A new hashgacha labeling bill has been introduced by MK (Likud/Beitenu) Orli Levi-Abekasis which is backed by MK Moshe Gafne of Yahadut Hatorah and Avraham Michaeli of Shas.
In the bill MK Levi-Abekasis cites that all too often the hashgacha symbol on a product is illegible, written in an extremely small font. She feel there must be a uniform standard towards facilitating kosher products for the kosher consumer in Israel.
The bill would require food companies to use a uniform font size and format when printing a hashgacha logo and the size of the logo relative to the package will be determined by the bill. Today a company makes this determination based on its marketing considerations. The MKs explain at times it is virtually impossible for a shopper to make out the letters believed to be a product hechsher.
The bill also adds a new component to the state kosher law, demanding clear marking of the dietary status of an item, with a red square for meat, blue square for dairy and an orange square for parve. Each square will have to have the appropriate Hebrew letter in the middle. Pesach items will have to have a yellow circle with the words Kosher for Pesach in the middle.
The hashgacha and dietary designation will have to be clear, visible and on the front side of a package.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
The more the government regulates, the bigger the threat that it will politicize things to try to block non-state (i.e. hareidi) hecksherim. Regardless of the good will of the sponsors, note that two of the three are in opposition, meaning they have no say in how such a law is enforced. The best defense is that kosher consumers normally don’t buy anything without knowledge of the hecksher, so an unclear sign will fail to sell the product.
I’m disappointed.
Not at the article, but at akuperma. I came just to check if he was yoitzeh and I have to say, his comment is lacking. It is maybe a 5 or 6 out of 10. I expected more from him.