2020-6-9 KosherGram PDF

New CANADA DRY BOLD GINGER ALE is Kosher.

New COCA-COLA STRAWBERRY from Japan, now available online in the U.S., is not Kosher approved.

DOLE ICEBERG LETTUCE SALADS: Some bags of Dole Garden Salad and Dole Shredded Lettuce currently in stores do not bear the OK symbol. These bags are not OK certified and are not recommended. Even the same store may have a mixture of some bags with the OK and some without. Check each bag.

Other OK certified brands should also be checked for the OK symbol on each bag. This includes Kroger, Little Salad Bar [Aldi], and Marketside [Walmart] brands.

KROGER BITE SIZE SHREDDED WHEAT CEREAL no longer bears an OU. After much research we have confirmed that it is no longer OU certified due to change of plants, and it is not recommended.

SLIMFAST POWDER MIXES are no longer OU certified due to a change in manufacturing. New containers now in stores do not bear an OU. Containers still bearing the OU-D symbol were produced before this change. Other Slimfast products (liquid shakes, snacks and bars) remain OU-D certified. [Thanks to Kashrut.com for notice of change; (Details we further researched.)]

ONE STOP KOSHER FOOD MARKET: Only the following One Stop departments are supervised by the Council of Orthodox Rabbis of Greater Detroit:

• Deli Dept.
• Pizza Stop
• Superior Meat Dept.
• Fresh Bakery Dept.
• Repackaged Bulk Candies bearing the K-COR symbol
• Fresh Produce [insect-prone items that do not bear certification on the label need to be checked by the consumer]

The consumer should check all other products for a reliable Kosher certification on the label. For any questions, feel free to call the COR (Council of Orthodox Rabbis/Vaad Harabbonim). – Please note that frozen vegetables that are insect-prone, such as broccoli and cauliflower, should not be used without reliable certification.

REPACKAGED MEAT PRODUCTS: The Kashrus certification of factory produced meat and poultry products is valid only as long as the original factory packaging and labeling remain intact. Once the package is opened and the product is repackaged by a local store, the original certification is no longer in effect. Reliable supervision is necessary at the store level to assure the Kashrus of the repackaged product. Repackaged meat and poultry products should not be purchased from an unsupervised store, even if the store label on the product lists the name of a Kosher brand or the name/symbol of a Kashrus certification.

As a case in point [Kashrut.com]: An unsupervised supermarket in NJ repackaged chicken wings and printed on the store label “KJ Kosher”. This was unauthorized, and the product cannot be accepted as Kosher.

MISSING DAIRY DESIGNATION: The following products contain dairy ingredients, as listed in their ingredient statements, but they mistakenly do not bear the dairy designation:

• WALMART FRESHNESS GUARANTEED CHERRY PIE mistakenly bears a plain OU without a D on some boxes.
• DUNCAN HINES CHOCOLATE FROSTING YELLOW CAKE PUDDING: Some club pack cartons were mislabeled with a plain OK symbol. The inner sleeves are correctly labeled with the OK-D symbol.
• OUR SPECIALTY CHOCOLATE AND COOKIES ‘N CREME CAKE TRUFFLES manufactured by Rich Products Corp. mistakenly bears a plain BVK [Buffalo Vaad Hakashrus] without a D.
• OVAEASY EGG-IN A-CUP products were mistakenly labeled Kof-K DE instead of Kof-K Dairy.

The following CECE’S VEGGIE CO. products are not OU certified, but mistakenly bear an OU on some labels: Buffalo Cauli; Cauli & Cheese; Dinos & Cheese; Grillerz Z-Cut Summer Squash with Garlic Herb Butter; and Zucchini with Marinara.

JEPPSON’S MALORT LIQUEUR: A limited quantity of special edition Jeppson’s Malort Liqueur was produced with non-Kosher ingredients. The cRc Kosher symbol has been covered on the labels of these limited products.

KROGER SWEET & MESQUITE BBQ POTATO CHIPS with a plain OU in 17 oz. Party Size bags (UPC 0111100320101), with the specific lot code Best If Used By MAY 12 20 2B5 and time stamped 18:50 to 20:55, have been recalled because they actually contain Cheddar and Sour Cream Potato Chips which contain milk, and are certified OU Dairy. For more information contact https://www.kroger.com/topic/recall-alerts-3 or 905-669-6072 x 227.

STREIT’S MINESTRONE CANNED SOUP 15 oz. with a Best By date of Jan. 2023 is not Yoshon certified until after Pesach 5780. All other Streit’s products certified under the Kof-K are certified as Yoshon.

New COCA-COLA ENERGY drinks in 12 oz. cans, in Regular, Zero Sugar, Cherry, and Zero Sugar Cherry varieties, are OU certified and bear the OU symbol engraved into the top lid of the can.

PEPSI-COLA 1893 ORIGINAL COLA and PEPSI-COLA 1893 GINGER COLA (available at Amazon and eBay), and PEPSI BERRY, PEPSI LIME and PEPSI MANGO sodas, all in 12 oz. cans, are Kosher. (They do not require a Kashrus symbol.)

PRE-PESACH SHOPPING ADVICE: When shopping for Pesach products, each individual label should always be checked for Pesach certification. Consumers are cautioned not to take for granted that a product is Kosher for Pesach simply because it is in the Kosher for Pesach section of their store, or because a “Kosher for Pesach” sign is posted. Each year there are numerous instances, even in Jewish stores, of non-Pesach products mistakenly being mixed in with Pesach products, usually because their labels are almost identical. This occurs frequently with Telma soup mixes and cubes, Lieber’s dressings and Coat ‘n Bake coatings, various brands of frozen chopped liver and kishke, and Osem, Gefen, Haddar, Manischewitz, Empire and other brands of products that have both Pesach and non-Pesach versions of the same products with similar labels.

Storekeepers, likewise, should not take for granted that everything received in their Pesach shipment, even from a Jewish distributor, is indeed Pesach certified; non-Pesach products are frequently inadvertently mixed in. There have also been instances where the outsides of cases were marked Kosher for Pesach, but the products inside were not. Each individual label must always be checked for Pesach certification.

Some brands, e.g. Osem, do not bear the same certification on all of their products. Each product should be checked for a reliable certification. – In addition, some brands, especially those from Israel, bear more than one certification on a single package, but not all those certifications include approval for Pesach. In particular, the Badatz of Eida Hachareidis symbol often states specifically that its endorsement does not include Pesach. All products should be carefully examined for a reliable Pesach endorsement. – Some products bear a non-Pesach certification printed on the label, and have an added stamp (often on the lid) saying Kosher for Pesach, but with no identification of the certifying organization. These should not be relied upon.

2019-12-30 Kashrus Alerts PDF available for download.

POST HONEY BUNCHES OF OATS CEREALS in several varieties have changed from OU-D (dairy ingredient – whey) to plain OU (pareve), and many stores now have a mixture of older product with OU-D, and newer product with plain OU. Check each box carefully for its correct status.

LUDEN’S and many STORE BRANDS of THROAT / COUGH DROPS (e.g., CVS, Rite Aid, Kroger, Meijer, etc.) were in the past produced on dairy equipment and stated OU-D on the label. The manufacturing process has changed, and now they are being produced on dedicated pareve equipment and are fully pareve. New labels therefore bear a plain OU. Stores may have a mixture of OU and OU-D labeled product; check each package for its correct status.

GARDEN LITES “VEGGIES MADE GREAT” frozen products (muffins, veggie cakes, frittatas, etc.) have changed from OU certification to Triangle K, and stores now have a mixture of older product with OU, and newer product with Triangle K. Only those bearing OU are recommended. Check each package carefully.

QUINOA: Several Kashrus agencies have recently reported finding infestation in quinoa (booklice and mites), due to improper storage in the distribution chain. The OU and Star-K recommend the following checking procedure for quinoa (all colors):

• Place quinoa in a fine mesh (e.g. #30) strainer. (Fine enough that the quinoa does not go through, but not a flour sifter or coffee filter, which are too fine.)
• Shake for 25-30 seconds over a light box or white paper. Examine the surface of the light box or paper under a strong light for any insects.
• If any insects are found on the white surface, the quinoa should be discarded.

BROWN RICE: The Star-K reports infestation in brown rice sold in the Northeastern U.S., due to improper storage in the distribution chain, and recommends that consumers in those areas follow the same procedure as described above for quinoa.

BARLEY: Due to frequent infestation issues, several Kashrus agencies currently recommend that all barley (and in particular Yoshon brands) be checked prior to use. Following are two options for checking:
Soaking Method:
1. Place all the barley you wish to use in a white bowl, and fill the bowl with water, a few inches over the top of the barley.
2. Allow to sit for 15-20 minutes. If insects are present, they will float to the top. If any do, repeat the process, and if no more are then found, the barley may be used.

Plate Method:
1. Place a small pile of barley – about two ounces at a time – on a white paper plate (not plastic, which creates a shine) with good overhead light that illuminates the plate.
2. Use a finger or a fork to drag a small amount of barley away from the pile, spreading that barley in a single layer. Visually inspect the spread-apart barley, looking for webbing, black insects and white or tan worms between or under the kernels.
3. Repeat this until the entire pile has been checked. Then do the same for the rest of the barley in the package.

NATURAL EARTH brand NORI SHEETS with a date code of 2019.03.28 have been found to have infestation concerns and have been recalled. All other lots of Natural Earth Nori remain Star-K certified when bearing the Star-K symbol.

GENERAL MILLS CINNAMON TOAST CRUNCH CEREAL – 2-PACK mistakenly bears only a plain OU on the sleeve. Each individual box correctly bears OU D. This product at this time does not contain actual dairy, but is produced on dairy equipment.

KLEIN’S DELIGHTS DARK CHOCOLATE ALMONDS sold currently at Costco mistakenly bear an OK-P on some display cases. The individual bags correctly bear a plain OK, and are Kosher pareve for year round use, but not for Pesach. (In Pesach season this product is produced as Kosher for Pesach, and then bears OK-P on the individual bags.)

TRADER JOE’S CINNAMON ROLL BREAD bears an unauthorized KVH Pareve symbol on some labels. This product contains dairy and is not certified by KVH Kosher.

MARZANO SPAGHETTI SAUCE: [Corrected alert issued by OU] The OU certifies regular Marzano Spaghetti Sauce as OU pareve. Some labels with an OU symbol were mistakenly used for a spaghetti sauce that contains non-kosher beef. The labels for the Kosher and non-kosher products look alike except for the ingredients statement. Consumers should look at the ingredients statement and verify whether or not beef is listed as an ingredient. If beef is listed, the product is not certified and bears an unauthorized OU symbol. If beef is not listed, then the product is certified when bearing the OU symbol. The product with beef is being withdrawn from the marketplace. If you see this product being sold, please provide details to kosherq@ou.org.

PRODUCT RECALL

All HARD-BOILED PEELED EGGS , both retail and Foodservice, produced by Almark Foods at its Gainesville, GA plant and sold under many brand names, including Almark, 7 Select [at 7-11], Eggs-Land and others (including many that bear an OU), have been recalled due to possible association with a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has been linked to several reported illnesses and one reported death. Details are available at https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/almark-foods-expanded-recall-all-products-its-georgia-facility-due-possible-listeria-monocytogenes or at 877-546-0454.

[Note that the location of the G code (indicating the Gainesville, GA plant) stated in the FDA notice is incorrect. The G is after the Best If Used By date.]

2019-10-30 Kashrus Alerts PDF available for download.

TRADER JOE’S ISRAELI FETA CHEESE bearing “B.D.Z. Mehadrin” certification is reliably certified by Badatz Mehadrin of Rechovot, Israel, and is Cholov Yisroel.

KLEIN’S NATURALS DRIED MANGO with Best-By dates 09/17/20, 09/23/2020, 09/26/2020 and 10/24/2020 has been found to have a high rate of infestation and has been recalled. The OK advises that consumers should do a visual check of mango in packages with other Best-By dates.

STORE BRANDS AND GENERIC BRANDS frequently change suppliers (i.e., the outside manufacturers that produce the product for the store), which often results in a change or loss of the product’s Kosher status. Stores may also have multiple suppliers for the same product, so that some packages on the shelf bear acceptable Kosher certification while others do not, or some are marked Pareve and others are marked Dairy. Consumers should be especially careful when buying such products to check each package every time for proper Kosher certification.

Following are two current local examples.

• MEMBER’S MARK WHOLE KERNEL SWEET CORN with sea salt, sold at Sam’s Club, in the past was labeled with an OU symbol. Now the 15.25 oz. cans bear a non-recommended symbol. The large 106 oz. “Food Service” size cans still bear an OU.
• TRADER JOE’S frozen VEGETABLE MASALA BURGER no longer bears Kashrus certification. [Trader Joe’s Hi-Protein Veggie Burger, Thai Sweet Chili Veggie Burger and Quinoa Cowboy Veggie Burgers still bear OU Pareve.]

HIDDEN VALLEY DRESSINGS – Only those bearing OU or OU-D are certified Kosher. Currently, most Hidden Valley products in stores do not bear any Kashrus symbol.

[Note: As posted in our 10/30/19 alerts, Hidden Valley Original Ranch Seasoning & Salad Dressing Mix in an 8 oz. shaker container bearing an OU is certified Kosher Dairy, but mistakenly bears a plain OU without the D.]

MOTT’S APPLES ‘n DIP – SLICED APPLES WITH CARAMEL DIP bears an unauthorized Star-K symbol. The apples are Kosher certified, but the package includes a container of caramel dip that is not Kosher certified and contains dairy ingredients.

MW POLAR FLAT FILLETS ANCHOVIES bears an unauthorized OK Kosher symbol. This product is not certified by OK Kosher Certification.

PRODUCT RECALLS

ROMAINE LETTUCE FOOD SAFETY ALERT: CDC, FDA and state health authorities are investigating a multistate outbreak of serious illnesses caused by E. coli O157:H7 linked to romaine lettuce harvested from the Salinas, California growing region. CDC and FDA advise that consumers not eat any romaine lettuce grown in the Salinas region. This includes all use-by dates and brands of romaine lettuce from this region. Details are available at https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2019/o157h7-11-19/index.html

Many romaine lettuce products are labeled with a harvest location showing where they were grown. It may be printed on the package or on a sticker. If the label says “grown in Salinas”, or if the label does not specify any growing region, do not eat it.

Hydroponically and greenhouse grown romaine, which may be labeled as “indoor grown”, from any region does not appear to be related to the current outbreak.

POS’TIV and KOSHER GARDENS brands of romaine are free of this concern.
BODEK brand fresh romaine product (i.e., packaged after Nov. 15) is free of this concern.
ONE STOP KOSHER FOOD MARKET: All romaine sold since Sunday morning, Nov. 24 is free of this concern.

NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE and M&M’s brands of Ready-To-Bake Refrigerated COOKIE DOUGH PRODUCTS have been recalled due to the potential presence of food-grade rubber pieces. Details are available at 800-681-1676 or https://www.nestleusa.com/media/pressreleases

BREAKSTONE’S COTTAGE CHEESE – Certain varieties with one Best-By date have been recalled due to the potential presence of pieces of red plastic and metal. Details are available at 866-572-3805 or https://news.kraftheinzcompany.com/

2019-9-22 Kashrus Alerts PDF available for download.

HONEY:

• Standard honey goes through a filtering process, which removes the non-Kosher bee parts. Even “raw and unfiltered” honey is usually strained, to remove the bee parts. However, some completely unprocessed honeys are neither filtered nor strained. If the label or the manufacturer states that the honey is not strained, or if bee parts are visible, that honey should be avoided or should be strained by the consumer.

• Please be aware that “Forest honey”, “Honeydew honey”, and “Beechwood honey” (or honey named after other types of trees such as Pine, Fir, Oak, etc.), generally refer to honey produced by bees that have consumed the non-Kosher excretions of aphids and scale insects left on trees (as opposed to standard honey produced from flower nectar). These are not considered Kosher according to some opinions, and should be avoided.

• “Royal Jelly” is a bee product that, unlike regular honey, is an actual secretion of the bee. Some Poskim therefore rule that it is not included in the permitted category of “honey”, and it should be avoided.

FISH HEADS: [From New Square Kashrus Council]

• White fish: White fish heads are free of infestation concern.

• Salmon/Baby salmon: Salmon heads [even farm raised] are commonly infested with salmon lice (small brownish parasites ranging in size from approximately 1-3 cm).

· The entire gills must be removed. (It may be easier to first cut the head in half before cleaning).

· Rinse the head thoroughly with water while rubbing all surfaces of the head (inside and outside), including all cracks, crevices and folds, and under and around the tongue. Inspect the head to make sure it is clean.

One who wants to avoid the checking process may just rinse the head and cook the head in a separate pot, take a small piece from the flesh of the head, and visually inspect it before eating to make sure there is no foreign object on it.

• Carp: Carp heads may be infested with very small transparent insects called Argulus that are very hard to detect. There is no known method to clean infested carp heads properly, and they should not be used unless checked by an expert.

BLACK EYED PEAS are often infested and require careful checking. The following is the Star-K procedure for checking dried, canned or frozen black eyed peas, and applies even if the product bears Kashrus certification. (Note: Canned peas and beans always require Kashrus certification, for general Kashrus concerns.)

• Dried peas should first be boiled in water. After they have been fully cooked, turn off the flame and allow the peas to soak in the water for 2-3 hours. The peas will swell and the peel will become translucent. Then check as below.

• Canned or frozen peas may be checked straight out of the can/bag; there is no need to boil or soak.

• To check: Take the peas and inspect for holes or dark-colored stains, as this may indicate an insect beneath the thin peel. If there is a dark spot on the peel, remove the thin skin and check if there is a cavity with a bug in it. (The black “eye” spot is not a sign of infestation. Similarly, orange colored stains on the surface are not signs of infestation; only dark or black stains are of concern.)

[Note: For those who prefer not to rely on checking, some Poskim advise that the Rosh Hashana simanim custom can be fulfilled without eating the item, by placing it on the table and looking at it.]

DATES:

• Fresh and Dried Dates from ISRAEL are sold at many stores in the U.S., including locally. If they do not bear a reliable Kosher certification, they require taking of Terumos and Maaseros by the consumer (without a bracha).

• American dates (even with Kashrus certification): Slice open a handful from the container and inspect carefully under good light, especially around the pit, for worms or any sign of infestation, such as webbing or brown crumb-like particles. Small white particles are sugar crystals, and are not a sign of infestation. If no infestation is found, the rest may be eaten without checking. Foreign: Some Kashrus agencies recommend inspecting every date. From Pakistan, Tunisia and Algeria: Some Kashrus agencies advise to avoid. Pressed dates are frequently infested and cannot be checked, and are not recommended.

KASHRUS ALERTS

PAS YISROEL: The K-COR wishes to remind the Kosher consumer of the accepted custom to be stringent on Pas Yisroel during Aseres Yemei T’shuva. Please be advised that many K-COR certified establishments produce or sell some bread and cake products that are not Pas Yisroel. Please ask the Mashgiach or call the K-COR office for details regarding specific establishments.

• The following establishments are totally Pas Yisroel: ZEMAN’S, BAKE STATION, PIZZA STOP, PRIME 10, and SOUL CAFÉ RESTAURANT (not catering). At Jerusalem Pizza, the pizza and bagels are Pas Yisroel.

• In addition, all BROWN’S BUN BAKERY buns, rolls and bread are Pas Yisroel (glow-plug method), and MILANO BAKERY bread and rolls that bear the K-COR symbol are Pas Yisroel (glow-plug method), except for Milano Bread Sticks.

• TRADER JOE’S brand of CHOCOLATE BROOKLYN BABKA, MANGO BROOKLYN BABKA and HALF MOON COOKIES that bear OU Pareve are Pas Yisroel and Yoshon.

• FOOD FOR LIFE EZEKIEL SPROUTED GRAIN BREADS with the Kof-K symbol are Pas Yisroel. The Pocket Bread, however, is not Pas Yisroel.

SPRING VALLEY CHEESE BLINTZES – OU Dairy – are made in both Cholov Yisroel and non-Cholov Yisroel versions. Only those packages that state “Cholov Yisroel” on the label are Cholov Yisroel. Check each package.

GENERAL MILLS CINNAMON TOAST CRUNCH “CHURROS” cereal is OU-D certified (dairy equipment), even without the OU symbol on the package.

SEASON ASIAN HARVEST brand canned WHOLE SWEET BABY CORN is inadvertently missing the OU symbol on the label for Lot #12219. This product is certified even without the OU symbol. Some product will have an OU symbol sticker added to the can.

Most SIMPLY NATURE ORGANIC BREADS at Aldi are no longer manufactured by a Kosher certified company, and no longer bear the Kosher Check symbol.

HAPPY BABY ORGANICS “CLEARLY CRAFTED” baby food jars are no longer OU certified due to changes in production, and new jars therefore no longer bear the OU symbol. Jars that still bear the OU were produced before this change. Check each label. [Note: The new jars without the OU state “Clearly Crafted” on the front of the jar above the variety name, instead of on the side.] Other Happy Baby products remain OU certified when bearing the OU symbol. Certification of the jar products may possibly be reinstated in the future.

SNAPPLE DIET CRANBERRY RASPBERRY Juice Drink is not OK certified and is not a Kosher product. Some 6-packs (16 oz. bottles) were mistakenly printed with the OK symbol on the outer cartons. The actual bottles do not bear the OK symbol.

SHATNEZ ALERT

CUISINART BRAND OVEN MITTS, product of China, with a label stating “100% Polyester Filling”, actually contain wool and linen in the filling. In general, oven mitt fillings should be checked for shatnez, especially if made in China. Silicone mitts without a filling do not require checking. [Star-K]

PRODUCT RECALLS

GOLD MEDAL UNBLEACHED ALL PURPOSE FLOUR in 5 lb. bags (UPC# 0-16000-19610-0) with a Better If Used By date of 06SEP2020KC has been recalled due to potential presence of E. coli O26 contamination. Consumers who have had to discard products covered by this recall may contact General Mills Consumer Relations at 1-800-230-8103 or www.generalmills.com/flour for a replacement coupon. This recall affects only this one date code of Gold Medal Unbleached Flour 5 lb. bags. All other types of Gold Medal Flour are not affected by this recall.

The FDA and CDC remind consumers that flour is not a “ready to eat” ingredient. Flour is made from wheat that is grown outdoors where bacteria are often present, and flour is typically not treated to kill bacteria during the normal milling process. Anything made with flour must be cooked or baked before eating. Salmonella is killed by heat through baking, frying, sautéing or boiling products made with flour. All surfaces, hands and utensils should be properly cleaned after contact with flour or dough.

UDI’S GLUTEN FREE CLASSIC HAMBURGER BUNS with a bag closure code of 191971U has been recalled due to the potential presence of small pieces of white plastic. Details are available at 800-881-3989 or https://www.conagrabrands.com/news-room/news-udis-classic-hamburger-buns-recalled-due-to-potential-presence-of-foreign-material-prn-122698

WHIRLPOOL, KITCHENAID and JENNAIR brand GLASS COOKTOPS WITH TOUCH CONTROLS with certain model numbers have been recalled because the cooktop surface elements can turn on by themselves, posing burn and fire hazards. Details are available at 888-900-7897 or https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2019/Whirlpool-Recalls-Glass-Cooktops-with-Touch-Controls-Due-to-Burn-and-Fire-Hazards