Making the Claim for Nuts

Making the Claim for Nuts

On September 20, 2000 the Center for Food and Nutrition Policy in collaboration with the International Tree Nut Council convened a Ceres® Forum, Making the Claim for Nuts. The proceedings from this conference are now available (see below).

At a French archeological site, researchers recently uncovered evidence that tree nuts played an important role in human nutrition 1.2 million years ago. Back then, cholesterol, fat, and too many calories were not a worry. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors survived on nuts, berries, and whatever else they might come upon.

Today, consumer surveys tell us that 80 percent of the U.S. population associate dietary fat with heart disease and other health problems. Thus, it can be no surprise that many Americans are wary of the possible dangers of fat-rich nuts.

To take a fresh look at the issues that arise in developing dietary guidance regarding fats and tree nuts, the Center for Food and Nutrition Policy and the International Tree Nut Council held a conference, Making the Claim for Nuts, on September 20, 2000. The conference consisted of two keynote presentations and four sessions, including a panel discussion.

The objectives of the forum were:

1. To examine the scientific evidence regarding the health benefits associated with nuts and identify research gaps;
2. To understand how nuts fit in U.S. eating patterns;
3. To discuss policy implications of structure/function and/or health claims about nuts.

The speakers for the conference were (in alphabetic order):

• Rajen Anand, USDA, CFNAP
• Dennis Balint, International Tree Nut Council
• Sue Borra, President-elect American Dietetic Association
• Lester Crawford, Center for Food and Nutrition Policy
• Paul Davis, University of California-Davis
• Gary Fraser, Loma Linda University
• Joanne Holden, USDA, ARS, BARC
• Paul Hyman, Hyman, Phelps & McNamara
• Christine J. Lewis, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, FDA
• Biing-Hwan Lin, USDA, ERS
• Anne Maher, FTC
• Kathy McManus, Brigham and Women?s Hospital
• Sanford Miller, Center for Food and Nutrition Policy
• Joan Sabate, Loma Linda University
• Barbara Schneeman, USDA, ARS
• Sally Squires, The Washington Post
• Maureen Storey, Center for Food and Nutrition Policy
• Sarah Taylor, Covington & Burling

The proceedings are available either as a high resolution version (sharp graphics, 2.5Mb) or a low resolution version (1Mb).