CTPAT (Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) is a voluntary, security-focused program by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Designed for importers, manufacturers, and logistics providers, it promotes best practices to secure the supply chain from origin to destination. CTPAT certification not only demonstrates iTi Tropicals’ commitment to global trade security—it can also streamline customs clearance and reduce delays.

As you may be aware, the FDA has recently updated and published a new list of US Major Tree Nut Allergens which are required to be declared either in the ingredient statement (parenthetically), or in a “Contains” statement, as an allergen on product labels.

Though the FDA classifies coconut as a tree nut, coconut water contains minimal protein, making allergic reactions rare. Research from FARRP confirms that extensive clean-up is not necessary when using shared equipment. However, proper labeling is still required.

As per January 2013, the FDA has not set a brix standard for coconut water. Based on Codex General Standard for Fruit Juices and Nectars, the standard brix value is 5.0, however iTi Tropicals believes that the brix value is closer 4.0 for single strength coconut water.

When working with dilution calculations, it's essential to account for both specific gravity and true density to ensure accurate weight percentages. These two factors play a crucial role in determining the correct formulation, especially when working with sugar solutions or other liquid concentrates.