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 1-29-18) (PDF 255 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 1-29-18) (PDF 113 KB)
- Outbreaks from Tree Nut, Legume, and Seed Pastes: Table and References (updated 1-29-18) (PDF 65 KB)
- Outbreaks from Tree Nuts, Peanuts, and Sesame Seeds (updated 1-29-18) (PDF 59 KB)
- Reportable Food Registry Annual Report (FDA) May 2016
- Surveys for Foodborne Pathogens on Nuts: Tables and References (updated 1-29-18) (PDF 115 KB)
- Survival of Foodborne Pathogens on Nuts: Tables and References (updated 1-29-18) (PDF 86 KB)
- U.S. Recalls of Nuts: Table and References (updated 1-29-18) (PDF 117 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
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)