Nuts and Nut Pastes

Food safety information for nuts and nut products.

General Food Safety Information

• Bibliography: Containing a comprehensive list of references pertaining to microbial safety of nuts and sesame seed.  Publications on the Microbial Safety of Nuts and Sesame Seeds (updated 2-15-19) (PDF 420 KB)
• GMA Equipment Design Checklist for Low Moisture Foods (2-9-10) (will open as MS Excel spreadsheet.) 
• Inactivation of Microorganisms in Nuts and Nut Pastes: Table and References (updated 2-15-19) (PDF 144 KB)
• Outbreaks from Tree Nut, Legume, and Seed Pastes: Table and References (updated 2-15-19) (PDF 114 KB)
• Outbreaks from Tree Nuts, Peanuts, and Sesame Seeds (updated 2-15-19) (PDF 123 KB)
• Reportable Food Registry Annual Report (FDA) May 2016
• Surveys for Foodborne Pathogens on Nuts: Tables and References (updated 2-15-19) (PDF 233 KB)
• Survival of Foodborne Pathogens on Nuts: Tables and References (updated 2-15-19) (PDF 121 KB)
• U.S. Recalls of Nuts: Table and References (updated 2-15-19) (PDF 280 KB)
• Archived Documents, Nuts and Nut Pastes

Industry Handbook for Safe Processing of Nuts

• Industry Handbook for Safe Processing of Nuts - 2016 (Grocery Manufacturer's Association) (PDF 6.38 MB)
  • Addendum I: Industry Handbook for the Safe Shelling of Peanuts - 2015 (PDF 3 MB)
  • Addendum II:  Good Agricultural Practices for California Pistachio Growers 2009 (PDF 141 KB)
  • Addendum III : Good Agricultural Practices for Almond Growers - 2009 (PDF 2.3 MB)
  • Executive Summary: Industry Handbook for Safe Processing of Nuts (PDF 42 KB)
  • Facility Design Checklist (will open as MS Excel spreadsheet.)
  • Technical Guidance and Tools

Preventing Salmonella and E. coli in tree nuts

• From the Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN and the World Health Organization Publication:
• Preventing Salmonella and E. coli in tree nuts - English version (2012)(PDF 1,938 KB)
• Preventing Salmonella and E. coli in tree nuts - Spanish version (2012)(PDF 1,882 KB)
• Preventing Salmonella and E. coli in tree nuts - French version (2012)(PDF 1,827 KB)

Regulations and Guidance Documents

• Compliance Policy Guides - Sub Chapters 570 - 590 (Various Nuts) (FDA)
• Guide to Inspections of Manufacturers of Miscellaneous Food Products - Establishment Inspections - Section 4: Tree Nuts (FDA)

Salmonella in Low Moisture Foods – Key Documents

• Salmonella Control Guidance (GMA, 2009) (PDF 540 KB)
• Annex to Salmonella Guidance (GMA, 2009) (PDF 203 KB)
• Facility Design Checklist (will open as MS Excel spreadsheet.)
• Guidelines for Validation of Consumer Cooking Instructions for Not-Ready-to-Eat (NRTE) Products (GMA, 2008) (PDF 582 KB)
• Validating the reduction of Salmonella and other pathogens in heat processed low-moisture foods. (Alliance for Innovation & Operational Excellence, Alexandria, VA. Anderson, D. G. and L. A. Lucore, 2012) (PDF 4.7 MB)

Information about Specific Nuts

Almonds

Brazil Nuts

• United States Standards for Grades of Brazil Nuts in the Shell (USDA,PDF 55 KB)
  • USDA Brazil Nuts Handbook (USDA, PDF 1035 KB)

Chestnuts

• Food Safety Modernization Act - Chestnut Growers of America Conference (Harris, Danyluk, UC Davis & Univ. of Florida, PDF 3.6 MB)

Hazelnuts (Filberts)

• Oregon Hazelnut Marketing Board
• Efficacy of water, sodium hypochlorite, peroxyacetic acid, and acidified sodium chlorite for reducing microorganisms on in-shell hazelnuts (Weller, L.D., Master's Thesis 2012) 
• United States Standards for Grades of Filberts in the Shell (USDA,PDF 57 KB)
  • USDA Handbook Filberts in the Shell (USDA, PDF 115 KB)
  • USDA Filberts in the Shell Visual Aid (USDA, PDF 1,231 KB)

Macadamia

• Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association

Mixed Nuts

• United States Standards for Grades of Mixed Nuts in the Shell (USDA, PDF 51 KB)

Peanuts and Peanut Butter

Pecans

• National Pecan Shellers Association
• United States Standards for Grades of Pecans in the Shell (USDA,PDF 77 KB)
  • USDA Pecans in the Shell Handbook (USDA, PDF 13,245 KB)
• United States Standards for Grades of Pecans, Shelled (USDA,PDF 79 KB)
  • USDA Pecans, Shelled Handbook (USDA, PDF 1,821 KB)

Pistachios

Walnuts

• Producing Quality Walnuts: Food Safety Starts on the Farm (PDF 120 KB)
• Quality Counts - Best Practices for Walnut Growers (PDF 495 KB)
• United States Standard for Walnuts (Juglans regia) in the Shell (USDA, PDF 62 KB)
• United States Standard for Walnuts (Juglans regia), Shelled (USDA,PDF 102 KB)
  • USDA Walnuts (Juglans regia) in the Shell and Shelled, Handbook (PDF 2,523 KB)
  • USDA Walnuts (Juglans regia) Visual Aid (PDF 138 KB)