Peanut allergy and oral immunotherapy.
Peanut allergy is the commonest cause of food-induced anaphylaxis in the world, and it can be fatal. There have been many recent improvements to achieve safe methods of peanut desensitisation, one of which is to use a combination of anti-immunoglobulin E and oral immunotherapy. We have treated 27 patients with anti-immunoglobulin E and oral immunotherapy, and report on the outcomes and incidence of adverse reactions encountered during treatment. The dose of peanut protein tolerated increased from a median baseline of 5 to 2000 mg after desensitisation, which is substantially more than would be encountered through accidental ingestion. The incidence of adverse reactions during the escalation phase of oral immunotherapy was 1.8%, and that during the maintenance phase was 0.6%. Most adverse reactions were mild; three episodes were severe enough to warrant withdrawal from oral immunotherapy, but none required epinephrine injection. Preliminary data suggest that unresponsiveness is lost when daily ingestion of peanuts is stopped after the maintenance period.
Identification of a natural ligand of the hazel allergen Cor a 1.
Hazelnut is one of the most frequent causes of food allergy. The major hazel allergen in Northern Europe is Cor a 1, which is homologous to the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1. Both allergens belong to the pathogenesis related class PR-10. We determined the solution structure of Cor a 1.0401 from hazelnut and identified a natural ligand of the protein. The structure reveals the protein fold characteristic for PR-10 family members, which consists of a seven-stranded antiparallel β-sheet, two short α-helices arranged in V-shape and a long C-terminal α-helix encompassing a hydrophobic pocket. However, despite the structural similarities between Cor a 1 and Bet v 1, they bind different ligands. We have shown previously that Bet v 1 binds to quercetin-3-O-sophoroside. Here, we isolated Cor a 1 from hazel pollen and identified the bound ligand, quercetin-3-O-(2"-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-β-D-galactopyranoside, by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). NMR experiments were performed to confirm binding. Remarkably, although it has been shown that PR-10 allergens show promiscuous binding behaviour in vitro, we can demonstrate that Cor a 1.0401 and Bet v 1.0101 exhibit highly selective binding for their specific ligand but not for the respective ligand of the other allergen.
Mutation of a bHLH transcription factor allowed almond domestication
Wild almond species accumulate the bitter and toxic cyanogenic diglucoside amygdalin. Almonddomestication was enabled by the selection of genotypes harboring sweet kernels. We report the completion of the almond reference genome. Map-based cloning using an F1 population segregating for kernel taste led to the identification of a 46-kilobase gene cluster encoding five basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors, bHLH1 to bHLH5. Functional characterization demonstrated that bHLH2 controls transcription of the P450 monooxygenase-encoding genes PdCYP79D16 and PdCYP71AN24, which are involved in the amygdalin biosynthetic pathway. A nonsynonymous point mutation (Leu to Phe) in the dimerization domain of bHLH2 prevents transcription of the two cytochrome P450 genes, resulting in the sweet kernel trait.
USA: MRLs Update
Among others, the tolerance of penthiopyrad is set at 4.0 ppm in Fruit, stone, group 12-12, and at 0.05 ppm in Nut, tree, group 14-12. In addition, the following tolerances are removed: fruit, stone, group 12 at 4.0 ppm. Finally, it establishes a six-month expiration date for pistachio and tree nut group tolerances. The Regulation is effective since June 6, 2019; objections and requests must be received on or before August 5, 2019.
Federal Register Vol. 84, No. 109. Thursday, June 6, 2019. Pages 26352-26359
Among others, the tolerance of mefentrifluconazole is set at 4 ppm in Grape, raisin; at 0.06 ppm in Nut, tree, group 14-12; at 0.01 ppm in peanut; and at 4 ppm in Plum prune, dried. The Regulation is effective since June 28, 2019; objections and requests must be received on or before August 27, 2019.
Federal Register Vol. 84, No. 125. Friday, June 28, 2019. Pages 30939-30946
Among others, the tolerance of fluopyram, in or on cranberry is set at 2 ppm. The Regulation is effective since July 1, 2019; objections and requests must be received on or before August 30, 2019.
Federal Register Vol. 84, No. 126. Monday, July 1, 2019. Pages 31208-31214
Russia: Import Ban Extended
On August 6, 2014, Putin announced a one-year ban on imports on many agricultural products from the United States, Canada, European Union, Australia and Norway. It was the response of the implementation of economic sanctions against Russia due to the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and intervention in Ukraine. The list of affected products includes fruits and nuts, vegetables, milk and dairy products, among others.
This ban has been extended every year since 2015. Its last extension was signed on July 12, 2018, until the end of 2019.
Russia Extended Food Import Ban through End 2020 (in Russian)
USDA GAIN Report: Russia Extended Food Import Ban through End 2020 (in English)
New Zealand: MRLs Update
Among others, the document titled “Proposals to Amend the Maximum Residue Levels for Agricultural Compounds Food Notice December 2018” proposes the following changes:
- New and Amended MRLs:
- Clethodim: 0.02(*) mg/kg in grapes.
- Coumatetralyl: 0.001(*) mg/kg in any food.
- Difenoconazole: 0.05 mg/kg in grapes.
- Difethialone: 0.001(*) mg/kg in any food.
- Diphacinone: 0.001(*) mg/kg in any food.
- Flumioxazin: 0.02(*) mg/kg in grapes; and 0.02(*) mg/kg in stone fruits.
- Flusilazole: 0.01(*) mg/kg in grapes.
- Metrafenone: 0.15 mg/kg in grapes.
(*) indicates that the maximum residue level has been set at or about the limit of analytical quantification.
The deadline for comments is August 6, 2019.
More information
Nut Consumption May Help Improve Erectile Function
The results of the questionnaire observed a significant increase in some of the erectile function parameters in the nut-supplemented group. So, the study concluded that a Western-style diet supplemented with mixed nuts may help to improve erectile function.
Japan: MRLs Update
As for nuts and dried fruits, the following MRL were proposed:
- The MRL for Cyanophos in peanuts, dry, is lowered from 0.1 ppm to 0.01 ppm; in apricot, cranberry, date, pecan, almond, walnut and other nuts is lowered from 0.2 ppm to 0.01 ppm; and in grape from 0.2 ppm to 0.1 ppm. The deadline for comments is August 16, 2019.
- The MRL for Tetradifon in apricot, cranberry, grape, date, pecan, almond, walnut and other nuts is lowered from 1 ppm to 0.01 ppm. The deadline for comments is August 16, 2019.
- The MRL for Isopyrazam is newly set in peanuts at 0.01 ppm. No comments are applicable.
For further information, please contact us at inc@nutfruit.org.
ITC: Market Access Map
Market Access Map responds to users’ specific needs, according to their profile, and provides free and user-friendly access to market information. This tool is especially useful for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in developing countries with limited access to reliable information, providing data to make the right exporting decisions.
This portal allows exporters, importers, policymakers, trade and investment support institutions, researchers and trade negotiators to better understand and analyze market-access conditions, explore new markets, develop better trade policies, or negotiate better outcomes in trade agreements.
The toll allows users to extract data on tariffs, non-tariff measures and trade flows, tariff rate quotas, trade agreements and trade remedies in a single search.
New version of Market Access Map provides boost to transparency in trade
FAO/WHO: Pesticide Residues
The JMPR evaluated 19 pesticides, estimated maximum residue levels (MRLs) in foods and estimated supervised trials median residue (STMR) and highest residue (HR) levels as a basis for estimation of the dietary exposure to residues of the pesticides reviewed.
The table below summarizes the MRLs recommended for nuts and dried fruits.
| Pesticide | Commodity | Recommended MRL (mg/kg) |
|
| New | Previous | ||
| Boscalid (221) | Prunes, dried | 5 | 10 |
| Chlorothalonil (081) | Cranberry | 5 | W |
| Fenazaquin (297) | Tree nuts, Group of (except coconut) | 0.02 | - |
| Mesotrione (277) | Tree nuts Group of (includes all commodities in this group) | 0.01* | |
| Metaflumizone (236) | Raisins | 13 | |
W means that the previous recommendation is withdrawn, or withdrawal of the recommended Maximum residue level or existing Codex or draft MRL is recommended.
* means that the MRL is at or about the limit of quantification.
Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues Report