New INC Chairman Elected
Ashok Krishen to serve as Chairman of the INC, leading its vision and global initiatives
During the 2025 INC Congress in Mallorca, Ashok Krishen, Managing Director and CEO of the Olam Food Ingredients (ofi) nuts business, was elected as the new INC Chairman for the next four years. Mr. Krishen succeeds Michael Waring, Chairman and Managing Director of MWT Foods in Australia. As is customary, the appointment was made official when Mr. Waring passed the chairman’s chain to Mr. Krishen at a ceremony held during the Gala Dinner of the Congress in Palma de Mallorca on May 10. [Read more]
Relive the INC Congress in Mallorca!
Three impactful days of insights, connections, and growth
With more than 1,530 industry leaders from 72 countries, the 42nd World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress was our largest and most dynamic gathering to date. The event served as a global platform for sharing insights, fostering innovation, and exploring the future of our industry. Relive the best moments through our official congress video. Participants can revisit key discussions by accessing all round table presentations via the Meeting Point. Be sure to explore our stunning photo albums, featuring highlights from the event —including our esteemed INC Award winners: Mercadona, recipient of the Corporate Golden Nut Award; the restaurant Disfrutar, honored for Excellence in Gastronomy; and Dr. David Baer of the USDA, recognized for Excellence in Research. And don’t miss the photos from the On-site Technical Visit to Portugal and Spain held just before the congress.
Tariffs: Trump Briefly Threatens EU With 50% Duty
US federal court blocks some of Trump’s steepest tariffs; appeal expected
On May 23, 2025, after claiming that trade talks with the European Union were “going nowhere,” US President Donald Trump threatened on social media to impose a 50% tariff on goods from the EU as of June 1, as reported by the Guardian. The threatened 50% tariff was substantially higher than the 20% tariff on EU goods that was announced by the White House on April 2 as part of a major escalation against several dozen countries and subsequently paused on April 9 for 90 days. [Read more]
Tariffs: China and USA Agree to Partially De-escalate for 90 Days
EU launches public consultation on potential countermeasures affecting nuts and dried fruits
On May 12, 2025, the United States and China released a joint statement outlining an agreement to substantially reduce tariffs on each other’s goods for an initial period of 90 days. As reported by CNN, each side agreed to lower tariffs on the other by 115 percentage points, bringing US tariffs on Chinese goods down from 145% to 30% and lowering Chinese tariffs on US goods from 125% to 10%. These changes took effect on May 14, 2025. In other tariff news, on May 8, the European Commission announced a public consultation… [Read more]
INC-Funded Study Finds Dried Fruit May Help Ease Chronic Constipation
90 grams of dried fruit daily led to significant increases in complete bowel movements
Results from an INC-funded study were presented at the Digestive Disease Week conference, held in San Diego, California (USA) on May 3-6, 2025. The study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, food intervention trial that investigated the impact of dried fruit, fruit juice, and a fruit-flavored placebo on symptoms of constipation. A total of 150 participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a group that ate 90 grams daily of dried fruit (prunes, raisins, and dried apricots); a group that consumed… [Read more]
New Study Finds Peanuts May Help Protect DNA in Young Adults
Eating skin-roasted peanuts had a positive impact on telomere length
A recent clinical trial published in the journal Antioxidants suggests that regular peanut consumption may help protect DNA by increasing telomere length in healthy young adults. Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that naturally shorten with age and stress. Shorter telomeres are associated with aging and an increased risk of various diseases. In this randomized controlled trial, participants who consumed a daily portion of peanuts or peanut butter over six months experienced a significant increase in the length of their… [Read more]
New Review Highlights How Nut Consumption Influences Gene Expression for Better Health
Nuts may help regulate genes linked to inflammation, oxidative stress, and cardiovascular well-being
A recent systematic review published in Nutrition Reviews found that eating nuts may beneficially modulate the expression of human genes related to chronic diseases, shedding light on the molecular mechanisms behind nuts’ health benefits. The review examined 13 clinical trials investigating how the consumption of various nuts —including Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, mixed nuts, and pistachios— affects gene expression in humans. The findings suggest that eating nuts positively influences genes involved in… [Read more]
Pecans May Improve Lipoprotein Profiles and Insulin Resistance Markers in Adults at Cardiometabolic Risk
Eating two handfuls of pecans instead of usual snacks shows promise for reducing risk markers for heart disease and diabetes
A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition investigated the effect of eating pecans instead of usual snacks on lipoprotein particle subfractions and markers related to insulin resistance in adults at increased risk for cardiometabolic diseases. In this 12-week randomized controlled trial, 138 adults with elevated cardiometabolic risk were assigned to either consume 57 grams (about two handfuls) of pecans daily in place of their usual snacks, or to maintain their usual diet. Pecan consumption improved several cardiovascular risk factors. [Read more]
Sustainability News
This month, the INC’s latest sustainability roundup includes information about the brown marmorated stink bug in Türkiye and Georgia, an EU Directive delaying the application of certain due diligence and corporate sustainability reporting requirements, Spain’s new law on food waste prevention, and more. [Read more]
International Trade Updates
The INC’s trade update includes news about the EU’s public consultation on US goods potentially subject to additional tariffs —including nuts and dried fruits— as well as free trade deals between India and the UK, between the UK and the EU, and between the US and the UK. [Read more]
Food Safety News
The latest food safety news includes information about draft MRLs for dimpropyridaz in grapes in Japan, draft MRLs for benfluralin and benthiavalicarb in the EU, and the extension of the approval period of various substances in the EU. [Read more]
Labeling Updates
The INC’s latest labeling update covers a draft amendment to India’s requirements for food products labeled as vegan, an FDA informational webinar about the recently updated “healthy” claim in the US, and the EU’s updated list of products and substances authorized for use in organic production. [Read more]