MILLIONS of families are to miss out on a longstanding Christmas tradition following a decision by supermarkets not to stock Brazil nuts. The nuts, popular with afternoon 
tea around the Christmas tree, have been judged a potential safety risk by the European Commission. Traces of a toxin that can cause liver cancer have been found in their shells. So the EC has decreed every batch imported from Brazil must be tested for the substance aflatoxin. Supermarkets claim the cost of destroying any shipments would be too high and are not willing to import them. Brazil nut kernels, used in nut mixtures and chocolate Brazil nuts, can still be imported from Bolivia and Peru. But Peter Morgan of the Combined Edible Nut Trade Association said: “Commercially it is now too risky to import them. The EU have put overly stringent limits on this without really good evidence.” Evening Standard 3/12/04.
tea around the Christmas tree, have been judged a potential safety risk by the European Commission. Traces of a toxin that can cause liver cancer have been found in their shells. So the EC has decreed every batch imported from Brazil must be tested for the substance aflatoxin. Supermarkets claim the cost of destroying any shipments would be too high and are not willing to import them. Brazil nut kernels, used in nut mixtures and chocolate Brazil nuts, can still be imported from Bolivia and Peru. But Peter Morgan of the Combined Edible Nut Trade Association said: “Commercially it is now too risky to import them. The EU have put overly stringent limits on this without really good evidence.” Evening Standard 3/12/04.
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