Seminar overview and contact details
Microbial decontamination of nuts and seeds seminar, 11 March 2010
Campden BRI, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, GL55 6LD, UK
Overview
Product recall due to microbial pathogen contamination is
becoming a major problem for those using nuts and seeds
in their products.There have been several high-profile
incidents recently.
UK product recalls have included peanut butter snack bars,
peppercorns, sesame seed paste, shelled nuts and seed mixes
including sesame seeds, all for presence of Salmonella. In the
USA in 2009 a large Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak was
linked with peanut butter, and there followed a very large
recall of both peanut butter and products made with it.
These incidents have generated considerable discussion within
the sector regarding how best to manage these risks. There is
now a range of commercially available systems for nut and
seed decontamination, but little consensus on how to validate
such systems, and limited knowledge regarding the response of
food pathogens to heat inactivation when in a low water
activity environment.
This seminar will:
- review the available knowledge regarding nut and seed
microbiology, including available data on the heat
resistance of pathogens in low water activity environments.
- explore previous outbreaks and recalls, and their root
causes
- include presentations from major suppliers of
decontamination equipment, including Napasol, Buhler,
Safesteril and Revtech
It is aimed at nut and seed processors, retailers and
manufacturers who use nuts and seeds as ingredients in their
products, microbiologists, and those involved in
decontamination activities.
Useful contacts
Training Department
Tel: +44(0)1386 842104 (direct line)
e-mail: training@campden.co.uk
