Plant-Based Dairy Alternatives-A Future Direction to the Milky Way
One significant food group that is part of our daily diet is the dairy group, and both research and industry are actively involved to meet the increasing requirement for plant-based dairy alternatives (PBDAs). The production tendency of PBDAs is growing with a predictable rate of over 18.5% in 2023 from 7.4% at the moment. A multitude of sources can be used for development such as cereals, pseudocereals, legumes, nuts, and seeds to obtain food products such as vegetal milk, cheese, cream, yogurt, butter, and different sweets, such as ice cream, which have nearly similar nutritional profiles to those of animal-origin products. Increased interest in PBDAs is manifested in groups with special dietary needs (e.g., lactose intolerant individuals, pregnant women, newborns, and the elderly) or with pathologies such as metabolic syndromes, dermatological diseases, and arthritis. In spite of the vast range of production perspectives, certain industrial challenges arise during development, such as processing and preservation technologies. This paper aims at providing an overview of the currently available PBDAs based on recent studies selected from the electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, and Scopus. We found 148 publications regarding PBDAs in correlation with their nutritional and technological aspects, together with the implications in terms of health. Therefore, this review focuses on the relationship between plant-based alternatives for dairy products and the human diet, from the raw material to the final products, including the industrial processes and health-related concerns. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12091883
East Timor as an important source of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) genetic diversity
Background: Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) is a crop currently grown in several tropical countries because of the economic importance of cashew nuts. Despite its enormous economic worth, limited research has been conducted on the molecular diversity of cashew genetic resources. In this study, a wide comprehensive assessment of the genetic diversity of cashew trees in East Timor was performed using microsatellites (SSRs) to evaluate intraspecific diversity and population structuring. Methods: A total of 207 individual cashew trees, including trees from East Timor (11), and outgroup populations from Indonesia (one) and Mozambique (two), were analyzed with 16 cashew-specific SSRs. A comprehensive sampling of cashew trees within East Timor was performed, covering the distribution of cashew orchards in the country. Genetic diversity indices were calculated, and population structuring was determined using three different approaches: genetic distances (UPGMA and NJ), AMOVA, and individual-based clustering methods through Bayesian (STRUCTURE) and multivariate (DAPC) analyses. Results: The population structuring analysis revealed that the genetic diversity of cashew populations in East Timor was higher in this study than previously reported for cashew trees. A higher allelic richness was found within cashew populations in East Timor compared with the outgroup populations (Mozambique and Indonesia), reinforced by the presence of private alleles. Moreover, our study showed that cashew populations in East Timor are grouped into two dissimilar genetic groups, which may suggest multiple cashew introductions over time. These new cashew genetic resources could be explored for future crop improvement. Conclusions: Crop diversity underpins the productivity, resilience, and adaptive capacity of agriculture. Therefore, this study provides useful information regarding genetic diversity and population structure that can be harnessed to improve cashew production in East Timor. This data is also important to creating a country-specific genetic cashew signature to increase cashew market value. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14894
Revised guidance on the risk assessment of plant protection products on bees (Apis mellifera, Bombus spp. and solitary bees)
The European Commission asked EFSA to revise the risk assessment for honey bees, bumble bees and solitary bees. This guidance document describes how to perform risk assessment for bees from plant protection products, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 1107/2009. It is a review of EFSA's existing guidance document, which was published in 2013. The guidance document outlines a tiered approach for exposure estimation in different scenarios and tiers. It includes hazard characterisation and provides risk assessment methodology covering dietary and contact exposure. The document also provides recommendations for higher tier studies, risk from metabolites and plant protection products as mixture. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7989
1,300 Professionals from 65 Countries Met in London for the 40th World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress
- Gen Z was on the top of the agenda for many as the key target audience for the global promotion of nuts and dried fruits
- Snacking was a key category of interest for this audience
- The next INC Congress will be held in Vancouver, Canada, from May 8 to 10, 2024
May 30, 2023
The 40th World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress, the flagship event of the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC), took place in London from May 22-24. Nearly 1,300 attendees from 65 countries gathered at JW Marriott Grosvenor House London to share ideas on market development, the latest findings in health and nut allergy research, and the sustainable growth of the industry.
Nut and Dried Fruit Production Prospects
As discussed by industry leaders during the round tables, world tree nut production for 2023/24 has been forecasted at 5.7 million metric tons (kernel basis, except pistachios in-shell), up by 5% from the previous season. Although it is still very early in the season to anticipate the final outcomes, almond, walnut, cashew, hazelnut and pecan crops are expected to remain mostly flat, or just slightly above the previous season. Pistachios and macadamias are projected to increase by 37% and 9% from 2022/23, respectively, whereas Amazonia (Brazil) nuts and pine nuts foresee lower crops this season.
According to early estimations, world peanut production in 2023/24 is expected to amount to 51 million MT (in-shell basis), up 4% from 2022/23.
Global dried fruit production in 2023/24 has been forecasted at 3.2 million MT, up 7% from 2022/23, as production is expected to increase for dates (22%), prunes (21%) and dried figs (14%).
The need to create demand worldwide through innovative new product concepts was a theme throughout the congress with Gen Z being a key driver of market development.
Stimulating Three-Day Program
In keeping with the reoccurring congress theme of Gen Z, keynote speaker Virginia Stagni, Business Development Manager and Talent Director at the Financial Times, discussed ways in which businesses can engage with younger generations both as consumers and industry professionals. Mountaineer Edurne Pasaban, the first woman to summit all 14 eight-thousanders, gave the second keynote speech, which conveyed inspiring messages about achieving goals and building a team with a shared vision.
INC Executive Director Goretti Guasch gave a presentation about hot topics in the nut and dried fruit industry. She also shared the INC’s latest research which looked into the perceptions and consumption habits of Gen Z in India and how they perceive nuts and dried fruits.
The Nutrition Research Seminar featured guest speakers Prof. Gideon Lack, Professor of Pediatric Allergy at King’s College London, who discussed the landmark LEAP study on the prevention of nut allergies, and Dr. Marta Guasch-Ferré, Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen, who discussed the scientific evidence supporting the health benefits of nuts.
The Sustainability Seminar featured guest speaker Dr. Rachael Garrett, Moran Professor of Conservation and Development at the University of Cambridge, who argued that the nut and dried fruit industry is uniquely poised to position itself as a sustainable agriculture sector.
At a session entitled Global Campaign Strategies, speakers representing several industry associations presented their initiatives to promote consumption of nuts and dried fruits in different parts of the world.
The INC Congress also featured an exhibition area where 43 companies showcased their wares and made business contacts.
Finally, it was announced that next year’s INC Congress will be held in Vancouver, Canada, from 8 to 10 May, 2024.
INC Executive Director Goretti Guasch commented: “Every year the congress is the flagship event for the nut and dried fruit sector and this year has been no exception. It has been three wonderful days of learning, doing business and networking while discussing how the industry can come together to increase consumption globally.”
INC Awards: Good Work Deserves Recognition
The INC Awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to the sector, were presented in London to the following winners:
- Golden Nut Award: INC Executive Director Goretti Guasch
- Corporate Golden Nut Award: Voicevale, UK
- Award for Excellence in Research: Prof. Gideon Lack, Professor of Pediatric Allergy at King’s College London
- Award for Excellence in Gastronomy: Michel Albert Roux, chef patron at Le Gavroche
- Award for Excellence in Sustainability: ofi, Singapore
- Innovation Award: Nutraj Bactopure, VKC Nuts, India
INC Shares 2022/2023 Annual Report
The INC is pleased to share the 2022/2023 Annual Report. This year's report provides a look at the key highlights from the past year's activity until April 2023, with sections on Who We Are, What We Do, Industry Funding, Marketing and Communication, and Technical Projects. This year's report also gives an overview of the INC's new mission, vision, value proposition, and goals for the period of 2022-2026 to address new challenges the industry is facing.
The section Who We Are provides an overview of the INC's structure, new mission and objectives, and its dedication to sustainability. What We Do highlights the INC's principal activities such as the Annual Congress, INC Pavilions, the INC Academia, and publications, including the Nutfruit Magazine. The third section of the report, Industry Funding, discusses how the INC financially supports and promotes the industry through INC-funded research and also includes information about the INC's new multi-county dissemination campaigns in China and India aimed at promoting the consumption of nuts and dried fruits in each specific area. The Marketing and Communication part gives insights into how the INC connects with consumers through recipes, social media, and the INC's digital marketing strategy. The final chapter of the report, Technical Projects, features insights into the activities of the INC related to nutrition, international regulations/standards, global industry statistics, and more.
Access the entire 2022/2023 Annual Report now.
The 40th World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress to gather 1,300 professionals from all over the world in London
• The largest international event for the nut and dried fruit sector to take place on May 22-24, at JW Marriott Grosvenor House London
• Virginia Stagni, Business Development Manager and Talent Director at the Financial Times, and mountaineer Edurne Pasaban, the first woman to summit all 14 eight-thousanders will give the keynote sessions
May 16, 2023
From May 22 to 24, 2023, 1,300 professionals from more than 60 countries will gather at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House London for the 40th World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress, organized by the International Nut & Dried Fruit Council (INC).
The event’s 40th edition is coming back to London after 26 years, with a stimulating three-day program where attendees will debate and discuss industry knowledge covering topics such as product and market trends, nutrition and the latest scientific discoveries in nut and dried fruit consumption. As well as this, the Congress will host excellent networking opportunities for participants at emblematic London locations such as The Dorchester and the Tate Modern.
Congress Sessions
The Nutrition Research Seminar will enable attendees to know the latest advances in health and nutrition. Led by renowned Professor Jordi Salas-Salvadó, the session will cover the major scientific findings from the last year. He will be joined by Dr. Marta Guasch-Ferré, discussing nut consumption for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and also Prof. Gideon Lack, winner of this year’s INC Award for Excellence in Research, who will discuss the Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) study and beyond.
The Sustainability Seminar will be run by Mr. Pino Calcagni, Chairman of the INC Sustainability, Scientific and Government Affairs Committee, where he will be joined by Dr. Rachael Garrett, Moran Professor of Conservation and Development, University of Cambridge. Mr. Calgagni will give an overview of sustainability practices along the supply chain and introduce the new INC Sustainability Project, which will focus on the importance of reforestation. Dr. Garrett will review threats to forests and sustainable development in the tropics, and the success and shortfalls of current policies to end deforestation and improve livelihoods in the region.
Along with the research and health programs, Virginia Stagni, Business Development Manager and Talent Director at the Financial Times, and mountaineer Edurne Pasaban, the first woman to summit all 14 eight-thousanders will give the keynote sessions. Virginia Stagni will focus on the importance of identifying young talents to bring to the company and Edurne Pasaban will share, Expedition to Success: Achieving goals and overcoming difficulties.
Finally, the Congress’s technical program includes a series of thematic round-table discussions focused on the different types of nuts and dried fruits, which will be run by nut and dried fruit industry’s top professionals from all over the world.
Nut & Dried Fruit Consumption in the UK
The UK is the top 15 tree nut consumer in the world, with a domestic consumption estimated at 75,000 metric tons/year (kernel basis, except pistachios in-shell). The most consumed tree nuts in the UK are cashews (30%), followed by almonds (26%), walnuts (15%), hazelnuts (13%) and pistachios (6%). Over the last decade, tree nut consumption grew at a rate of 5% per year. As for dried fruit consumption, the UK is the eighth consuming country worldwide, with raisins accounting for 92,600 metric tons/year; which is 78% of the overall dried fruit consumption. Regarding product category, flavoured nuts and nut-based spreads, are clearly growing.
INC Awards
The INC Awards recognize outstanding contributions to the sector. This year, the Golden Nut Award will be given to INC Executive Director Goretti Guasch for her 25 years of service in the industry, the Corporate Golden Nut Award will be received by Voicevale for their excellence in and commitment to the sector. Other awards will be given to Prof. Gideon Lack for Excellence in Research and the Excellence in Gastronomy will be handed out to Chef Michel Roux Jr.; Chef Patron of iconic Michelin 2-starred Le Gavroche in Mayfair. As well as this, the INC will also give out the Innovation Award and Excellence in Sustainability Award which recognise exceptional products or projects. These awards will be decided on-site.
Data Support the Use of Cranberry Products to Reduce UTI Risk
A new study published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews assessed the effectiveness of cranberry products in preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs) in susceptible populations.
The study was the fifth update of a review first published in 1998 and updated in 2003, 2004, 2008 and 2012. The authors searched the Cochrane Kidney and Transplant Register up to March 2023 and included all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi‐RCTs of cranberry products compared with placebo, no specific treatment or other intervention (antibiotics, probiotics) for the prevention of UTIs. For this update of the review, 26 new studies were added, bringing the total number of included studies to 50 (8857 participants). Information was collected on methods, participants, interventions and outcomes (incidence of symptomatic UTIs, positive culture results, side effects and adherence to therapy).
Forty‐five studies compared cranberry products with placebo or no specific treatment; of these, 26 could be meta‐analyzed for the outcome of symptomatic, culture‐verified UTIs. In studies with moderate-certainty evidence (which had a total of 6211 participants), cranberry products were found to reduce the risk of UTIs. When the studies were categorized by treatment indication, the review found that cranberry products probably reduced the risk of symptomatic, culture‐verified UTIs in women with recurrent UTIs, in children and in people with a susceptibility to UTIs due to an intervention. The available data therefore support the use of cranberry products to reduce UTI risk in these groups.
Williams, G., Hahn, D., Stephens, J.H. et al. (2023). Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2023(4).
Nuts Are Associated with Overall Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction
A new study published in Advances in Nutrition set out to examine the relationship between tree nut and peanut consumption and risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). It was the first systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs to provide a comprehensive picture of whether all or some types of tree nuts and peanuts are preferential for improving CVD risk, and if there is a dose-response relationship.
The authors searched the MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL and Cochrane Central databases up to September 2021 and included all RCTs that assessed the effects of tree nut or peanut consumption of any dose on CVD risk factors. A total of 153 articles describing 139 studies (81 parallel-design and 58 crossover-design) were included in the systematic review and 129 studies were included in the meta-analysis.
The researchers found a significant improvement in several biomarkers of CVD risk —low-density lipoprotein (“bad”) cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein, ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and ratio of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein— following the consumption of ≤30 grams per day, with stronger effects for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol at a dose of >60 grams per day. The findings provide evidence for a combined effect of tree nuts and peanuts on a range of biomarkers to create an overall CVD risk reduction.
This research was funded by the Australian Nut Industry Council.
Houston, L., Probst, Y.C., Singh, M.C. et al. Tree nut and peanut consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Advances in Nutrition, 2023.
Analysis of the Antioxidant Activity, Lipid Profile, and Minerals of the Skin and Seed of Hazelnuts (Corylus avellana L.), Pistachios (Pistacia vera) and Almonds (Prunus dulcis)—A Comparative Analysis
Nuts are dry, single-seeded fruits with a combination of beneficial compounds that aid in disease prevention and treatment. The aims of this research are to evaluate the total antioxidant activity (AI) by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, fatty acids by acid-catalyzed esterification method, and minerals by inductively coupled plasma optical emission (ICP-OE) spectrometer in hazelnuts, pistachios, and almond seeds and skins. Considering total AI, the results demonstrated that the highest activity was found in hazelnut and pistachio skin. The results considering minerals demonstrated that manganese, zinc, and iron levels are high in almond and hazelnut skins, copper is dominant in pistachio skin and hazelnut seed, and selenium is high in pistachio and almond skins and seed. Finally, the results showed palmitic acid is present in almond skin and pistachio seed, palmitoleic acid is high in almond and pistachio skins, and stearic acid is present in almond and hazelnut skins. Oleic acid was found in hazelnut seeds and their skin, linoleic acid in almond skin and pistachio seeds, and α-linolenic acid in almond and pistachio skins. In conclusion, hazelnut, pistachio, and almond skins are a great source of antioxidants, minerals, and healthy fatty acids, making them useful for nutraceutical development. https://doi.org/10.3390/appliedchem3010008
A review on some properties of almond: ımpact of processing, fatty acids, polyphenols, nutrients, bioactive properties, and health aspects
This review was focused on the proximate compounds, nutritional values, total phenolic, flavonoid, antioxidant activity, fatty acid profile, polyphenols, health aspects and uses of almond kernel and oils. Almond contained about 24–73% crude oil, 50–84% oleic and 6–37% linoleic acids, 77–3908 mg/kg β-stosterol and 5–8 mg/100 g β-tocopherol. Almonds are a good source of mono- and unsaturated fatty acids, phytochemicals, bioactive components, minerals, vitamin E, polyphenols and phytosterols and at the same time almonds have healing effects. Since almond seeds or seed oils have versatile uses, they are consumed on their own or as part of a range of food products. Almonds are considered a healthy snack when consumed due to their potential cardioprotective effects. Since the composition of almonds and its effects on health will be effective both during cultivation and processing, studies should be carried out in a way that preserves the product quality. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-022-05398-0