Latest news with #cashew
The Independent
06-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Popular chocolate treat recalled due to ‘presence of allergen'
Frederik's Dark Chocolate Almonds, sold at Meijer stores, have been recalled due to the potential presence of undeclared cashews, posing a risk to individuals with cashew allergies. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) elevated the recall to a Class II, indicating that consumption may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences. The recall affects specific black stand-up pouches and multi-pack boxes of the dark chocolate almonds, with various sell-by dates, sold across six US states. No illnesses have been reported to date, but customers are advised to return the affected products to Meijer for a full refund. This recall comes amidst a notable increase in food product recalls in the US during 2024, with a significant rise in associated illnesses, hospitalisations, and deaths compared to the previous year.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Farmers devastated as extreme weather wipes out beloved harvests — here's why it's part of a growing crisis
Most farmers would probably agree that the only thing predictable about the weather is its unpredictability. Unfortunately, durian and cashew growers in Gia Lai Province, Vietnam, are facing this problem in an extreme way as they struggle to maintain their livelihoods. Durian and cashew farmers in Vietnam's Central Highlands are reporting devastating crop failures — and it's not a one-time event, according to SGGP News. In Chu Hau 6 Village, farmer Do Van Trao watched as nearly all his durians fell before maturity, with only one in five fruits surviving. In nearby La Der Commune, Ro Cham Xet saw cashew yields plummet by up to 70%, marking the third consecutive year of poor harvests. Local agriculture experts point to a combination of malnutrition, heat shock, and abnormal weather patterns as the culprits, SGGP reported. Unseasonably heavy rain followed the fruit-setting period, and extended periods of heat have taken a toll on crops. These unpredictable swings in weather are becoming increasingly common — and damaging. These crop failures are not just a blow to farmers. Unpredictable weather threatens the crops people rely on for food and income. Failing harvests disrupt livelihoods, drive up food prices, and add pressure to already strained food supply chains. Unfortunately, this is not just a one-off issue. In recent years, California farmers have battled drought, cocoa crops in West Africa have declined, and rising temperatures have threatened coffee production around the globe. These stories all point to a larger truth: our food systems are deeply vulnerable to the climate crisis. While farmers like Trao and Xet face a tough road ahead, local leaders are encouraging resilience through smarter, more sustainable farming practices. Experts are advising better irrigation, targeted fertilization, and crop diversification to reduce risk and build long-term sustainability. What should be done to make home solar panels cheaper? More tax incentives Lower installation costs Better loan options They're cheap enough already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. For those outside the farming world, being informed and supporting climate-smart agriculture is the key to change. That can mean choosing locally grown foods, backing brands that invest in sustainable sourcing, or advocating for policies that protect both farmers and the planet. Even small shifts in our habits can help strengthen the food systems we all rely on — and give farmers a fighting chance. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Reuters
07-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Ivory Coast raises projected cashew output as threatened tariffs hit exports
ABIDJAN, May 7 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast, the world's biggest cashew grower, has raised its projected output to 1.3 million metric tons from 1.15 million tons even as potential U.S. tariffs and a falling dollar drag down exports, the head of the sector regulator told Reuters. The production increase stems in part from curbs on the smuggling of raw cashews to neighbouring Ghana and Burkina Faso, Mamadou Berte of the Cotton and Cashew Council (CCA) said. At the same time, Vietnamese buyers have drastically cut purchases of Ivorian raw cashews for processing in response to U.S. tariffs, Berte said. Vietnam usually buys 80% of Ivory Coast's cashew production, of which 60% is re-exported to the United States. But Vietnamese buyers have only purchased 200,000 tons of raw cashews for this year, compared with 700,000 to 800,000 tons for last year, Berte said. Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration announced sweeping tariffs on dozens of countries, including Ivory Coast, which faced a tariff of 21%, the highest in West Africa. Trump then paused the tariffs for 90 days for negotiations, while retaining an across-the-board levy of 10%. Vietnam is facing a 46% tariff if a reduction cannot be agreed before a U.S. moratorium expires in July. "We are in total loss if we continue," said the manager of a Vietnamese cashew company. The drop in the U.S. dollar this year has also complicated contract execution and lowered prices for local producers, as contracts were arranged at the higher rate, Berte said. Prices have dropped to as low as 200 CFA francs ($0.35) per kilogram from 425 CFA francs ($0.73) earlier in the year, Berte said, likely due to the threatened U.S. tariffs and a weakening dollar affecting exports and profitability. Eight buyers and five exporters, including Vietnamese and Indians, confirmed to Reuters the drop in price. The buyers said there were about 200,000 tons of raw cashew nuts from Ivorian producers they could not purchase, warning that local producers would need to store them or sell them locally to avoid waste. Berte said local buyers had bought more than 650,000 tons of raw cashew nuts so far this year compared to 300,000 tons last year. "Faced with this situation of poor sales, the CCA is considering support mechanisms for the total purchase of the residual stock," he said. ($1 = 575.0000 CFA francs)
