17 replies to this topic

[Esther]

Hello everybody

I have been reading a bit about it but I still did not find the answer. Maybe it is a triky question?

As you know, all tree nuts are considered to be allergen according to labelling regulation.What about chesnuts ( castanea sativa)? As you can see, chestnuts are not mentioned on the regulation as examples.
For me was clear: chestnuts are allegens but I was talking to a chestnut manufacturer and I was told that a doctor said to him that chestnuts are not allergen!!!!!!

I asked him if they have something in written to prove that but he does not.

How to act from a point of view of a audit?

Best regards
Esther

[GMO]

They aren't on the list of 'common allergens' specified by the EU, however, pretty much any foodstuff can be an allergen. What might be being referred to is that some people think of them as a 'nut' however, people who are allergic to peanuts or treenuts are not normally allergic to chestnuts (or coconuts.)

[Charles.C]

Dear Esther,

Yes but maybe it also depends where you are -

http://www.jkms.org/...jkms-20-573.pdf

rgds / Charles.C

[Tony-C]

people who are allergic to peanuts or treenuts are not normally allergic to chestnuts (or coconuts.)

Hi GMO

Can you explain as I thought chestnuts are tree nuts and therefore a possible allergen?

I understand water chestnuts are different.

Regards,

Tony

[Esther]

Thank you very much for your answer to all you

GMO, what do you mean by "some people think of them as a 'nut' ? So, chestnuts are not tree nuts?Do you think that they are excluded from the " tree nut" paragraph on the labelling regulation? If so, how can I explain that the name " chestnut" is a non-correct name, that it is used in a wrong manner?

Charles, if it depends on where you are, considering we are in Europe, under european law, what wouls you do in a audit?

Best regards
Esther

[GMO]

I was meaning that in composition and nutritionally, chestnuts are nothing like other nuts and they are not normally considered when thinking about "nut allergy", however, I just checked this on the FSA website and I think I might be wrong, hell I am sometimes!

From the food standards agency:

http://www.food.gov....abelguide08.pdf

"Other types of nuts, and other foods which although, strictly speaking, are not nuts (ie pine nuts and coconut), are called nuts, are not named in the rules. Chestnuts and pine nuts are also known to cause allergy in some people. Best practice would therefore be to include them in allergen handling and labelling procedures."

[Esther]

Dear GMO

Thank you very much for the link

I was also surfing the FSA and the only thing I could find is that other companies has done the some question to the FSA but, to be honest, I do not understand the answer given by the FSA because it refers to a " wording amended" that makes it clear ( not for me!).

I made this question to the Spanish Food Safety Agency" but still wating for answer.

By the time I will be waiting I would suggest to the chestnut manufacturer to indicate a " chestnut allergy related to a latex-syndrome" on the technical data sheet.

Best regards
Esther

[Esther]

Dear all

Here I am with the answer. No, chestnut ( castaena sativa ) is not an allergen according to European Legislation so as an auditor you should not reach a non conformity if you are thinking on cross contamination or carry over or if you do not see it on the allergen documents.

Best regards
Esther

[Tony-C]

Very Interesting

Thanks for that Esther

Regards,

Tony

[Jean]

Recently in a workshop which I attended, the speaker mentioned of a woman who died when she entered a supermarket. After investigations, it was found that the smell of peanuts was the cause of death, as she was allergic to peanuts. What should be done for allergen management in supermarkets for this case??

[Charles.C]

Dear Jean,

Hmmm. I think my first response would be to seek validation/verification of the incident.

Rgds / Charles.C

[Tony-C]

Recently in a workshop which I attended, the speaker mentioned of a woman who died when she entered a supermarket. After investigations, it was found that the smell of peanuts was the cause of death, as she was allergic to peanuts.

I am a doubting Thomas and find this very difficult to believe. Anyone got any information on this?

Regards,

Tony

Edited by Tony-C, 10 November 2009 - 04:53 PM.

[AS NUR]

i never heard incident like this.. IMO.. allergic caused by protein (allergent) come in to body.. and the body dont have any antigent.. and the response of body to the foreign substance is called alergic..

and for that cause..hmmhmmmm... i have to read the literature more intense ...

[AS NUR]

i never heard incident like this.. IMO.. allergic caused by protein (allergent) come in to body.. and the body dont have any antigent.. and the response of body to the foreign substance is called alergic..

and for that cause..hmmhmmmm... i have to read the literature more intense ...

Edited by AS NUR, 11 November 2009 - 12:57 AM.

[Tony-C]

Recently in a workshop which I attended, the speaker mentioned of a woman who died when she entered a supermarket. After investigations, it was found that the smell of peanuts was the cause of death, as she was allergic to peanuts. What should be done for allergen management in supermarkets for this case??

Would you like to name and shame the speaker?:

Just smelling peanut butter will not cause an allergic reaction because there is no peanut protein in an odour.

Dr M.C Young

A variety of flavor and aroma compounds are in foods, including esters, aldehydes, and pyridines (these last are the ones associated with the characteristic peanut odor). None of these flavor compounds, however, are proteins, and proteins are the components of foods that cause allergic reactions. Researchers have isolated the proteins that trigger allergic reactions in those with peanut allergy, and they are entirely distinct from the flavor compounds. So simply smelling peanuts shouldn't cause a reaction in someone with a peanut allergy. (This has been confirmed experimentally by researchers who exposed peanut allergic subjects with peanut butter and a soy butter placebo for 10 minutes at one-foot range. None of the subjects reacted.)

However, a few related phenomena can cause reactions. First, inhalation of peanut dust and small particles of peanuts can cause reactions in those with peanut allergy.

From: foodallergies.about.com

[left] [left]Regards,[left]Tony

Edited by Tony-C, 11 November 2009 - 02:55 AM.

[Jean]

Dear Jean,

Hmmm. I think my first response would be to seek validation/verification of the incident. :biggrin:

I am a doubting Thomas and find this very difficult to believe. Anyone got any information on this?

Regards,

Tony

i never heard incident like this.. IMO.. allergic caused by protein (allergent) come in to body.. and the body dont have any antigent.. and the response of body to the foreign substance is called alergic.. 

and for that cause..hmmhmmmm... i have to read the literature more intense ...

Dear Charles, As Nur & Tony,



Thank you for all your responses, this info had triggered the same inquisition in me. Few of the attendees had asked the same question. I will wait his response though he may take some time to reply as he mentioned.

He is currently working in USA/Canada and has worked in various roles AMQA, Quality Systems Manager, Professional trainer, consultant, director, Technical advisor, President /DOO etc which is current. Moreover has academics-PHD- Advanced food safety(UOG-Canada), M.Sc. Food Safety & Quality assurance (U of Guelph, Canada) etc.etc.

[Eya]

JEan ,

Charles and the others are right. Allergic reaction can only happened if the protein based product enter the body. However what the presentor might be saying is true IF upon smelling some particles of peanut enter the nose and some how enter the body. In this context it is not the aroma but rather the small particles of peanut causes the reaction/death.

[Jean]

Thanks Asra for your response. The presenter did not come back to me so far and I agree with your statement.