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.
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
EU-Vietnam: Free Trade Agreement
The trade agreement will eliminate nearly all customs duties on goods traded between the two parties in a progressive way. The agreement also contains specific provisions to remove technical obstacles to trade. The entry into force of the Free Trade Agreement and the Investment Protection Agreement will take place when both parties ratify them according to their own internal procedures.
Joint Statement EU-Vietnam
EU-Mercosur: Free Trade Agreement Negotiations
The EU is the first major partner to negotiate trade issues with Mercosur, a bloc comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. This agreement would consolidate a strategic political and economic partnership and create significant opportunities for sustainable growth.
Both parties will perform a legal revision of the text to come up with the final version of the Agreement before its signature.
EU and Mercosur reach an agreement on trade
EU: Prior Notification of Consignments
This Regulation establishes that the operator responsible for a consignment falling within the categories of animals and goods referred to in Article 47(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 shall give prior notification, to the competent authority of the border control post of first arrival into the Union, at least one working day before the expected arrival of the consignment.
In addition, by way of derogation from paragraph 1, where logistical constraints prevent compliance with the time limit set out in that paragraph, the competent authorities of the border control posts may apply a period of prior notification of at least four hours before the expected arrival of the consignment.
The Regulation shall apply from December 14, 2019.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019 /1013 of 16 April 2019
EU: Pesticides, Standing Committee
Some of the discussions were the following:
- News from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA):
- The updated Reasoned Opinion for glyphosate is expected to be published in October.
- The results of the pilot project of the cumulative risk assessment for the chronic and acute effects of pesticide residues on the thyroid and the nervous system are expected to be published mid-September 2019.
- The 2017 European Union report on pesticide residues in food was presented.
- The Commission presented a revised draft document on Transitional Periods. As a Member State suggested alternative wording, the Commission will examine whether the proposed alternative wording will improve the document.
- The Staff Working Document and the Report to Council and Parliament on the evaluation of Regulation 396/2005 and Regulation No 1107/2009 are still under internal consultation. The submissions of those documents to the European Parliament and Council is tentatively scheduled for July 2019.
- The approach for import tolerances (IT) for substances falling under the cut-off criteria was discussed. It was stressed by some Member States that IT should be setting on the basis of a risk assessment. The need for timely communication to industry and non-EU countries was also highlighted. It was suggested considering longer timelines between initiation of work on MRLs for substances meeting the cut-off criteria and the date of application of the revised MRLs, to allow interested parties more time to either submit the necessary import tolerance requests or change their agricultural practice. Member States noted the importance of keeping track of those MRLs which are set to address an import tolerance request and believe a database would be useful for the purpose.
- The following Draft Commission Regulations had a favorable opinion:
- Draft Commission Regulation (EU) No …/… amending Annexes II, III and IV to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for 1-decanol, 2,4-D, ABE-IT 56, cyprodinil, dimethenamid, fatty alcohols, florpyrauxifen-benzyl, fludioxonil, fluopyram, mepiquat, pendimethalin, picolinafen, pyraflufen-ethyl, pyridaben, S-abscisic acid and trifloxystrobin in or on certain products (Art. 10).
- Draft Commission Regulation (EU) No …/… amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for imazalil in or on certain products.
- Regulation (EU) No …/… amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for cyflufenamid, fenbuconazole, fluquinconazole, and tembotrione in or on certain products (Art. 12).
- Regulation (EU) No …/… amending Annexes II, III and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for amitrole, fipronil, flupyrsulfuron-methyl, imazosulfuron, isoproturon, orthosulfamuron and triasulfuron in or on certain products.
- The Commission informed that following the Working Group meeting of Experts on chlorate held in Brussels on 13 May 2019, it had prepared a revised draft Regulation addressing the experts’ concerns regarding the setting of chlorate MRLs on processed food products by means of a specific footnote, the wording of which was however not accepted later by the Commission’s Legal service in an informal consultation on the grounds that it would not ensure a sufficiently high level of consumer protection for processed products in line with Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. Member States were invited to submit comments by 21 June 2019.
China: MRLs Update
This standard establishes 390 maximum residue limits (MRLs) for 125 pesticides, including 2, 4-DB and MCPB, etc. in foods.
The final date for comments is August 18, 2019.
For further information, please contact us at inc@nutfruit.org.