Analytical Report - Nuts

Introduction

Nuts imported into this country are regularly checked for the presence of aflatoxins by Port Health Authorities. This is because there is concern that exposure to this toxin may cause cancer. Aflatoxins are naturally occurring toxins produced by two types of mould and are associated with poor storage of certain foods including peanuts. The presence of the mould does not automatically mean the toxin is present nor does absence of visible mould mean there is no toxin. As a result analysis is important to determine whether the toxin is present and at what level. There is a maximum level for aflatoxins under The Contaminants in Food (England) Regulations 2007.

Checks are usually carried out at importation as composite 30kg sample can be taken from an entire consignment, which may weigh many tonnes.  This is because the moulds that produce aflatoxins are not evenly distributed. By the time nuts reach the retail stage they should have undergone further sorting and possibly processing, which should reduce the likelihood of contamination.  Sampling at retail gives inherently biased samples but as an exercise may show up those manufacturers whose checking and cleaning procedures are inadequate.

Forty two samples of nuts and nut products (for example coated peanuts) from retail shops were submitted for analysis by East Kent Area Office in November 2007.  The samples covered a range of different nuts including peanuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans and brazil nuts.

Summary of results

Only two samples showed a trace of aflatoxins and all were therefore below the maximum limit set down in the regulations.

There were some labelling errors. Five samples gave no indication of or insufficient prominence of origin.  It might be assumed that all Brazil nuts come from Brazil, but this is not so, for example some come from Peru. Of the nut products, two did not give a QUID (Quantitative Ingredient Declaration %) for the nut component.

The results were encouraging. In a smaller nut survey conducted earlier in the year one sample had aflatoxins above the maximum permitted level and a further five showed a trace albeit below the limit.

February 2008