2007-02-27 20:01:36 · 10 answers · asked by Percy 1 in Food & Drink ➔ Other - Food & Drink
You can still buy them - although......
The European Commission has branded the nuts a health risk after traces of a toxin that can cause liver cancer were found in Brazil nut shells.
Each batch must now be tested for aflatoxins, and the cost of destroying those affected has made Brazils too costly for supermarkets to import.
It is still possible to buy just the kernels, as used in chocolate Brazils.
A spokeswoman for Sainsbury's said: "Like other retailers, we don't stock shelled Brazil nuts due to EU regulations. However, we have plenty of unshelled Brazil nuts in stock."
Brazil is the only country to export the nuts still in their shells. Kernels, which are just the edible part of the nut, are brought in from Peru and Bolivia.
Peter Morgan, chairman of the Combined Edible Nut Trade Association, told the Daily Mail on Friday: "Commercially it is now too risky to import them.
"The EU have put overly stringent limits on this without really good evidence."
The European limit on aflatoxin levels in Brazil nuts is four parts per billion but Mr Morgan said the American limit is 15 parts per billion.
EC officials say levels 100 times higher than the limit have been found.
They fear the substance, caused by contaminating fungi, could pass from the shell to the nut and then be eaten.
2007-02-27 20:06:13 · answer #1 · answered by BUNGLE!! 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good question!
However, you can buy them but only at Christmas. I read an article last year about Brazil nuts and apparently it has something to do with the chemicals in Brazil nuts, that cause the nuts to deteriorate very quickly thus making it uneconomical to grow anymore so we now find shelled Brazil nuts are in short supply because of this, though you can buy them unshelled in the home baking section.
2007-02-27 20:10:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can in fact here is a source.
http://www.nutsonline.com/nuts/brazilnuts/in-the-shell.html
Although there has been speculation that they can encourage liver disease Brazil nuts are very high in nutrients in particular selenium.
I think it is easier to have then shelled as they are particularly difficult to crack I can remember some Christmas hurting my hands trying to crack the impossible ones.
I stale nut is disgusting and the smell is dreadful, a real disappointment when it has taken so long to get into the nut.
Buy them shelled less hassle and no nut bit flying around the room.
2007-02-27 20:21:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In some places you still can buy them in their shells but I thought there was a toxic/poisonous quality of the shells and that's why most places stopped selling the nuts that way. Anyway, easier not to have to shell them...
2007-02-27 20:42:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Something to do with a disease/toxins in the shell! Shame though! Nothing like trying to crack a really hard brazil nut shell!
2007-02-28 00:13:53 · answer #5 · answered by gsladenyc 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually I see them around the holidays in grocery stores or even Walmart supercenter food section. But they usually are in mixed nuts.
2007-02-27 20:05:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check out Tescos at Christmas, they're everywhere.
2007-02-27 20:11:12 · answer #7 · answered by Mum-Ra 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They had them in Tesco at Christmas.
2007-02-27 20:04:12 · answer #8 · answered by Margaret 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
probably 'cos they're too hard to get into
2007-03-02 10:33:38 · answer #9 · answered by **tracey** 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can, i just saw them at albertsons
2007-02-27 20:04:16 · answer #10 · answered by uuummk 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋