Another day, another controversy started by someone on WhatsApp.
Social media exploded with viral messages on Thursday, that Grey Goose Vodka, a drink used by many Kosher homes, was non-Kosher. Some Kashrus agencies released statements, and some kosher liquor stores immediately pulled the products from their shelves.
Read the the cRc statement, released to to YWN moments ago:
Those who keep kosher would never eat in a restaurant without a reliable hechsher, nor bring products into their homes unless verified to be kosher. The assumption is that prepared food and beverages are not kosher until verified otherwise. It is well-known that we maintain one of the largest kosher Liquor Lists in the world, investing considerable research to find acceptable kosher liquor options for consumers. We firmly believe that products which are certified-kosher are preferable to those listed as approved, as these avoid any kashrus issues. Nevertheless, as a community-based hechsher, we feel it is important to do careful research and provide options for those who may not have access to certified products.
It has come to our attention that a popular vodka, produced in France, was considered acceptable in kosher homes even without a hechsher. The cRc has always advised that vodka produced in France, Ireland, and New Zealand requires special attention out of concern that it may be produced from wine or dairy alcohol. In fact, there have been persistent rumors that this vodka from France contains alcohol produced from wine. As we know, wine products require special hashgacha to avoid the concern of stam yeinam – wine produced by non-observant Jews. As stated, we believe that unless a particular product meets generally accepted guidelines for kosher liquor, the assumption is that the product is not kosher until verified otherwise.
Because of the above, we never officially published that it was not recommended nor did we say it was recommended. We simply left it off our kosher liquor list because vodka from France needs to be verified as kosher.
In recent days, a consumer that spoke to one of our staff correctly posted on a WhatsApp Group that we do not recommend it, but this was misinterpreted and reposted by others outside the cRc (without contacting us first) to state that we have firsthand knowledge that there is wine in the product. This is untrue. Our position was based on the stated concern.
After extensive research, we have now discovered that there is a special run produced under hashgacha specifically for the Israeli market (with kashering the lines to avoid any contact with equipment used for non-kosher products) and we have verified that the source for the standard alcohol for this company is solely grain based.
However, this same company does produce a non-kosher version of vodka which contains grape based alcohol, but the standard unflavored version is solely grain based. Therefore, as long the company continues to maintain special kosher runs, the above information is considered accurate.
We once again maintain that it is best to consume these products with a proper hechsher.
Additionally, HaRav Asher Eckstein, of the Vaad Hakashrus Belz, released a letter on stating that people should not consume the product. YWN has confirmed that Rav Eckstein released this statement after learning of the controversy this morning, but had not personally confirmed that the vodka was problematic. His message to take extreme measures was to prevent the consummation of the product in case it was not-Kosher.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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10 Responses
At least we get another news article to make for this story. It’ll lead to additional parnassa for news organizations and the advertisers on the website.
There are actually some decent “craft vodkas” distilled in New York State with both good hashgacha and reasonable prices. Generally are corn or rye based alcohol–none are wine-based. I’ve never gotten comfortable sending $$ to Russia or Poland regardless of hashgacha but thats just my hangup.
Moshiach will be mattir the Chazir, but not the other items on their list.
This is the problem with organizations using the term “not recommended” on various lists. It makes people think the product is not kosher. In reality, it’s just they have no information, and many times it would be mutar to eat because of rov.
“Consumption” (not “consummation”).
So the upshot is that the regular plain Vodka is fine however it may be processed on Kelim that may not be fine due to other products in that production line. I don’t know much about how such Vodka is produced and how the production lines affect each other vis a vis Kelim. Does anyone?
“prevent the “consummation” of the product”??!!
If the standard unflavored version is verifiably solely grain based why is this considered to be approved, although without hashgocha outside Israel, only as long the company continues to maintain special kosher runs? The regular product has no connection to the kosher run. I fully understand the difference between “approved” but not supervised and supervised. That is a European concept that does not exist in the USA. However it allows one to buy bread in a Zurich supermarket, for example, that is Pas Yisroel with a “higher” standard of overall kashrus than most of the US produced bread with hashgocha.
“Consummation” is a perfectly good word to use in this context. If you use vodka to say a bracha and wish another Jew “Lechayim” you are putting it to its highest purpose, and you are completing and perfecting it, elevating it to kedusha, so you are indeed consummating it.
Hershel, the continued production of the kosher runs is what tells us that they have not changed the recipe for the regular runs. Because the kosher run doesn’t use any different ingredients, it’s the same product, just with a mashgiach. So we can rely on that mashgiach to tell us that the regular unsupervised runs are also good.