO and WHO Work on Food Standards.
The proposed maximum aflatoxin levels in almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios and sampling plans approved at the 2nd Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food ( The Hague, March 31 – April 4, 2008), will be submitted for final adoption to the Codex Commission:
- For Further Processing: 15 ppb total, 1x20 kg sample;
- For Ready-to-eat: 10 ppb total, 2x10kg sample (each sample testing ≤ 10 ppb total).
The INC, as Official Non-Government Observer, will be represented by Mr. Pino Calcagni, Chairman of the INC Scientific and Government Affairs Committee, and Ms. Julie Adams, Vice-Chairman.
|
|
|
|
|
|
INC at IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo
New Orleans, June 29- July 1, 2008
The INC will exhibit for the fifth year at the IFT Annual Meeting and Food Expo, which will take place in New Orleans, USA, from 29 June to 1 July, 2008.
Over 20.000 food industry professionals from around the globe are expected to gather in New Orleans to learn about the latest developments in scientific research, technologies, new products, and consumer trends. Food ingredient suppliers, scientists and technologists will converge at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center to share and discuss the latest advancements in food.
From the booth located at the International Pavilion, booth number 1654, the INC expects to recruit new members, meet with old INC friends, and promote the INC brand and the consumption of nuts and dried fruits.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Scientific & Regulatory issues on the INC website
Scientific Studies
• Jenkins DJ, Kendall CW, Marchie A, Josse AR, Nguyen TH, Faulkner DA, Lapsley KG, Blumberg J. Almonds reduce biomarkers of lipid peroxidation in older hyperlipidemic subjects. J Nutr. 2008 May;138(5):908-13.
• Mandalari G, Faulks RM, Rich GT, Lo Turco V, Picout DR, Lo Curto RB, Bisignano G, Dugo P, Dugo G, Waldron KW, Ellis PR, Wickham MS. Release of Protein, Lipid, and Vitamin E from Almond Seeds during Digestion. J Agric Food Chem. 2008 May 14;56(9):3409-16.
• Spaccarotella KJ, Kris-Etherton PM, Stone WL, Bagshaw DM, Fishell VK, West SG, Lawrence FR, Hartman TJ. The effect of walnut intake on factors related to prostate and vascular health in older men. Nutr J. 2008 May 2;7(1):13.
• Miraliakbari H, Shahidi F. Oxidative Stability of Tree Nut Oils. J Agric Food Chem. 2008 May 22.
Regulations
• Report of the 40th Session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues, Hangzhou, China, 14-19 April 2008.
• Rapport de la 40ème Session du Comité du Codex sur les Residus de Pesticides. Hangzhou, Chine, 14 – 19 Avril 2008.
• Report of the 40th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives, Beijing, China, 21-25 April 2008.
• Informe de la 40ª Reunión del Comité del Codex sobre Aditivos Alimentarios, Beijing, China, 21 - 25 de Abril de 2008.
• Rapport de la 2ème Session du Comite Codex sur les Contaminants dans les Aliments, La Haye, Pays-Bas, 31 Mars- 4 Avril 2008.
• FVO General Report of a series of missions carried out between 2003 and 2006 in 25 Member States concerning controls of pesticides in food of plant origin.
• Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for pesticides registered for use on Australian Macadamia Nuts. National Residue Survey, Australian Government.
|
|
|
|
Regulatory News
EC Proposal to modernize Common Agricultural Policy
The European Commission has recently issued a proposal to further modernize, simplify and streamline the Common Agricultural Policy and remove remaining restrictions on farmers to help them respond to growing demand for food. Among a range of measures, the proposals include a series of small support schemes to be decoupled and shifted to the SPS. This would happen immediately for nuts, hemp and protein crops.
http://europa.eu
EU Nutrition and Health Claims
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has recently issued a detailed guidance on nutrition and health claims made on foods. The document explains European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on Nutrition and Health Claims made on foods, and requirements for authorization of new claims. The guidance provides key dates and transitional periods and instructions on how to make a nutrition and health claim.
UK submitted health claims for nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, peanuts, peanut butter and peanut oil) to the European Commission on 30 January 2008, but further claim submissions in areas of new emerging science can still be made. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) shall adopt the list of permitted claims by end January 2010.
www.food.gov.uk
China Proposes New Food Safety Law
According to China Daily, a draft of the country’s new law on food safety has been published. The new regulation aims to solve incongruities such as different standards from different ministries for the same food. The draft law sets two standards for food, national and local, with heavier penalties.
In addition, and according to China Internet Information Center, the country has started requiring basic nutritional labeling on most packaged food from May 1, 2008. Companies will have to show per unit content of energy, fat, protein and carbohydrate, along with the cholesterol, sugar, mineral and vitamin content. According to a guidelines recently issued by the Ministry of Health, manufacturers will have to guarantee that all health claims are factual.
www.moh.gov.cn
|
|
|
|
RASFF Notifications
EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed
· Weeks 18-20
ALERT NOTIFICATIONS
- Brazil nuts from Bolivia (1).
- Peanuts manufactured in the Slovak Republic, raw material from Argentina (1).
- Pistachios from Iran (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
- Ground nutmeg from Belgium, raw material from the Netherlands (1).
- Peanuts from Argentina (1) and China (2)
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
- Almonds from USA (1).
- Dried Apricots from Turkey (1).
- Dried Figs from Turkey (2).
- Hazelnuts from Turkey (2).
- Peanuts from Argentina (2), China (13) and USA (1).
- Pistachios from Iran (5) and Turkey (1).
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.
|
|
|
Research Briefs
Almonds: a heart-smart food
According to a new study published in the Journal of Nutrition, May 2008, researchers at the University of Toronto and Tufts University have investigated markers of oxidative stress that, beyond lowering cholesterol, make almonds a heart-smart food, specifically almonds’ antioxidants. In this randomized crossover study, 27 men and women with elevated cholesterol consumed two and a half servings of almonds per day during 4 weeks. Results of the study showed that the dose of almonds reduced serum concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and urinary isoprostane. Almond antioxidant activity was proved by their effect on these two biomarkers of oxidative stress. The study suggests that the antioxidants in almonds combined with almonds’ favorable effects on blood cholesterol levels may explain the overall positive effects of almonds on heart health.
Walnuts: good for prostate and vascular health
According to a new study published in the May issue of Nutrition Journal walnuts may improve biomarkers of prostate and vascular status. Researchers examined the effect of walnuts on markers of prostate and vascular health in men at risk for prostate cancer. 21 participants consumed in random order their usual diet with or without a walnut supplement (75 g/d).The significant decrease in the alpha-tocopherol: gamma-tocopherol ratio with an increase in serum gamma-tocopherol and a trend towards an increase in the ratio of free PSA:total PSA after this 8-week supplement study suggest that walnuts may improve prostate and vascular status.
Pistachios may help against heart disease and obesity
During the 2008 Experimental Biology Meeting, San Diego, California, 5-9 April 2008, scientists from UCLA, Pennsylvania State University and other institutions presented new studies that confirm pistachios’ ability to reduce cardiovascular disease risk, improve blood lipid profiles and better manage calorie intake. Researchers at Texas Woman’s University found that pistachio consumption increased the levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in the blood. These carotenoids act as antioxidants and help protect against free radicals. In addition, researchers from Eastern Illinois University presented a new study on pistachio portion choice at the American Dietetic Association Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group Annual Meeting. Participants were invited to evaluate the taste and texture of pistachios, shelled and in-shell. Preliminary results found that when participants selected pistachios in shell the portions provided 50% fewer calories, testing the hypothesis that in–shell pistachios may help individuals control calorie intake.
New Nematodes-Resistant Peanut
According to the USDA’s Agriculture Research Service (ARS), a new peanut variety may help farmers fight against the peanut root-knot nematode and the tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). Researchers from ARS, University of Georgia and the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences have developed the so-called Tifguard, the first peanut variety that has resistance to both. Tifguard also produced significantly higher yields than standard check cultivars in locations with high pressure from both pathogens. The new peanut variety is currently in seed production. Seed will become available for farmers by the 2009 planting season.
www.ars.usda.gov |
|
|
|
E-mail: inc@nutfruit.org