January 2023 News Brief

INC Strategic Goals to Aid in the Sustainable Growth of the Nut & Dried Fruit Sector, 2022-2026 In late 2022, the INC Executive Committee held its Strategic Planning Meeting to define a series of strategic goals aimed at bringing the industry together as a whole to increase consumption: 1) Increase global consumption to ensure a […]

New Study on Oral Immunotherapy to Treat Peanut Allergy

A new study published in Clinical & Experimental Allergy assessed the safety and efficacy of oral immunotherapy using sequential doses of boiled peanuts followed by roasted peanuts to treat peanut allergy in children. Researchers conducted an open-label, phase II, single-arm clinical trial in children between the ages of 6 and 18 years with a history of […]

New Study on Post-Exercise Benefits of Almond Intake

The journal Frontiers in Nutrition has published a new study analyzing how the ingestion of almonds affects post-exercise inflammation and muscle soreness and damage. Researchers conducted a study with a randomized, parallel group design to determine whether daily consumption of almonds would mitigate post-exercise inflammation and muscle soreness and damage. A total of 64 non-obese […]

Recent Study Finds Positive Effects of Walnut Consumption on Mental Health

A recent study published in the journal Nutrients examined the effects of academic stress and daily walnut consumption on mental health, biochemical markers of general health and gut microbiota in university students. Researchers conducted a randomized feeding trial in 80 healthy male and female undergraduate students at the University of South Australia between the ages […]

INC Updates on EU Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Concerns for Dried Fruits

EFSA Scientific Opinion on sulfur dioxide-sulfites usage levels As previously announced, on November 24, 2022, the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) published its Scientific Opinion on the Follow-up of the re‐evaluation of sulfur dioxide (E 220), sodium sulfite (E 221), sodium bisulfite (E 222), sodium metabisulfite (E 223), potassium metabisulfite (E 224), calcium sulfite (E […]

Labeling Update: January 2023

USA: Consultation on Food Allergen Labeling Requirements The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking public and industry comments on two guidance documents about food allergen labeling requirements. Both documents intend to help the food industry meet the need to list any significant food allergen on the labels of FDA-regulated foods. Major food allergens […]

Food Safety Update: January 2023

FAO: Risk Assessment of Food Allergens (Part 2) The FAO and WHO reconvened the Ad hoc Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on Risk Assessment of Food Allergens for a second meeting to provide scientific advice and establish threshold levels in foods for priority allergens. The committee considered four approaches to define thresholds: analytical-based; no observed adverse […]

Latest Trade News and Agreements: January 2023

WTO Rules Against US Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum According to Reuters, on December 9, 2022, the World Trade Organization ruled against US tariffs imposed on steel and aluminum imports. Back in 2018, the United States imposed 25% tariffs on steel imports and 10% on aluminum, using Section 232 of a 1962 act allowing to […]

Sustainability Update: January 2023

UN COP15 Outcomes and ISSB Climate-related Disclosures Standard The UN COP15 concluded in Montreal with an agreement to halt and reverse the destruction of nature by 2030. The Kunming-Montreal biodiversity agreement includes key global targets such as: to restore 30% degraded ecosystems globally by 2030, and to sustainably manage areas under agriculture and forestry. Also, […]