Sponsored by Terri Lynn Inc.

It seems that nuts have gained a lot of publicity as of late. Why?
 Advanced food science has revealed the healthful composition of a variety of nut products, and nut suppliers and trade boards promoted this information.

Since when did nuts become such an important part of a healthful diet?
 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a health claim for nuts and nut-containing products in 2003. This action generated a significant amount of publicity for nuts.

What does this health claim say?
 The claim reads: "Scientific evidencesuggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ozs. per day of most nuts as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease."

Does this claim apply to all nuts?
 No. The FDA-approved claim applies only to almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, some pine nuts, pistachio nuts and walnuts.

How many nuts are needed in a product to make the claim?
 FDA requires that products must contain at least 11 grams of nuts per reference amount customarily consumed (RACC) to qualify for the claim. This qualification prohibits most bakery foods from makingthe claim. FDA also requires that foods have less than 13 grams of total fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 60 mgs of cholesterol and 480 mgs of sodium per RACC to qualify for the claim. However, even if a bakery food fails to qualify for the claim, it still benefits from the publicity the claim generates.

How so?
 The nut industry has benefitted from recent publicity touting the healthfulness of nuts. As a result, consumers may identify products with nuts as being more healthful.

Sort of like a pecan pie?
 Exactly. Although pecan pie may be high in fat and calories, most foods consumed in moderation can play a role in a healthful diet. Consumers may be more willing to indulge on a pecan pie because of the health benefits that pecans offer.

What health benefits do pecans offer?
 Similar to most nuts, pecans contain high levels of healthful fats, such as monosaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats. These essential fatty acids do not raise bad cholesterol levels and are a major source of vitamin E. Vitamin E is essential to the diet because of its antioxidant properties. Vitamin E protects vitamin A and essential fatty acids from cell oxidation.

What other health attributes do nuts possess?
 There are almost too many to list. Nuts are made up of healthful vitamins and minerals, including protein, riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, iron, zinc, magnesium, fiber, selenium, copper, potassium and many more.

How can bakers inform consumers about the benefits of nuts on bakery food packaging?

Outside of the FDA-approved health claim, bakers producing nutcontaining products can highlight nut content by including clear, concise language and pictures on product packaging. For example, muffin manufacturers have promoted blueberry muffins with big, bright pictures of blueberries on product packaging. These pictures not only promote the health attributes of blueberries, but also promote the muffin's indulgence.

Is it possible for indulgence and healthfulness to come from one product?

Yes. the Dietary Guidelines for Americans stress moderation from all food groups. An occasional piece of chocolate cake will not hurt anyone. Plus, indulgence will always be a driving trend in the marketplace. Bakers can capitalize on consumers' quests for indulgence and health by manufacturing indulgent bakery foods with some health attributes. For example, an indulgent muffin with chopped nuts or a small piece of pecan pie provides the ideal balance of indulgence in moderation and health attributes. This combination may sway consumers to purchase more nut-containing bakery foods.

Snapshot of pecan's health properties

  • Pecans contain about 60% monosaturated fat and 30% polyunsaturated fat.
  • Pecans contain the alpha and gamma tocopherol forms of vitamin E, which is an important antioxidant that slows the process of cell stress.
  • Pecans are high in unsaturated fats.
  • Pecans provide a healthful source of protein.
  • Pecans are high in fiber. One ounce of pecans has about the same amount of fiber as a medium-size apple.
  • Pecans are naturally low in carbohydrates. About 1 oz. of pecans contains 4 grams of carbohydrates.

Source: Texas Pecan Growers Association


Terri Lynn Inc.: Full-service nut and dried fruit supplier

How has Terri Lynn Inc. been able to produce some of the cleanest, foreign-free products in the nut and dried fruit industry?
 Terri Lynn Inc. commits to producing the finest and cleanest products for its valued customers. The company is invested in its customer base by purchasing and putting into operation the latest laser sorting equipment. Normally, nut and dried fruit products are electronically sorted and then inspected by workers for foreign material that the equipment cannot detect. Laser sorting is far more advanced than manual detection, virtually eliminating all foreign material.

Why should a manufacturer or business consider Terri Lynn Inc. as their supplier?
 Terri Lynn Inc. has been family owned and operated since 1936. With more than 65 years of experience in the industry, the company helps bakeries, dairies and confectioners meet any challenge, new idea or ingredient requirement. The company is a direct source supplier of nuts, dried fruits, and chocolateand yogurt-covered products. The company's products are roasted, cut, mixed, candy coated, processed and shipped directly from its Elgin, Ill., headquarters.

Does Terri Lynn Inc. have the ability to do large scale production for discriminating food corporations and businesses?
 The company's facility in Elgin, Ill., is 108,000 sq. ft. and processes more than 50 million pounds annually. Terri Lynn's staff includes an extensive quality control department that oversees the manufacturing of all products. The company enacts complete HACCP and GMP programs that include hourly checks of every production line and comprehensive product testing to ensure food quality and safety. The company uses an ATP Bioluminescent cleaning validation system to ensure that all equipment is clean prior to use. The company also regularly tests all final products for microbiological hazards.

What makes Terri Lynn Inc. such a good source for pecans?
 Terri Lynn Inc. owns and operates a state-of-the-art pecan shelling plant in Cordele, Georgia. This plant shells and processes pecans for the Elgin facility and customers worldwide, and is capable of processing 20 million pounds of raw material per year. Terri Lynn Inc. is very particular about the pecan growers with whom it associates, and ensures a high-quality product through personal visitation and inspection of groves. Unlike other pecan shelling plants in the United States, the Cordele facility shells its pecans by variety as well as size. This gives the company a unique advantage because it is able to consistently supply customers with the required shape, size and color.

A cold water/chlorine process is used to clean and sanitize the pecans. This process produces a brighter looking and crisper tasting pecan. Other processors use a steam or hot water process. This is a quicker way to condition pecans, however, this heat results in a darker meat, rubbery texture and decreased shelf life. Terri Lynn's customers are provided with a consistent premium product they can depend on from one order to the next because of the differences between Cordele's procedures and those of other pecan shellers.

If I am not a large business, can I still order from Terri Lynn Inc.?
 Yes, because the company is a direct source supplier. Whether a baker orders one case or a truckload, everyone receives the same courtesy, customer service and quality guarantee. That's the Terri Lynn way.

For more information, contact Terri Lynn at 800-323-0775 or e-mail sales@terrilynn.com