What do they spray imported nuts with?

[Batz]

Hi
Does anyone know what imported nuts into Australia are sprayed with?
I think my wife has a reaction to this,we ate some nuts which came from Vietnam and see got really ill.
Our home grown or Australian grown nuts are ok

Batz

[paradisi]

email customs or phone their 1800 number - - that's if the spraying was done here - goodness only knows what they spray on trees overseas - - DDT is still legal in a lot of countries

[bazman]

I think you meant

Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service as they deal with incoming food, but they wouldn't spray it in general.
http://www.aqis.gov.au/

Did you keep some of the nut's? if not I don't think you can do much without proof.

This might be your best bet to inform someone.
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/industr.../consumers.asp

[ho-hum]

Baz,

What sorta nuts do we import from Vietnam??

cheers,

[bazman]

Ho-Hum

I would say cashew nut's at a guess.

Vietnam has exported around 126,000 tonnes of cashew nuts to foreign markets in 2006

http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr04080710...ns071109141704

[shortly]

I dont think they (quarantine) actually spray nuts anymore, from what ive been told they freeze them for a week or so instead to kill any bugs.
Mind you the nuts could have been sprayed or fumigated with who knows what overseas?

[ho-hum]

Australia has been a cashew nut exporter for about 25 years. A peanut exporter for near 100 years [anecdotal only], an almond exporter since the 70s', a pecan importer since the 80s, on the walnut front that is fairly recent and we have imported pistachio nuts since about 1975. We also import brazil nuts and coconuts.

From my experience you can spray nuts with whatever you want, it probably wont comply with any ASO or organic standard but they are mostly built with resistant skins and shells. . By design most nuts are contained within a reasonable and resilient outer skin.

I have no control over what vietnam exports or sprays.

Australia has been a major cashew exporter since about 1984 when Sanitarium began exporting from Humpty Doo and Koolpinyah near Darwin. These exports are earmarked as being suitable for the australian market..

cheers,

[ho-hum]

Batz, on a rethink.... just 'cos Vietnam exports... ergo... Australia imports them????

[Michaelangelica]

Most containers containing organic (once living) products herbs etc are, or at least used to be, fumigated. This was compulsory before entry was allowed in Australia or shortly performed after arrival and before being delivered .
Usually methyl bromide, but phospherine is used in India and some other countries.

i would imagine there would be little control on pesticide use in Vietnam.
Also the country is probably still heavily polluted with Agent Orange (Round UP) from the Vietnam war

If you know a university chemist with access to a gas chromatograph you might be able to get him to test for chemicals for you.

Many people have various degrees of allergies to nuts.
I can't eat walnuts. They give me a sore throat and sinus immediately.