Food Safety and Compliance for Hazelnut Spreads

Fremont, CA: The hazelnut spread market is experiencing rapid global expansion. However, its continued success depends on strict compliance with international food safety and labeling standards. Manufacturers must address a complex array of regulations to ensure product integrity, reduce health risks, and sustain consumer trust in diverse markets.

How Can Manufacturers Ensure Comprehensive Hazard Control in the Production of Hazelnut Spreads?

Ensuring the safety of hazelnut spreads begins with raw material sourcing and extends through every stage of processing. The primary objective is to prevent microbiological, chemical, and physical contamination and to manage the unique risks associated with nut-based ingredients. A robust, preventive framework is therefore essential to guarantee consumer safety and regulatory compliance.

A foundational component of this framework is the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system, which enables manufacturers to identify, evaluate, and control specific hazards. Chemical hazards such as aflatoxins—carcinogenic toxins produced by certain molds—represent a significant risk in hazelnuts. As a result, aflatoxin testing of shelled raw nuts is mandatory in many jurisdictions and is monitored at the raw material reception or sorting stage. Biological hazards also require careful control: although hazelnut spreads are low-water-activity foods and thus less conducive to microbial growth, ingredients such as nuts, milk powders, and cocoa may carry pathogens, including Salmonella and E. coli. Roasting the hazelnuts serves as a validated Critical Control Point (CCP), requiring defined temperature–time parameters to ensure pathogen reduction. Physical hazards, such as shell fragments or stones, must additionally be mitigated through cleaning, sorting, visual inspection, sieving, and magnetic separation in line with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

GMP and strict facility hygiene further underpin the safe production of hazelnut spreads. Compliance with regulations ensures that manufacturing environments remain sanitary and well-controlled. Key GMP measures include sourcing all raw materials—such as hazelnuts, cocoa, and milk powder—from certified and approved suppliers, implementing rigorous equipment cleaning procedures to prevent cross-contamination, and closely monitoring processing parameters — such as mixing temperature, milling time, and filling conditions — to ensure product quality and stability. Equally important is the use of safe, food-grade packaging materials, such as glass, polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), along with tamper-evident seals that protect product integrity throughout distribution.

Global Compliance: Labeling and Allergen Regulations

Regulatory compliance becomes increasingly complex when hazelnut spreads are exported across multiple markets. The most significant challenges relate to allergen labeling and ingredient declaration, given that hazelnuts are classified as an essential allergen in all major regulatory systems. Products contain additional allergens such as milk (from skimmed milk powder) and soy (from lecithin), making precise and transparent labeling mandatory.

Beyond allergens, manufacturers must comply with broader requirements for ingredient and nutrition labeling. All major markets mandate listing ingredients in descending order of weight and require that additives—including emulsifiers and stabilizers—are approved for use within their respective regulatory frameworks, such as the FDA’s GRAS system.

Exporting hazelnut spreads also necessitates adherence to foreign market standards that may be more stringent than domestic requirements. To facilitate global market access, manufacturers increasingly adopt internationally recognized food safety certification schemes endorsed by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), including BRCGS, IFS, and FSSC 22000. These certifications not only support compliance but also enhance consumer confidence and strengthen supply chain credibility.

Ensuring food safety and regulatory compliance for hazelnut spreads requires ongoing vigilance and investment in comprehensive food safety systems. Effective management includes controlling aflatoxin risks during raw material procurement and accurately declaring all allergens on product packaging. For global manufacturers, compliance should be regarded not only as a legal requirement but also as a fundamental commitment to consumer health and trust. Successful navigation of regulatory requirements determines whether a product achieves global distribution or faces costly recalls.