Food Safety Information on Nuts and Nut Pastes

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

• From the Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN and the World Health Organization, in English, Spanish, and French:
  • Preventing Salmonella and E. coli in tree nuts (2012) (PDF 1.9 MB)
  • Prevención y control de la Salmonella y la E. coli enterohemorrágica en los frutos secos (2012) (PDF 1.8 MB)
  • Prévention et maîtrise de Salmonella et Escherichia. coli entérohémorragique dans les fruits à coque (2012) (PDF 1.8 MB)

Consumer Brands Association (formerly Grocery Manufacturers Association)

• Industry Handbook for Safe Processing of Nuts, 3rd edition, Dec 2020 (Peanut and Tree Nut Processors Association and Consumer Brands Association) (PDF 3.1 MB)
• Industry Handbook for Safe Processing of Nuts 2016 (Grocery Manufacturer's Association - GMA) (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 758 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 (Resources - Products)

UC-authored Nuts and Nut Products documents

• Bibliography: Containing a comprehensive list of references pertaining to microbial safety of nuts and sesame seeds.  Publications on the Microbial Safety of Nuts and Sesame Seeds (updated 8-12-22) (PDF 459 KB)
• Guidelines for using Enterococcus faecium NRRL B-2354 as a surrogate microorganism in pistachio process validation (UC Davis & Michigan State University) (PDF 386 KB)
• Inactivation of Microorganisms in Nuts and Nut Pastes: Table and References (updated 8-12-22) (PDF 368 KB)
• Outbreaks from Tree Nut, Legume, and Seed Pastes: Table and References (updated 8-12-22) (PDF 352 KB)
• Outbreaks from Tree Nuts, Peanuts, and Sesame Seeds (updated 8-12-22) (PDF 373 KB)
• Surveys for Foodborne Pathogens on Nuts: Tables and References (updated 8-12-22) (PDF 502 KB)
• Survival of Foodborne Pathogens on Nuts: Tables and References (updated 8-12-22) (PDF 288 KB)
• U.S. Recalls of Nuts: Table and References (updated 8-12-22) (PDF 513 KB)
• Archived Documents, Nuts and Nut Pastes

US Food and Drug Administration

• 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)

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)

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 1.2 MB)

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 13.2 MB)
• United States Standards for Grades of Pecans, Shelled (USDA, PDF 79 KB)
  • USDA Pecans, Shelled Handbook (USDA, PDF 1.8 KB)

Pistachios

Walnuts

• Producing Quality Walnuts: Food Safety Starts on the Farm (UC and Walnut Marketing Board) (PDF 120 KB)
• Quality Counts - Best Practices for Walnut Growers (UC and California Walnut Commission) (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 2.5 KB)
  • USDA Walnuts (Juglans regia) Visual Aid (PDF 138 KB)