2018-12-31 Kashrus Alerts PDF available for download.
OREO SANDWICH COOKIES: The OU has recently published the following updated information regarding the dairy status of Oreo cookies. Five items have been added to the list:
“At the present time the following Oreo Sandwich Cookies do not contain dairy ingredients, though they are manufactured on dairy equipment:
• Original Oreo Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Double Stuf Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Original Mega Stuf Sandwich Cookies
• Mini Original Oreo Sandwich Cookies
• Chocolate Oreo Sandwich Cookies
• Golden Oreo Sandwich Cookies
• Triple Double Oreo Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Thins Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Cinnamon Bun Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Lemon Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Mint Creme Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies
The equipment is not necessarily cleaned before the production of these cookies, and there may be a small amount of dairy residue present. Nonetheless, the dairy component would be minimal, and from a Halachic perspective, the dairy residue is nullified (botel bishishim) and of no consequence. The bottom line of all this is that these cookies may be consumed after meat and poultry, but not simultaneously.
Please bear in mind that the manufacturer may choose in the future to reformulate these products and add dairy ingredients. Since these products already bear OUD symbols, formulation changes would not be reflected in the OUD logo. As such, we recommend that consumers check regularly with our office to confirm the status of these items.”
BIMBO BAKERIES, owner of many brands of bread and buns, including ARNOLD, BEEFSTEAK, BIMBO, BROWNBERRY, FREIHOFER’S, OROWEAT, SARA LEE, STROEHMANN and others, plus many regional supermarket / private label brands, has made a decision to remove Kosher certification from many of its products, in order to have the flexibility to produce them on non-certified factory lines. Therefore, many products that in the past bore the OU or Kof-K symbol no longer do, or will stop certification at some point in the future. Every package should be carefully checked for the symbol on every purchase. Consumers can voice their concerns to Bimbo at 800-984-0989.
No changes are planned at this time for Thomas and Entenmann’s products, or for Arnold Rye Bread and Levy’s Rye Bread. They continue to be certified as in the past, when bearing the OU symbol.
NIBBLES & NUTS GIFT BASKETS and TRAYS (Oak Park/Farmington Hills, MI) bear a sticker on some packages stating “All products in this box or basket are Kosher”. Please be aware that these baskets and trays have no Kosher certification and are prepared without any Kashrus supervision, and therefore should not be accepted as Kosher.
PITA CHIPS from SOPHIA’S BAKING CO. in 7 oz. clear plastic containers are not Kosher and do not bear the K-COR symbol. Only those Sophia’s products that bear the K-COR are Kosher (not Pas Yisroel).
DANNON YOGURT: Only a limited number of Dannon yogurt varieties are OU certified, when bearing the OU symbol. The products listed below are OU certified, but the OU symbol was mistakenly omitted. The OU is being ink-jetted as part of the date code of these certified products. This applies only to the UPC #’s listed below. There are very similar flavors of Dannon yogurt that are not OU certified that have different UPC numbers. Please check each container carefully.
• Single Serve Coffee (3663201374)
• Single Serve Vanilla (3663200101)
• Single Serve Plain (3663200100)
• Single Serve 4pk (3663201827)
GREENFIELD NOODLE CO. has exhausted its stock of Yoshon flour, and will now begin using Chodosh flour. New product will not state “Yoshon” next to the expiration date.
DRIED GOJI BERRIES: Kashrus Agencies and consumers have been finding a high number of insects in dried goji berries.
Until further notice, dried goji berries are not recommended, even when bearing Kosher certification.
PRODUCT RECALLS
Three lots of INFANTS’ IBUPROFEN CONCENTRATED ORAL SUSPENSION Berry Flavor/Dye-Free under the brand names CVS Health, Equate and Family Wellness, sold at CVS, Walmart and Family Dollar stores respectively, have been recalled due to potential higher concentrations of ibuprofen that may cause injury to infants. Details are available at https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm627780.htm or 732-940-0358.
INSPIRED ORGANICS brand of ALMOND BUTTER, PEANUT BUTTER, SUNFLOWER BUTTER and TAHINI BUTTER, distributed by Lipari Foods, Warren, MI, have been recalled due to potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes. Details are available at https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm628989.htm or 800-729-3354.
ACHDUT, ACHVA, BARON’S, PEPPERWOOD, S&F and SOOM brands of TAHINI with lot numbers 18-097 to 18-141, or with expiration dates April 7 to May 21, 2020, have been recalled due to possible Salmonella contamination. For the Baron’s brand the recalled exp. date is 5/5/2021, and for Soom brand Chocolate Sweet Tahini Halva Spread it is 071318CH. Details are available at https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm626750.htm
and https://www.soomfoods.com/tahini-recall/soom-recall-statement-nov-28-2018/ or at 972-3-9068020.