3 replies to this topic

[dfreund]

Hello Forum,

I am trying to document the safety of shelled walnuts specifically.  As a benchmark, the California Almond Board has vast resources and has achieved a high degree of consistency in log reduction in shelled almonds across the trade group.  It is easy to make the case for 4 log reduction.

 

It seems intuitive that the process of husking and shelling Walnuts is inherently removing layers of contamination and raw walnuts have been consumed for a long time with few documented outbreaks (all of which were packaged retail goods according to my search of the FDA enforcement records since 2006).

 

Fightbac.org also describes nuts that have had the shell removed as a RTE food.

 

https://www.google.c...Ibr66fekkyLBdsp

 

I would like to justify in my risk analysis that the likelihood is low enough to consider shelled walnuts to not be a hazard that needs supply chain notice.

 

Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

Thank you.

 

[FurFarmandFork]

Your fightBac reference only defines ready-to-eat as "foods that do not need further preparation before eating". That's not a characterization of risk that's a description of intended use.

 

Walnuts were implicated in an E. coli 0157 outbreak in canada in 2011 (14 cases): http://ucfoodsafety....iles/169530.pdf

 

Husking and shelling will provide a reduction of gross contaminants...just like it would for peanuts. IDC who you are, nuts are high risk until roasted or otherwise put though a validated kill step.

 

Don't have readily available data for outbreaks,  but recalls are certainly common for salmonella based on an enforcement report search.

 

Product Description Reason for Recall Recall Initiation Date Chopped walnuts packaged in 8 oz. (226 g) plastic bags under the Fisher brand. Possible contamination with Salmonella 12/30/2014 Walnuts Halves & Pieces Net Weight 16-oz 454.0 Grams UPC: 0078264065165 Hines Nut Company Dallas, Texas 75201; Walnuts Halves & Pieces Net Weight 12-oz 340.5 Grams UPC: 0078264065127 Hines Nut Company Dallas, Texas 75201; Harris Teeter Farmers Market Walnut Meats Net Weight 10 OZ. (284g) UPC: 072036881144 Product may be contaminated with Salmonella. 2/10/2015 Walnuts: America Choice, 12 oz. Plastic Pouch, UPC: 75480779049; Aurora , 6.5 oz. Plastic Cup, UPC: 65585200097; Aurora, 14.0 oz. Plastic Tub, UPC: 65585200070; Aurora, Bulk, NO UPC; Aurora, 4.0 oz. Plastic Pouch, UPC: 65585200490; Aurora, 12.0 oz. Plastic Pouch, UPC: 65585200316; Belmont Market, 6.5 oz. Plastic Cup, UPC: 65585200097; Ernest Klein, 6.5 oz. Plastic Cup, UPC: 65585200097; Food Emporium Brand Products, 14.0 oz. Plastic Tub, UPC: 1119079096; Food Emporium Brand Products, 12.0 oz. Plastic Pouch, UPC: 72297451004; Gauls Market Brand Products, 6.5 oz. Plastic Cup, UPC: 65585200097; Giant Carlisle Food Store, 6.5 oz. Plastic Cup, UPC: 68826713594; Giant of Maryland, 6.5 oz. Plastic Cup, UPC: 68826713594; Gourmet Garage, 6.5 oz. Plastic Cup, UPC: 79084505931; Gourmet Garage, 14.0 oz. Plastic Tub , UPC: 79084505371; Harvest Co  Op Market, 6.5 oz. Plastic Cup, UPC: 65585200097; Hurley Ridge, 6.5 oz. Plastic Cup, UPC: 65585200097; Hurley Ridge, 12 oz. Plastic Pouch, UPC: 65585200316; Lees Market, 6.5 oz. Plastic Cup, UPC: 65585200097; Martins Food, 6.5 oz. Plastic Cup, UPC: 68826713594; Palmers Market, 6.5 oz. Plastic Cup, UPC: 65585200097; Stop & Shop, 6.5 oz. Plastic Cup, UPC: 68826713594; Union Market, 6.5 oz. Plastic Cup, UPC: 65585200097; Walter Stewart Market, 14.0 oz. Plastic Tub, UPC: 65585200070; Wild Acorns, 6.5 oz. Plastic Cup, UPC: 81957401075; Wild By Nature Brand Products, 6.5 oz. Plastic Cup, UPC: 65585270097; Windfall Market, 6.5 oz. Plastic Cup, UPC: 65585200097 Salmonella 3/20/2015 Walnuts Halves & Pieces in black foam trays with a green and gold label. Net Weight 16-oz 454.0 grams UPC: 0078264065165 Hines Nut Company Dallas, Texas 75201 Product tested positive for Salmonella. 4/17/2015 Fisher Brand chopped walnuts, packaged in 10 ounce, polyethylene stand-up bag with zipper. The bag is blue with white lettering. A bag of Fisher Walnuts sampled by the FDA, tested positive for Salmonella. 5/1/2015 Southern Grove Simply Raw Trail Mix Raw Cashews, Walnuts and Macadamia Nuts NET WT 8 OZ (226g) in cello reclosable bags. Product tested positive for Salmonella. 10/2/2015 Braga Organic Farms Organic Trail Mix, Raw;  Certified Organic, USDA Organic.  GMO Free, Peanut Free, Gluten Free  Packed in 8 oz. 1 lb. 2. lb and 5 lb and 25 lb. clear or green standup bags.    Ingredients: Organic Pistachios, organic almonds, Organic walnuts, Organic Jumbo Flame Raisins, Organic Cranberries, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Sunflower oil.    Braga Organic Farms, Madera, CA. IEH sample had a positive result for Salmonella in Braga Organic Pistachios 1/31/2016 Braga Organic Farms Organic Nut l Mix, Raw;  Certified Organic, USDA Organic.  GMO Free, Peanut Free, Gluten Free  Packed in 8 oz. 1 lb. 2. lb and 5 lb and 25 lb. clear or green standup bags.    Ingredients: Organic Pistachios, Organic almonds, Organic Cashews, Organic walnuts.     Braga Organic Farms, Madera, CA. IEH sample had a positive result for Salmonella in Braga Organic Pistachios 1/31/2016

 

 

More comprehensive recall list:

http://ucfoodsafety....iles/162415.pdf

 

FDA nut risk assessment overview: https://safefoodalli..._Assessment.pdf

[dfreund]

Thanks for the data.

I will base the supplier approvals in part on their capacity to implement lethality steps and ability to provide a COA to back it up. 

[FurFarmandFork]

Thanks for the data.

I will base the supplier approvals in part on their capacity to implement lethality steps and ability to provide a COA to back it up.