AUSTRALIA/SOUTH AFRICA – Marquis Macadamias, the world’s largest macadamia growing and processing company, has implemented 5-log pasteurization capabilities in its Australian and South African facilities with the introduction of Napasol pasteurization systems.
The systems have allowed it to safely process over 30,000 tonnes of kernels. It implemented the technology as it wanted to ensure product safety for consumers.
The technology has been able to fend off contaminants such as Salmonella and E. coli, both of which are commonly found during the processing of macadamias.
The technology uses heat and steam to treat the kernels under precise pressure conditions. This technique has meant that the macadamias’ taste, texture, appearance and shelf life have not been impacted by the pasteurization process.
Thanks to the technology, the company’s food safety quality assurance is higher than legally required in some jurisdictions, said Steve Lee, Marquis Macadamias CEO.
“Our investment in Napasol pasteurization gives customers assurance of a third-party validated process that repeatedly delivers an effective kill step for Salmonella with a greater-than 10-fold improvement on the FDA recommendations for tree nuts,” he said.
Napasol uses a unique and extremely efficient method to kill bacteria under precisely controlled conditions and importantly, the treatment doesn’t impact on product quality.
The effectiveness of this system has been validated across macadamia whole, half and chip kernel styles, which may not be the case for other machines.
“The Napasol technology ensures that our customers and consumers continue to receive premium quality products safe for consumption,” said Lee.
Other safety measures at the plant include metal detectors and X-ray machines to inspect finished products and keep product quality consistent for customers.
The wider Marquis Group currently cracks around 48,000 tonnes of nuts per annum across its four factories, two in South Africa and two in Australia. The group also has five partner factories in Kenya.
It sells 11,000 tonnes of kernel per annum through its marketing arm, Marquis Marketing, representing roughly 25 per cent of the world’s macadamia crop.
Graeme Taylor, International Operations Manager of Marquis Marketing, said that quality, reliability and consistency of the company’s products are paramount to its success.
“It takes a high level of sophistication to get new products off the ground. Those sourcing ingredients want to know that nuts have been farmed and processed responsibly, ethically and safely.
“This is why we have implemented a five-log pasteurization system at all of our processing facilities, ensuring our customers have peace of mind regarding the safety of our products,” he explained.
Marquis, he says, is therefore able to supply a uniform product that meets stringent quality standards.
“Being able to provide high volumes of this product will create consistency and confidence in the market,” said Taylor.
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