Kashrus Administrator of the Chicago Rabbinical Council

May 12, 2010
 
The cRc wishes to clarify the kosher status of the duty-free shops located in Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. Although all of the duty-free shops sell their chometz, as required by the Rabbanut, they continue to be open during Pesach selling chometz items. The exception to this is the duty-free shop located adjacent to gate D7, which not only sells their chometz for Pesach, but they also are very careful to only sell kosher for Passover products during Pesach.
Additionally, the duty-shop at gate D7 employs Shomrei Torah U’mitzvos to ensure that these strict guidelines are adhered to.
 
The following product was inadvertently labeled as kosher with a COR 722 Dairy. MexiCasa Nachos & Cheese Sauce Tortilla Chips. This product is not kosher. Corrective measures have been taken.
 
Citavo 6470040 French vanilla artificially flavored ice coffee is marked with a regular OU (no ‘D’) although it is a dairy product. The item has been discontinued.
 
The cRc website now has a listing of all cRc establishments declaring they sell Vegan & Gluten-Free products. Please visit http://www.crcweb.org/consumerkosher.php
 
Please be advised that as of May 1, 2010, OK Kosher Certification no longer certifies MEALS ON WHEELS made by BENICOR U.S.A. (Brooklyn, NY). Kashrut.com reports that the meals on wheels manufactured by Benicor are now certified by the Star-K when bearing the Star-K logo.

Banditos Nachos Jalapeno & Cheese are erroneously labeled Parev. This product is dairy under the Beth Din of Johannesburg. Keilim are not affected. The company has apologized for the error and is correcting the label for future print runs.

Please be aware that Pace Salsa is no longer OU kosher.

The Atlanta Kashruth Commission states in an alert that Yogli Mogli stores are not under their certification. The Yogi Mogli website states that they are under the KOAOA. The OU reports that they are not certified as kosher by the KOAOA.

The following products made by Crofters Food Ltd were inadvertently labeled with a COR symbol. These products are not COR certified: Apricot Organic Premium Spread, Black Currant Organic Premium Spread, Blood Orange Organic Premium Spread, Blueberry Preserve (Bake Stable), Cherry Preserve (Bake Stable), Four Fruit Organic Premium Spread, Lemon Ginger Flavour Preparation Organic Fruit Base For Yogurt, Mango Organic Premium Spread, Mango-Apricot Organic Fruit Base For Yogurt, Morello Cherry Organic Kefir & Yogurt Drink Base, Morello Cherry Organic Premium Spread , Peach Organic Fruit Base For Yogurt, Peach Organic Kefir & Yogurt Drink Base, Peach Passion Organic Premium Spread, Raspberry Organic Fruit Base For Yogurt, Raspberry Organic Kefir & Yogurt Drink Base, Raspberry Organic Premium Spread, Strawberry Organic Fruit Base for Ice Cream, Strawberry Organic Fruit Base For Yogurt, Strawberry Organic Kefir & Yogurt Drink Base, Strawberry Organic Premium Spread, Vanilla Organic Fruit Base For Yogurt, Wild Blackberry Organic Premium Spread, Wild Blueberry Organic Premium Spread.

Following is a translation of the latest update from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel pertaining to the various companies selling insect- free leafy greens. The results pertain to the level of insect infestation and the level of pesticides found on products.
 
The inspection covers 25 different companies selling insect-free greens.
 
The report unfortunately only instructs us how to act, but it does not indicate if the problem is insect infestation and/or unacceptably high levels of Insecticides.
 
Regarding the following companies, one must wash them in water. It is good to soak in soapy water prior to use: Chasalat, Meshek Cohen Mann, Alei HaBesor, Glatt Alim (Eida Chareidit, Birkat Katif
 
Regarding the following companies, one must soak them in soapy water prior to use: Katif BaGolan, YKM (Yerek Katif Mehadrin), Yarok min HaTeva, Meitav HaYerek, Marina Glatt, Alei Bodek, Alim Yerukim, Alim Nekiim, Yarok MeHaKfar, Katif Alim Mehadrin
 
Regarding the following companies, one must soak them in soapy water prior to use and inspect each leaf: Birkat David, Yevulei Lachish, Alei HaSharon, Katif Haaretz HaTova, Ra’ananim
 
Regarding the following, the Chief Rabbinate has removed their kosher certification: Yevulei HaNegev, Y. Yevulei Katif, Meshek Kroiter, Alei Mehudar – Ala Ala, Tenuvat Haaretz
 
An inspection of the Café 10 Company located at 6 HaSadna Street in Petach Tikvah revealed the firm exhibited a fraudulent kosher certificate in the name of the Petach Tikvah Rabbinate.

Mivchar Mamtakei Pralines – 10 miniatures select Belgian chocolate pralines – (barcode 5411281420800) by the DucDo Company, displays a kosher claim for “Passover 5770, for those who use powdered non-chalav Yisrael milk powder, under the supervision of Rabbi Aryeh Ralbag, USA with approval of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel). A probe revealed the product does not have approval of the Chief Rabbinate and it should be removed from store shelves
 
The Chief Rabbinate National Kashrut Division reports removing the kosher certification of the Shemem HaKfar olive oil (barcode 7290008431019). In actuality, the product is manufactured without kashrut supervision and now bears an unauthorized kosher claim on the product label.

In addition, the kashrut certification was revoked from the Merkaz HaPitzuchim in Sachnin. This company produces seeds and dried fruits and coffee, but the Chief Rabbinate does not grant kosher supervision and therefore assumes no responsibility.
 
Oil being sold under the ‘Teva’ label (barcode 7290008199155) bears a label claiming “kosher l’mehadrin’. The Chief Rabbinate Kashrut Enforcement Division stated that this oil and any other oils produced by Mr. Moshe Carmel is not certified and there are concerns regarding its kashrut.
 This is due to the fact that he is a repeat offender, apprehended on numerous occasions making false kashrut claims.
 
Papagena Vanilla Sticks with 64% Cocoa – (9002859033629) and a chocolate covered biscuit filled with cocoa cream and nuts (barcode 9002859032646) claim to kosher under the supervision of Badatz Rambam – baked by Jews and containing non-chalav yisrael milk powder. A probe of the products reveal they are not approved by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel for import, and there are genuine concerns regarding the kashrut integrity of the items, originating in Austria. After Rabbinate officials received information from the Taago Company pertaining to the makeup of the products coming out of Austria, it was learned that they are not kosher.
 
Chocolate and vanilla flavored petti beurre biscuits packaged under the ‘Ma’afe HaTeva’ (Natural Bakery) name (barcode 7290008723121), sold in the Kim’at Chinam stores around the country, do not indicate which agency has certified the products as kosher. Without specifying the source of the kosher certification, one may not use the items mentioned and they should immediately be removed from store shelves.

Israeli Establishments operating illegally & revocation of kosher supervision:
 
BEERSHEVA  Ad A’lot HaShachar Catering – the local rabbinate is no longer responsible for the kashrut as the company moved to the Palmachim area.
 
Ta’amim Mul Nof Catering – the local rabbinate is no longer responsible for the kashrut as the company moved to the Palmachim area.
 
BEIT SHEMESH Glitt Butcher Shop owned by Assi Cohen (5 Derech Yitzchak Rabin) – kosher certification was removed due to kashrut violations.
 
HERZLIYA Mifgash HaSteak Restaurant  owned by Rami Frischman (7 Shenker St) – kosher certification was removed due to chilul shabbat.
 
ZEVULUN Kilufi HaTazfon Company located in Kfar Bialik (Kfar Chassidim) – kosher certification was removed due to kashrut violations.
 
HOLON HaPina HaLohetet Restaurant located at 43 Dov Hauz Street – kosher certification was removed due to kashrut violations.
 
Café Bar Romi located at 25 Kugel Blvd. – kosher certification was removed due to kashrut violations.
 
Atliz – 102 Sokolov Street – claims to be kosher but lacks supervision from the local Rabbinate.
 
Tzimeret HaYerakot -47 Sokolov Street (Tzimeret Building) – the store receipts claim ‘under the supervision of the Rabbinate’ but this claim is false and he does not have a legal kosher certification.
 
Distributer supplying ice cream stores located at 25 HaMerkava St – he claims his products are kosher but opens on shabbat and does not have legal kosher supervision.
 
TIVERIA Refalu Restaurant – Pedestrian Mall – kosher certification was removed due to kashrut violations.
 
YAVNE Sushi Bar in the Dor Alon gas station – claims to be kosher but lacks any supervision.
 
JERUSALEM Nichoach HaCafe located in the Har Chotzvim High Tech Park – kosher certification was removed by the Jerusalem Rabbinate.
 
CARMIEL Burger Bar located on the pedestrian mall at 92 KKL St. – kosher certification was removed due to kashrut violations.
 
MAALE ADUMIM Teiman Catering in Mishur Adumim is not under the Maale Adumim Rabbinate.
 
Pastry of Deli section (uncertain) in the Rami Levy supermarket branch is not under the supervision of the Maale Adumim Rabbinate.
 
Yainot Beitan bakery section located on Tzemach HaSadeh St. is not under the supervision of the Maale Adumim Rabbinate.
 
RA’ANANA Ma’afiyat HaKfar bakery located at 2 Eliezer Yaffa Street advertises as kosher but does not have kashrut supervision from the local rabbinate.
 
TEL AVIV Misada Shel Pam Restaurant at 103 Herzl St advertises as kosher but does not have Rabbanut supervision.
 
Shimshiri Restaurant at 99 Nachlat Binyamin St advertises in ‘kosher mehadrin’ but only has regular non-mehadrin supervision.

Alerts are compiled from kashrus agencies’ websites; Kashrut.com; Kashrus magazine; Kosher Information Bureau; Jerusalem Kosher News, Shatnez Laboratory; and from the Guide to Chodosh (Rabbi Yoseph Herman).

(YWN Desk – NYC)