International Food Quality
and Safety Meeting Huge Success

The Almond Board of California was the sole sponsor of the 8th International Conference of Food Science and Technology, held this summer at UC-Davis. This exciting event brought together more than 140 attendees from U.S. and Chinese universities and food industries to discuss current food quality and safety topics.

Richard Waycott, ABC's president and CEO, gave a presentation on "Research – the Foundation of Almond Global Growth Strategy," reflecting how past research in production, environment, quality and safety, technical, and marketing and consumer have helped to promote growth in almond production and consumption.

A special almond functionality session was organized by ABC's Guangwei Huang, and had close to 40 attendees. The session focused on physical and physiological properties, enzymatic activities; impact of roasting, pasteurization processes on shelf stability, enzymatic activity, microbial reduction, and acrylamide formation.

In the Nut Safety session, the almond industry was highlighted for its proactive approach toward food safety. A presentation by the ABC's Tim Birmingham was coupled with a presentation by Dr. Linda Harris, UC-Davis, who praised the almond industry for establishing the mandatory pasteurization rule with solid science and research.

California Almond industry representatives Brian Dunning, Food Quality and Safety Committee, Sam Cunningham, Nutrition Committee, and John Aguiar, International Committee, participated in the ABC-sponsored reception and banquet, and in the almond sessions.