Food Quality & Safety

Food Quality & Safety

August 2007

After review of the capacity of currently validated pasteurization facilities, the Almond Board of Directors recommended to the USDA that the mandatory pasteurization program developed by the almond industry for implementation on September 1, 2007 be delayed until March 1, 2008. This was a unanimous decision after extensive discussion by the Almond Board and considerable input by industry members. The recommendation and change of implementation date must be notified in the Federal Register before the change can occur. At Which time, then effective March 1, 2008, almonds must be subject to pasteurization treatment before they move into commercial channels, with two exemptions:

- Unpasteurized almonds shipped direct to a manufacturer in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, said manufacturer having submitted an application qualified for Direct Verifiable (DV) user status by the Almond Board of California (ABC)

- Unpasteurized almonds shipped to other export markets

In both exemptions indicated above, cartons/bins/boxes/etc., must be labeled as “unpasteurized”

Aflatoxin Control in California Almonds

Aflatoxin has received greater attention than any other mycotoxins because of their demonstrated potent carcinogenic effect in susceptible laboratory animals and their acute toxicological effects in humans. As it is realized that absolute safety is never achieved, many countries have attempted to limit exposure to aflatoxins by imposing regulatory limits on commodities intended for use as food and feed. Regulatory limits have been in place for many years by the EU regarding California almonds.

However, it has come under even greater scrutiny when the Aflatoxin Rapid Alert Trend increased significantly from 2003 to 2006. The number of rapid alerts prompted a visit from three EU FVO (Food Veterinary Office) representatives this last September in California. During their visit they reviewed controls currently in place. Their visit included meetings with growers, handlers, California Inspection service, commercial and handler laboratories as well as the FDA District office. The FVO concluded during their visit:

Current control system is considered inadequate to offer guarantees over the compliance of exported products to EU standards; labs were inadequate . . . validity of U.S. certification is also questioned. EU regulatory standards have always been considerably less tolerant as opposed to the US regulatory standards, as noted below.

EU Regulation on Aflatoxin Levels are as follows:

Almonds that will go immediately into consumer product and/or ingredients – 4ppb total (2ppb B1)

Almonds that will be further processed – 10ppb total (5ppb B1)

Versus US Regulation on Aflatoxin levels of - 20 ppb total

On May 15^th, 2007, the EU Standing committee met and voted in favor of the special measures for California almonds. Special measures will be implemented on almonds shipped after September 1, 2007.

· All almond consignments imported without a Voluntary Aflatoxin Sampling Plan (VASP) certificate will be subject to 100 % control of entry.

· Consignments which have been analyzed in California by a USDA-approved lab with has a VASP Certificate will be subject to 5% control (by country, not by shipper).

Last Modified: October 19, 2007

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