Industry Insider Notes on Walnut Pieces (ELH/LH) You Can Actually Build a Supply Chain On

If you buy for bakeries, cereal plants, or snack lines, you already know this: the market has swung toward lighter color, lower moisture, and traceable sourcing. Xinjiang Xin 2 kernels processed in Zanhuang County, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, keep popping up on spec sheets—and for good reasons, to be honest.

Product snapshot

Product: Xinjiang Xin 2 Walnut Kernels Extra Light Halves (ELH) and Light Halves (LH), processed by a real Chinese factory with BRC certification, professional lines, and on-time delivery. Origin base: Zanhuang County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province. Many customers say the consistency is the hook; the service is the keeper.

Grade(s)	ELH (Extra Light Halves), LH (Light Halves)
Color index	Extra light / light (≈ USDA style classification; real-world sorting may vary)
Moisture	≤ 4.5% (typical lot data ≈ 3.0–3.8%)
Defects/foreign	Shell/foreign ≤ 0.05%; broken pieces per grade spec
Aflatoxin (B1/Total)	Meets EU limits (B1 ≤ 2 μg/kg, Total ≤ 4 μg/kg) and GB standards
Microbiology	Salmonella: n.d./25g; E. coli < 10 CFU/g; TPC as agreed
Packaging	10–12.5 kg vacuum or nitrogen-flush bags, 2 bags/carton, lot-coded
Shelf life	≈ 12–18 months at ≤ 10°C, RH ≤ 60%, away from light

Process flow and controls

• Materials: Xin 2 cultivar kernels sourced from audited farms in Zanhuang County.
• Methods: de-shelling → size grading → color sorting (optical + AI) → hand-pick → metal detection (Fe/Non-Fe/SS) → vacuum/N2 pack.
• Testing standards: moisture GB 5009 series; microbiology GB 4789; aflatoxin per GB 2761 and EU limits; HACCP and BRCGS Issue 9 documented CCPs.
• Service life: validated storage trials to 18 months under cold-chain; organoleptic checks quarterly.
• Industries: bakery, confectionery, granola/cereal, dairy and ice cream, foodservice, nut butters, plant-based drinks (as inclusion/paste).

Where Walnut Pieces shine

• Color stability: ELH holds visual appeal in premium chocolate and gelato.
• Low moisture: better crunch retention in roasted mixes; fewer rancidity complaints.
• Traceability: farm-to-carton lotting; audit-friendly for retailers.

Vendor comparison (indicative)

Vendor	Certifications	Moisture spec	Lead time	Customization
Luhua Walnut Factory (Hebei)	BRCGS, HACCP, ISO 22000; Halal/Kosher on request	≤ 4.5% (typical 3–3.8%)	≈ 10–15 days	ELH/LH, sieve sizes, packing, private label
Trader A (mixed origin)	GFSI-recognized (varies)	≤ 5.0%	≈ 20–30 days	Limited pack options
Overseas packer B	BRC/IFS	≤ 4.8%	≈ 25–40 days	Standard grades only

Customization and QA

• Grade mix: ELH/LH or blend to target cost-per-bite.
• Sieve calibration: halves focus vs. added pieces for inclusions.
• Packaging: vacuum vs. nitrogen; carton branding; pallet patterns for DC efficiency.
• Test data (typical lot): moisture 3.5%; peroxide value ≤ 2.0 meq O2/kg fat; aflatoxin total < 4 μg/kg; Salmonella not detected/25g.

Real-world use cases

• EU granola brand: switched to Walnut Pieces ELH; complaint rate on rancidity fell by ≈32% over 9 months (cool storage enforced).
• APAC bakery chain: LH halves in honey loaves; uniform color boosted visual appeal—yes, simple, but it sells.

Feedback has been surprisingly consistent: “clean flavor, fewer dark specks, cartons arrive tidy.” I guess reliability still wins.

Compliance and standards

BRCGS Food Safety (Issue 9), ISO 22000, and Codex HACCP underpin the line; mycotoxin control meets EU and Chinese GB levels, plus microbiology per GB 4789. Traceability records are maintained to pallet/carton level—auditors like that.

Authoritative citations

1. BRCGS Food Safety, Issue 9.
2. Codex Alimentarius: General Principles of Food Hygiene CXC 1-1969 (HACCP).
3. ISO 22000:2018 Food safety management systems.
4. EU Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 – Maximum levels for certain contaminants (aflatoxins in nuts).
5. China GB 2761 – Maximum Levels of Mycotoxins; GB 4789 – Microbiological Examination of Food.