Kashrus Updates

January 28, 2011

By Rabbi Sholem Fishbane

Kashrus Administrator of the Chicago Rabbinical Council

http://www.crcweb.org   www.twitter.com/crckosher 

Please note that the Kosher Reflections Café at the Illinois Holocaust Museum at 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie, IL has been closed.

Due to kashrus violations, Survivor Industries, Oxnard, CA is no longer under KOF-K Kosher Certification.

The following Ricola items are recommended by the cRc: Green Tea with Echinacea (sugar free), Honey Herb, Honey Lemon with Echinacea, Lemon Mint (sugar free), Lemon Mint, Lemon Verbena, Menthol (sugar free), Mountain Herb (sugar free), Natural Herb (original). Only these items are recommended and does not necessarily require a special kosher sticker on the individual package.

7 Seas Frozen Gravlax Smoked Salmon (British Columbia, Canada) – consumers of OU products are advised not to consume 7 Seas Gravlax Smoked Salmon, as it appears that a non kosher ingredient was used in that product. Consumers that see the product in the market should please contact the Orthodox Union

The Chicago Rabbinical Council has started “tweeting” on Twitter (www.twitter.com/crckosher) some of their common daily questions. Below are some of the most recent “tweets” that will be helpful for the kosher consumer:

1. Hawaiian Punch from a fountain is recommended
2. Anchovies packed in salt water require a reliable hechsher.
3. Pure Asafetida, which is a type of spice, would not require a hechsher.
4. Approved Dr. Pepper (USA) products: Original, Berries and Cream, Cherry, Cherry Vanilla, Chocolate Cherry, Heritage, Red Fusion
5. Stevia requires a reliable hechsher.
6. Raw, unprocessed, fresh frozen individually wrapped tuna must have Hashgacha unless it still has the skin on it & you can determine that it has scales.
7. Dried Figs do not require a hechsher however they must be inspected for insect infestation.
8. Sliced fresh mushrooms that come in a package in the supermarket do not need a hechsher
9. Plain unflavored instant coffee does not require a hashgacha
10. Plain frozen orange juice concentrates with calcium added do not need a hechsher

The Bet Din of Johannesburg would like to notify the public that Pick ‘n Pay kosher bakeries in Norwood, Killarney and Gallo Manor are 100% Pareve. The labels which list the ingredients on their rolls and breads, are prepared at PnP Head Office for ALL their bakeries nationally, and therefore include “milk” as an ingredient on some of their products. The Beth Din is working with Pick ‘n Pay to create separate labels for their kosher bakeries. In the meantime there is absolutely no milk in these products.

Please be advised that the following batches of CHOCOLATE CHIPS, UPC No. 1111086603 product bearing the OK Pareve kosher symbol distributed by Kroger Value Stores contain some dairy chips. KROGER VALUE SEMI SWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS, UPC No. 1111086603 With a best by date of October 1, 2012 through December 4, 2012 Product has been recalled.  

Suntree Hickory Smoked Almonds contains dairy ingredients as listed on the ingredient panel but the OU dairy designation has been inadvertently omitted.  

24 Hour Thermogenics Choco Lettes, Health Management Care a.k.a. Diet Center bears an unauthorized OU-P mark. This product is not certified by the Orthodox Union, and is not kosher for Passover. Corrective measures are being implemented. Consumers who see this product should please call the Orthodox Union.

Bora Bora granola bars are certified by the OU and bear an OU printed on the label. These products contain dairy ingredients and the OU-D is ink-jetted on the label until new labels are printed.

Due to Kashrus Violations, effective January 7, 2011, Aventura Pita located at 18129 Biscayne Blvd., is no longer under Kosher Miami supervision.

Please be advised that COMPLIMENTS STONE GROUND WHEAT CRACKERS 250 G (upc: 55742 38071 2) was labeled with a COR “DE”. This product is Dairy.  
Corrective measures have been taken.

The Volover Rov wou like to advise the consumer that after careful investigation it was determined that insects are found in the intestines of Gefen sardines from Portugal (not in the flesh). They must first be opened and the guts completely cleaned out. This is equally so in water sardines, soya oil or olive oil. The ‘skinless and boneless’ sardines are not infested.”

Kashrut.com reports that New York Style Bagel Crisps have changed from an OU pareve to an OU-D mostly because of equipment, but there are some new dairy seasonings being introduced. If a package is found with a plain OU on it, it is pareve

Kashrut Maguen David – KMD, Agencia de Kashrut de México reports that the whole or filetted hake, fresh or frozen, with the brand name Maupacific is considered under our supervision to be pareve mehadrin only if each fillet has a piece of skin with scales [on it]

Please be advised that MIRA BRAND FOOD PRODUCTS produced in Bulgaria by Solvex Mira Frukt bear an unauthorized OK symbol on the label. These products are not certified by OK Kosher Certification. Corrective measures are being taken

General Mills is discontinuing the OU-D kosher certification from all sizes of Bugles Original due to operational changes at the production sites, and will no longer be certified. The OU-D symbol will begin to be removed from packaging in February of 2011. Consumers are likely to see some Bugles Original packages with the OU-D symbol and some without as the transition occurs. The Bugles with the OU-D are in fact kosher.

Please be advised that Tel Aviv Restaurant, Great Neck, NY is no longer certified by the Vaad Harabonim of Queens, effective December 31, 2010.

The DK reports that Wacky Mac Macaroni & Cheese is OU-D cholov stam not cholov yisroel. The cheddar cheese packets inside the box may mistakenly state Star-K-D which designates cholov yisroel.

River Ranch value added bagged salads are now recertified Star-K Pareve when the Star-K symbol appears by the date code. The following private label brads produced by River Ranch are now Star-K recertified: Compliments, Cross Valley Farms, Freshl/Fresh & Easy, Heidi, Promark, Marketside, Shaw’s, Shurefresh, Sysyco, The Farmer’s Market

Planters Nutrition Omega-3 Mix contains dairy ingredients as listed on the ingredient panel but the OU dairy designation has been inadvertently omitted. Future packaging will be revised.

Please be advised that we are receiving reports of insect infestation in various pasta products, some of which were manufactured in the past 2 to 3 months. Insects can be small and black, approximately 2-3 mm in size. This situation is being monitored and is under review by COR. At this time, we recommend that you check your pasta before cooking. An easy way to ascertain whether insects are present is to spread the product across a white paper plate and look for the signs of infestation will be revised. Hakhel.info reports of insect infestation in various flour and pasta products, an experienced Kashrus professional advised us that he strongly recommends placing these kinds of products into cellophane bags after purchase, as the un-protective cardboard boxes they are sold in (such as the Ronzoni containers) are very much open to infestation.

Certain packages of Kasia’s Potato Pancakes list sour cream as an ingredient. The product does not contain any dairy ingredients as is indeed cRc pareve 

The MK (Montreal Kosher) wishes to inform the public that Amira Corn Flax Chips inadvertently bears the MK pareve designation. This product should be labeled MK dairy. 

The Atlanta Kashruth Commission reminds everyone that Now and Later candies are not kosher. There was a Now and Later product that was kosher when bearing an OU; however this product was discontinued in 2005. At present all Now and Laters come from a non-kosher facility outside of the U.S. The cRc reminds all kosher consumers that candy is a product which requires kosher supervision and one should be diligent in checking for the kosher logo. 
 

Shatnez Alerts 

The Eileen Fisher scarf was labeled containing wool, linen and cashmere. Solid color wool scarves generally do not contain shatnez. Multi-colored, knitted scarves or ones that list “other fibers” require testing. 

A Giorgio’s Palm Beach 100% wool suit, made in Italy, had an under collar felt reinforced with a brown linen canvas. What was unusual was the presence of small, light brown linen canvas pieces sewn on both ends of the primary collar canvas. 

Toggle Button Cords – the cord of the toggle buttons on the Macleod children’s coat shown in the picture is 100% linen. The coat was made in Italy. Its contents label lists 80% Wool 20% Nylon. This coat was purchased at Daffy’s, a clothing bargains store in Manhattan, New York. 

A Marc New York –Andrew Marc knit dress, was brought to the Flatbush Shatnez Laboratory. Its content label listed 70% Wool, 30 % Silk. It had a front panel that was a linen and cotton blend. The linen was the majority, therefore was not botel. 

A Karen Nicol sweater was brought to the Flatbush Shatnez Laboratory. It was made in China. The content label listed: 28% Viscose, 20% Nylon, 15% Lamb’s Wool, 15% Cotton, 10% Polyester, 6% Metallic Fiber, 3% Cashmere and 3% Angora. 
 

Men’s J. Crew jacket that was made in China. The contents label accurately listed the fabric as 100% cotton. The collar canvas was a linen blend and the felt contained no wool. The front canvases displayed some wool in the microscope but it was botel. Yet the jacket was shatnez. 

People are aware that men’s wool suits require testing. However sometimes consumers find themselves in a situation where they desperately need to wear their suit and cannot bring it into a shatnez Laboratory for testing. We are therefore alerting the public that some jackets of the following brands were found 

A Costume lady’s jacket, made in Spain, was brought to the Boro Park Shatnez Laboratory. Its content label listed 60% Cotton, 40 % Nylon.

Within the shell fabric there were thick black 3-ply yarns consisting

of: 1) Nylon, 2) Cotton, 3) Cotton with a significant amount of linen 

Shatnez in Euro Boy’s and Pier Boy’s Suits is of a Euro Boys suit, sold in the Fall and Winter 2009. This suit was manufactured in Turkey for a company in Eretz Yisroel and was sold worldwide. Its content label listed 67% Polyester and 33% Viscose. It was manufactured in three colors, black, gray and blue. It was also sold under the Pier Boys label. 

A Magil baby’s coat (Italy), whose content label listed 100% Microfiber, was found to contain shatnez. The plaid fabric was wool, and the coat had a linen plumber attached to its lining under the name tag. 

Kashrus Updates from Israel:

Badatz Eida Chareidit reports it has received complaints regarding the discovery of infestation in instant couscous (whole and regular), referring to the product with packaging code 09-10 from the Druma Company. Therefore, the kashrus agency instructs consumers to check the couscous before use, using a noodle strainer with wholes that are 1.7-2mm in size. One must inspect the residue that drops through the strainer to verify if the product is contaminated with brownish/gray 1mm insects. If one finds that the product is indeed contaminated, one should return it as well as notifying the Eida Chareidit (02-670-0205).

The Chief Rabbinate of Israel Kashrut Enforcement Division has reported that Strauss brand yogurt with dried fruit is being recalled after cases of insect infestation in the dried fruit have been reported and confirmed. The dairy company has been instructed to recall the product and consumers are instructed not to eat it, and return unused yogurts to the place of purchase. The item barcode is 7290011194833.

Daniella – Whipped Cheese from Strauss Dairies, Ltd. (Israel) This product is labeled OU D Chalav Yisroel.  This product is OU D but is not Chalav Yisroel. Corrective action has been taken 

To receive email kashrus alerts, send your name and email address to: [email protected] 

The cRc is proud to introduce the cRc Kosher APP now available FREE OF CHARGE on all  iPhones, iPods, iPads and Palm WebOs devices! Android and Blackberry apps are not available at this time. 

Alerts are compiled from Kashrut.com http://www.kashrut.com/Alerts/ , kashrus agencies’ websites; Kashrus magazine; Kosher Information Bureau; Jerusalem Kosher News www.jerusalemkoshernews.com  – [email protected], Shatnez Laboratory; and from the Guide to Chodosh (Rabbi Yoseph Herman).