Extra Virgin Olive Oil-is only a label

By Reed Fujii-Record Staff Writer-December 06, 2009 12:00 AM

Establishing national quality standards and educating consumers about the advantages of top-quality, extra virgin olive oil will go a long way to ensure a growing market for California oil, said Joe Bozzano of Bozzano Olive Ranch in Stockton.

"We're still competing against the influx of imported oils from Europe that are being labeled the same as ours," he said. "The overwhelming majority of that European oil ... is adulterated and, quite frankly, isn't extra virgin olive oil but gets the extra virgin label slapped on it anyway.
"We need to get the playing field leveled," Bozzano said. "On the consumer level, we need the education out there so the consumer knows when they buy something that is labeled extra virgin, it really is extra virgin."

The center's efforts should also benefit California long-standing table olive industry.

Contact reporter Reed Fujii at (209) 546-8253 or rfujii@recordnet.com.

Shatnez

כנס חירום בנושא שעטנז ייערך בקרוב

כנס חירום שיעסוק בנושא התפשטות בעיית השעטנז ייערך בתקופה הקרובה, לאור ריבוי מקרי גילוי שעטנז אצל אנשים חרדים יראי ה' המקפידים על קלה כחמורה.
ירוחם שמואלביץ י"ז בכסלו התש"ע 02:29
חשיפה: כנס חירום שיעסוק בנושא התפשטות בעיית השעטנז ייערך בתקופה הקרובה, לאור ריבוי מקרי גילוי שעטנז אצל אנשים חרדים יראי ה' המקפידים על קלה כחמורה.

בכנס המיוחד אותו מארגנת הרבנות הראשית בהוראת הרב הראשי הגר"י מצגר שליט"א, יעסקו בהתפשטות הבעיה בארץ ובעולם וכן האפשרויות השונות להתמודד עם הבעיה ברמה הארצית, מתוך רצון להביא את דבר המכשלה וחומרתה לתודעת הציבור, על מנת שיוכל להתמודד עימה כיאות ובדרך מסודרת.

ללדעת.נט נודע כי הוראתו של הרב מצגר באה לאור מספר מקרים שאירעו בחודשים האחרונים בתוככי המגזר החרדי, כאשר אנשים לבשו שעטנז לאחר שחשבו כי קניית הבגד במקום חרדי, מהווה פטור מבדיקת שעטנז. כך למשל היה מקרה של אברך שתיקן את טליתו אצל חייט במרכז ירושלים, ורק כעבור מספר חודשים התברר כי בטלית הצמר השתמש החייט בטלאי מפשתן לתיקון הקרע. מקרה נוסף שאירע לאחרונה הוא של מכירת סוודרים של ילדים מתוצרת חוץ, ברחוב גאולה בירושלים וברחוב רבי עקיבא בבני ברק, כשהתברר כי הבד עשוי מצמר ואילו התפירות נעשו בחוט חיזוק של פשתן. מקרה חמור וקשה שהתגלה לפני מספר ימים, היה כאשר מעבדה ניידת הוזמנה לישיבה למתחזקים ברמת בית שמש ומצאה כי ל 30% - מהבחורים היה שעטנז בבגדיהם, ביניהם חליפות מתוצרת חוץ ממספר חברות ידועות וכן חליפה שנתפרה בארץ ע"י חייט.

בעקבות זאת הוחלט כאמור על קיומו של כנס חרום שיעסוק בנושא השעטנז, בו ינסו לעלות פתרונות, כשכבר כעת נערכים לקראת הקמת מערך מעבדתי שיוכל לתת מענה לכלל הפונים, תוך הקפדה על כך שאלו אשר יעסקו בתחום' יעברו הכשרה

מתאימה והסמכה על מנת להסדיר את הנושא מחד ולמנוע הקמת מעבדות פיקטיביות

ONE SHOULD ONLY USE A SHATNEZ LABORATORY THAT CERTIFIED BY THE INTERNATIONAL SHATNEZ TESTERS ORGANIZATION.

New York State Senate Votes Down Gay Marriage Bill

New York State Senate Votes Down Gay Marriage Bill
Tommorow to Trenton, New Jersey

Hospital kosher certified cafeterias-are they reliable?

Are the Hospital kosher certified cafeterias reliable for one to eat there?

We have seen & we have been hearing very uncomfortable reports.

Some of the comments we received are schocking!

Anyone familliar with the WEILER Hospital in the Bronx Re: the kosher cafeteria?

We would like to hear your experiences with the cafeterias & the kosher hospital food.

Please email to kashrusy@aol.com

ניקור according to all accepted מנהגים

Many are very concerned about the current status of ניקור in the USA. May we acept in the broad sense, the מנהגי ניקור that was being utilized in certain specific areas of Europe as the standard for everyone in the USA? There are the מנהגי ארץ ישראל which was set up by Reb Yeshuah Leib among others.

מנהגי פוילען אשכנז, ספרד וכדומה were some of the accepted minhagim for the majority of those currently residing in the USA.

May one accept or even certify a nikur that is not all encompassing of all of the accepted minhugim? NO!

The מנהגי סאטמר, ציילעם, פעסט, אונגארן were not the same as all of the other countries. When Glatt started in the USA, the only ones that ate glatt were the ones from אונגארן. Now in the USA all of the ones that use glatt are from all the other countries that had different minhagim in nikkur.

There is no justification for the purveyors of glatt & their certifiers to accept a ניקור that does not encompass all of the מנהגים. It is interesting to note that the Satmar butcher stores (who are the only ones that perhaps could have accepted that nikur), yet they do not accept the ניקור אונגארן.

Therefore the parts that are may have an issue of Nikur chelev are;

short plate,

back ribs,

breast,

chopped meat,

skirt steak,

hangers,

Tenderline,

(ox-tail).

Rib eye steak

Rib roast large end

Back ribs

Rib eye

The parts that don't have a chelev issue are;

chuck eye roast,

French roast

arm pot roast,

cross rib pot roast,

blade roast,

7-bone pot roast,

flanken style ribs,

short ribs,

under plate pot roast,

mock tender,

boneless shouldr pot,

boneless top blade steak,

Brisket,

neck,

shoulder,

shank,

arm,

chop meat from these cuts.

The "Shimon Mendelowitz" nikkur encompasses all of the accepted Minhagim.

Rockland Kosher aka Shoppers Haven's nikur encompasses all the minhagim.

Can any the certifiers justify utilizing minugim in Nikkur that was not accepted in the Countries that all of the consumers originate from?

Bogus olive oil Hechshereim

http://www.jerusalemkoshernews.com/wp-content/uploads/11-30-09.pdf

כתב עבריין ועיקול

Can one be יוצא קריאת התורה?רמב"ם-ועיין כסף משנה המקור- "פשוט"
יב במה דברים אמורים, בדברים שבין אדם לחברו; אבל בדברי שמיים--אם לא חזר בו בסתר--מכלימין אותו ברבים ומפרסמין חטאו ומחרפין אותו בפניו ומבזין ומקללין, עד שיחזור למוטב: כמו שעשו כל הנביאים לישראל.

KASHRUS ALERT- BARLEY

ALL BARLEY must be checked for infestation prior to use, even when kept in freezer. Barley must be checked in HOT tap water.

by Kosher Consumers Union, Inc

Paysach Krohn, why did the POISKIM in Eretz Yisroel "BANNED" his brissim &?.

Why are they stopping to use him for BRISSIM?

Is it also because he sees only with one eye?

Keep microphone on loud to hear everything

The end of the video displays some of the Gedolims letters.

Hi,We saw your blog about Paysakh Krohn and are absolutely sick. Our son was circumcised by Paysakh Krohn in April (at our Chabad with dear friend Rav Mendy Herson) and we had a similarly horrible experience. We all (including Rav Herson) deferred to Krohn's method assuming he had the credentials and experience to know what was best. The brit was barbaric and traumatic for all who attended. We've been wondering back and forth if we should do anything about it, and if we were just overreacting as first time parents. But seeing your site and the outrage from the community confirms our fears.There was much mention of the Poskim banning Krohn from performing circumcisions. Can you direct us to the specifics? Krohn told us he didn't use a Gomko clamp, but a device INVENTED BY HIS FATHER! From his email: "> the instrument is the circumceps which my father invented." This is particularly disturbing. We never would have allowed him to perform the bris with a device that hasn't been tested and approved by the FDA.Your blog mentions that your brother is a respected mohel. Might it be appropriate to have him look at our son? His pediatrician acknowledges that the circumcision looks strange but says they can all look different, so we're not getting a committed ruling from him either way. We are completely disgusted and now feel compelled to get to action to prevent this monster from torturing more children. Please do get back to us. Regards,

OURI's- Every kosher certifiers nightmare[UNCERTIFIABLE?]

Would other certifiers have waited for the end of the Yankee season before removing their certification?

By KASHRUT.COM- Please be advised that as of November 10, 2009 OK KOSHER CERTIFICATION has revoked our certification of Ouri's Superior Catering Brooklyn, NY and Ouri’s Sports Kosher Catering Bronx, NY-

We advised the OU among others a few years back not to certify Ouri's- The OK was an oiber chuchum.

NOTE: When you see David Navaro as a kosher certifier, it's usually because no one will certify them.

PRINGLES -Kashrus Alert?

All Kashrus certifiers do (must) check & approve ALL labels prior to printing.

PRINGLES-including the barbecue POTATO CRISP HAS AN "OU" without a DAIRY DESIGNATION

In Hebrew lettering it lists the product as "cholv akum (Treif) from milk powder.

THE "OU" SAYS IT"S PARVE, THE HEBREW is a MISLABELING.

BEWARE: Lakewood's Kimball Medical Center may disregard Dietary requirements

*****************

Lakewoods Kimball Medical Center (KMC) [while being in compliance with NJ law] may completely disregard the kosher dietary requirements of those patients observing kosher dietary laws.

Any patient that has any diet may not rely on KMC's staff for adherence to those requirements, as long as is not in violation of State or Federal Law.

Before placing a patient in a hospital, one must be aware of their adherance to the patients diet.

EKB Beef-No more

EKB was Empire poultry's Beef operation. They were one of the suppliers to COSTCO kosher beef.

This Rabbi Steinberg On Empire National meats provisions is not one that we would rely on, besides the fact it's a non-Glatt product.

Please sign the NY "child victim" petition

http://www.nychildvictimsact.org/

Lakewood Township has too much tax money

[Lakewood police get paid based on 8 days a week?-do the math]

November 7, 2009-Lakewood too cash-strapped to widen war against gangs-By ZACH PATBERG-TOMS RIVER BUREAU

A $1 million grant to battle a rising gang problem with a police task force and youth intervention programs fell through last week due to budget constraints, officials said.

It was the second time community leaders tried to win the five-year federal grant, this year with more urgency as a series of sensational crimes makes headlines here.

The Township Committee declined to sign off on the grant application, due Tuesday, because it couldn't afford the $50,000 a year, or 25 percent municipal share of the grant, Mayor Robert W. Singer said Friday.

"We like the program, we like the idea, but I can't in these economic times set aside $50,000," he said. "I don't have it." Grant organizers were counting on existing programs to offer their resources as "in-kind services" that would compensate for the money. But, as with the township, their belts also were too tight to lend enough support, said Ervin Oross, Lakewood's community development director who wrote the grant application. Organizers also cited miscommunication that delayed the final paperwork.

"It's a horrible "Catch 22,' " Oross said. "The feds are really hot about this because of the cop shooting, but on the other hand, all these groups are busted."

Oross was referring to the September raid in which four local police officers were shot while serving a warrant to a suspected drug dealer. In another case, a jury last month convicted three Lakewood gang members in the murder of a woman who was killed to silence a witness to another murder in 2006. More than 10 gangs are active in Lakewood, with 300 to 500 total members, according to the application.

The "Weed and Seed" grant, handed across the country by the U.S. Justice Department, would, in Lakewood, be two-pronged. The "Weed" portion would set up a 10-officer task force to monitor and mitigate gang activity in schools and known gang areas of town. A message left with Police Chief Robert Lawson was not returned. The "Seed" portion would assist those trying to escape gang life by offering social, educational and employment services. It also would create a re-entry program for past offenders. The last attempt to secure the grant was in 2007.
*****************************************************************

The truth is Lakewood doesn't care. Lakewood spends over a million dollars a year to pick up commercial trash from the Exempt properties, when they don't pick up any other commercial trash.

Lakewood was paying less for the trash reimbursment program for the condominiums. Now it's costing the taxpayers extra millions to have the Township do the trash pick up.

היתר ערכאות

NOTE: (A hijacking?)Vaad Hadayonim made new stationery with none of the Dayonim's names listed, a new address, & an additional name of Bais Din Zedek...which is actually a totaly different Bais-Din.

בס"ד

June 25th ‘09

To the Vaad Hadayonim,תוֹדה רבה על ההיתר שׁנתתם לר' נפתלי בסמן ללכת לערכאוֹת

Summary of Events Regarding:

Naftoli Bassman:the Toveah, Yosef .......:the Nitvah

*Yosef ....is summoned to the Vaad Hadayonim ט' סיון ס"ט-

*Yosef signed a Shtar Berurin with the Badat”z Rabinical Court (Lakewood) June 1st ‘09 י' סיון ס"ט -

*A letter was sent out to the Vaad Hadayonim on June 2nd ‘09 relating that Yosef ....... signed a Shtar Berurin with the Badat”z Rabinical Court (Lakewood) י' סיון ס"ט-

*June 5th ‘09, Naftoli Bassman responds to a letter that he receives from the Badat”z Rabinical Court (Lakewood) and agrees to appear at the Badat”z Rabinical Court (Lakewood), he has one request however, that the appointment be scheduled as quickly as possible.

*June 18th ‘09, Naftoli Bassman, contacts the Badat”z Rabinical Court (Lakewood) and informs them about his refusal to appear.

*June 18th ‘09, Naftoli Bassman, contacts Yosef ...... and informs him about his refusal to appear in front of the Badat”z Rabinical Court (Lakewood).

KASHRUS HOTLINE

“Don’t confuse me with the facts; my mind is already made up!” Is this you?, if not call

1-212-990-7238

שחיטה וצומת הגידין

Fish Filets frozen-Only with a "SKIN-TAB" regardless of the hashgocha

DAGIM'S PRODUCTS-Questionable kashrus reliability
All of DAGIM's full page ads can't make it kosher.
http://www.kashrut.com/articles/fish_species/

Dear kosher Certifiers;

All Filet fish require simonim or seals put on in the presence of a qualified mashgiach that is present & checked the fish for "kaskasim".

Some will leave on a skin-tab. The filets that don't have skintabs, should have the


1- inside bag sealed with a choisim.


2) the outside retail box must have the ends sealed with a choisim on both ends (glue or scotch tape itself is not suffecient). Some had a choisim on the tab ends of the outside box, but the inside plastic had no choisim.

The ones on the shelf including especially the ones from China should be removed as they should be declared non-kosher (unless one can explain the rational in Halacha "why not"?)

DAGIM does NOT meet the required criterea of kashrus reliability.

Shatnez???? yes-can't rely on them

All of the reliable shatnez labs are affialiated with the International Association of shatnez Labs

The following ones are not reliable at all.

G & G CLOTHING

Including All of their branches
Borough Park, Williamsburg, Monsey, Monroe, Hungary, etc

must recheck all of their clothing

***********************************

EMPORIO clothing

The RIGHT PLACE Boro Park

MONSEY SHATNEZ TEST CENTER

203 LEE AVENUE & their sample takers

GELB the tester from 203 Lee Ave (do not confuse with the reliable tester Sasson Gelb)

Copy express-Yankel Weinberger

Mishpat Sholom certified labs

SHABBOS MODE Appliances banned by Gedoilei Haposkim

http://matzav.com/clients/matzav/Oven.pdf

It all started a number of years back on "Mesifta-Di'rakiah" [short-wave-radio]. Rabbi Moshe Heineman stated that on Shabbos in a Shul one may "ki'lachar-yad" turn on or off the alarm on shabbos. Yudel Shain stated that he has a magnetic type switch that one can use for the alarm on Shabbos that would be permitted even according to the "Chazon-Ish". An individual asked on the program can one reverse omagnetic polarity on Shabbos....? Rabbi Heineman responded forget the magnetic type switch "the Chazon-Ish is only a DAAS-YOCHID", & do it ki'lacharyad. The STAR-K also utilizes the light-bulb to acomplish BISHUL-YISROEL. Reb Shlomo Zalman's comment re: light-bulb Bishul yisroel.."one of the main causes of Intermarriage R"L."

Click on letter to enlage!

The Shabbos mode appliances may not be so "shabbos friendly" after all.

Rav Shlomo Miller, Shlita [Toronto-Lakewood] recently publicized a letter re: Shabbos-mode ovens that one may not adjust temperatures on Yom-Tov, contrary to the kosher certification.

In respect to the above publicized letter from Rav Miller, we are not publicizing the name of the kosher certifier.

Others have researched the "Shabbos-friendly" appliances & concluded that according to ALL "Poiskim" it is not permitted to be used in the Shabbos mode. It is more than "Gramahs" that are being activated.

See Star-K link http://www.star-k.org/pdf/oventeshuva.pdf And therefor you may even decide to use your computer on Yom-Tov without the screen.

RAISINS? the problem is still there.

This years crop was stored too long so the raisins are infested.

BEWARE: The same brand may have some that are not infested & some that are infested.

If you don't know how to check them - 24 hours in water, strain water, check water, etc "it takes expertise to check".

The new crop of raisins should be out right after Succos. Make sure to check the dates on the boxes.

Sample Shatnez testing? 203 Lee Ave & Monsey test center UNACCEPTABLE!

Rav Wosner says, shoulder pads must be checked:

NEWS Rabbonim Say Sample Shatnez Testing Not Enough-by Yated Ne'eman Staff

Gedolei horo'oh are warning the public that shatnez has been found in numerous series of imported suits, many of which originate in China, Eastern Europe and Turkey, where wool and linen fibers are often found in combination. An expert told us that factories in these countries sometimes use remnants that they acquire and thus small amounts of clothing can have problems which would not show up if only a sample is tested.

With growing awareness of the prohibition increasing demand for clothing items free of shatnez is leading importers and suppliers from the general population to be more selective in choosing which products to import. A number of clothing providers are sending every single item, rather than just a few samples, to a shatnez laboratory for testing.

According to an open letter by HaRav Shmuel Halevi Wosner and HaRav Nissim Karelitz, clothing manufactured in various corners of the globe for consumers everywhere winds up in Israel, where sellers often rely on sample checks and testing by unauthorized labs. In some cases they even attach a tag with the words "Naki mishatnez" ("free of shatnez"), misleading the consumer public into thinking the item has been properly checked.

HaRav Wosner and HaRav Karelitz write that unless a given article of clothing bears a tag from an authorized shatnez lab reading "Naki michashash shatnez" it should not be worn, regardless of the seller's promise it does not contain shatnez.

Kosher Valley poultry? is it for you? CHEAPER THAN PIZZA!

Without additional Rabonei Machshrim, & on site full shechita staff- KOSHER VALLEY ISN"T FOR YOU!

There is a relativley new line of poultry called Kosher Valley, located in Plainville, NY. We have visited most of the kosher poultry plants in tri-State area, including Kiryas Joel in Monroe, G&G Mehadrin in Pensylvania, Vineland poultry, Skver poultry, Pella poultry, etc. plus many in Eretz Yisroel.

Inspection of a shechita plant is best left to the מומחים. Through the eyes of a מומחה, observations take a completely different outcome. We tried to ascertain what this new Kosher Valley plant & process is all about. The plant is a long drive, some 5 hours from Lakewood, NJ. They are having a somewhat hard time to find a full time רב and a בודק סכינים for the plant. So some days every week the Rav Hamachshir must act as the Ruv & Bodek Sakinim, other days a שוחט fills that position.

We don't know how they deal with injections, hormones, anti-biotic, etc. We did call the Rav Hamachshir a few times in order to be able to visit & inspect the plant. We were finally told today that "I can't visit the plant". They claimed an "open door policy", till an expert asks to visit then it's a closed door policy.

We don't know what they want to hide. but they most probably do know. Each one must decide if this meets their criterea.

We could recommend at this time, only the Kiryas Joel, G&G Mehadrin, Vineland, Pella, Skver.

FRISEE is an infested salad ingredient

FRISEE is often served in a mesculon salad. It's commonly infested, extremly unpractical to clean, therefore it should not be used at all.

תולעים בדגים

הרב משה ויא מנחם אב תשס"ט
מח"ס בדיקת המזון כהלכה
תולעים בדגים
בספרי ההלכה מבדילים בין שני סוגי תולעים בדגים:
1. תולעים הנמצאות על עור הדג מבחוץ, בתוך הראש או בחלל הבטן- שהן אסורות היות והן באו אל הדג
מבחוץ, (מהמים).
2. תולעים הנמצאות בתוך בשר הדג או בין העור לבשר- שהן מותרות מעיקר הדין, היות והן נולדו בתוך הדג
עצמו, (ראה ביאור מפורט בספר בדיקת המזון כהלכה, כרך א, חלק ההלכה, פרק ג, סעיף ו).
יש מגדולי פוסקי זמננו החוששים לגבי סוג מסויים של תולעים (תולעי אניזקיס), שמא תולעים אלו באו
מבחוץ ולכן דעתם שיש לחוש ולאוסרם גם כשהם בתוך בשר הדג.
דגי ים
1. נגיעות חיצונית
ברוב דגי הים לא מצויה נגיעות חיצונית, בדרך כלל.
בדג סלמון וסול מהולנד מצויים לעיתים טפילים חומים על העור ("כיני סלמון"). הם ניכרים היטב וקל להסירם
בשפשוף.
בדג אדום (רוטברש) מצויה נגיעות שקשה להסירה ולכן מומלץ לא להשתמש בו.
2. נגיעות בחלל הבטן
בדגי ים, שלמים או פרוסים, [כגון: בקלה, הליבוט, הרינג (מטיאס- דג מלוח שלם), מקרל, מוסאר (מהים),
רוטברש (דג אדום), טונה, קוד, פלמידה, פרידה, זהבון (פולוק), סלמון אמריקאי, ווייטפיש, אנשובי, ועוד] מצויות תולעים בחלל
הבטן.
לאחר ניקוי הדג יש להתבונן היטב בדופן הפנימית של חלל הבטן ולאורך השדרה (העצם המרכזית) אם
ישנן תולעים דקיקות, הנראות כנחשים קטנים המפותלים סביב עצמם.
במידה ונמצאו תולעים, יש לשפשף היטב את פנים חלל הבטן בסכין, לשטוף שטיפה חזקה, לבדוק ולוודא
שכל התולעים הוסרו.
פילה דגי ים (נתחי בשר הדג ללא עצמות וללא דפנות הבטן), בדרך כלל לא מצויות בפילה - תולעים שהיו בחלל הבטן, טוב
להתבונן אם נותרו תולעים ולהסירן.
3. נגיעות בתוך בשר הדג
ברוב דגי הים מצויות תולעים שונות בתוך בשר הדג. תולעים אלו מותרות מעיקר הדין כמבואר לעיל. לשיטת
החוששים לאסור תולעי אניזקיס הנמצאים בבשר הדג, יש להשתמש רק בדגים שלא מצויה בהם נגיעות זו,
המשווקים תחת השגחה מעולה, המתמצאת בנושא תולעי דגים, היות ואין דרך בטוחה להסיר את כל
התולעים המצויות בתוך בשר דגי הים.
דגים שלא מצויה נגיעות בתוך בשרם
דגי מאכל השייכים לקבוצה זו הם:
נסיכת הנילוס, סלמון הגדל בכלובי ים (מנורבגיה ומצ'ילה), ברבוניה, דניס, לברק (מכלובי ים), סרדיני ים, לוקוס ("יפו פיש"),
קורבינה וטונה (רק הבשר הבהיר ללא צדי הבטן, כגון נתחי טונה קפואה וטונה בקופסאות שימורים).
סול הגדל בכלובים (מהולנד), פילה מרלוזה-בקלה (מארגנטינה) – רק המשווקים תחת השגחה מעולה.
וכן דגי בריכות כגון: קרפיון, כסיף, אמנון, פורל, בורי ועוד. (ראה להלן תיאור נגיעותם החיצונית של דגי
בריכות, על עור הדג ובראש). יש לקנות דגים אלו תחת השגחה מהודרת.
הערה: קיימות שתי שיטות של השגחה על דגים, בנוגע לתולעים שבבשר הדג:
1. השגחה המתירה רק דגים שלא מצויות תולעים בבשרם.
2. השגחה המתירה דגים שבבשרם מצויות תולעים, שעברו עיבוד בסין שם הוצאו התולעים מהדגים ע"י
פועלים מקומיים בפעולה ידנית שיעילותה אינה מוחלטת.
בניקוי זה מסולקות רוב התולעים אך לא כולן.
4. ביצי דגי ים
מצויה בהן נגיעות רבה וראוי לא להשתמש בהן, כגון: ביצי דג מלוח, בקלה ועוד.
ביצי דגי סלמון הגדלים בכלובי ים ( נורבגיה) נקיים מנגיעות.
5. ראשי דגי ים
בדגי ים בדרך כלל לא מצויה נגיעות בתוך הראש.
בראש דג סלמון עלולה להימצא "כינת סלמון", יש לחצות את הראש, להסיר את הזימים ולבדוק היטב.
דגי בריכות
1. דגי בריכות
בדגי בריכות (קרפיון, כסיף, בורי, אמנון, בס, מוסאר, סרדיני כינרת, אדמונית, אמור) עלולה להימצא לעתים נגיעות של תולעים
לבנות או אפורות ("לרניאה") על העור. תולעים אלו ניכרות על ידי פצע אדום שהן גורמות על עור הדג ממנו יוצא כעין חוט
אפור, יש להסיר את האיזור הנגוע. (לרניאה צעירה- קשה להבחין בה).
בדגי בריכות הנ"ל מומלץ להשתמש רק בדגים המשווקים תחת השגחה מהודרת.
2. דג קרפיון
עלול להיות נגוע מאוד בטפילים המצויים בבריכות בעיקר ב"ארגולוס" (טפיל קטן שצבעו שקוף וקשה להבחין
בו). הטפילים נדבקים על עור הדג ובתוך הראש.
מגדלי הדגים צריכים לבצע טיפולים מיוחדים להרחקת הטפילים. בחלק ממרכזי השיווק קיימת השגחה
שמתפקידה לוודא שהטיפול נעשה כראוי. אם הדג נקנה בחנות הנמצאת תחת השגחה מהודרת, אפשר
להסתפק בשטיפה טובה של הדג לפני השימוש.
דג הנקנה במקום שאין בו השגחה וכן דג מהכינרת או דגים המגיעים מתים לחנות:
אין לאכול את ראשם, צריך לשפשף היטב בסכין את כל שטח עור הדג ולשטוף היטב.
עדיף להקפיא את הדג לפני פעולת הניקוי הנ"ל. (ההקפאה מרפה את אחיזת הטפילים וכך קל יותר
להרחיקם). אם מסירים את העור, הדג מותר באכילה גם ללא פעולת הניקוי הנ"ל.
נגיעות זו עלולה להימצא גם בדג אמור וכסיף.
3. דג אמנון (מושט)
דג אמנון המגיע מנוקה וקפוא (מסין) בחזקת נקי.
4. דג פורל
דג פורל מקומי (מארץ ישראל) בחזקת נקי. בדג פורל מיובא קפוא מצויים לעיתים טפילים חומים על עור הדג
(כיני סלמון) הניכרים היטב וניתנים להסרה בשפשוף (ראה דגי ים- נגיעות חיצונית).
5. ביצי דגי בריכות
בביצי דגי בריכות לא מצויה נגיעות.
6. ראשי דגי בריכות
בדגי קרפיון, בורי, כסיף, בס עלולים להימצא טפילי ארגולוס או לרניאה בראש, מומלץ להשתמש רק בראשי
דגים המשווקים תחת השגחה מהודרת.
מותר לשכפל ולהפיץ את הדף כולו בתנאי שלא יוכנס בו כל שינוי

Kashrus Alert- re: DAGIM & possibly others.

NOTE: SEA CASTLE filets, some do have a Hashgocha seals on both sides of the box. Dagim does not on any we found.

some Sea Castle has the Volover's stickers sealing the ends, others don't.

There was manufactured in China & other countries filet fish products with no skintab, no simonim, no sealed boxes, etc. Many of the boxes have glued ends with no Chosem. Other boxes have tabs that close without any glue or chosem at all. The packages in the inside are a plain plastic wrapper.

DAGIM claims they don't have any boxes with plain tabbed ends. SO THE DAGIM BOXES WERE "FORGED" BY THE CHINESE COMPANY.

Does the "OU" have their own Mashgiach at the productions?

A qualified Mashgiach would never allow such packaging without any CHOSEM, it must be a China style forgery.

ALL FILETS WITHOUT SKINTABS, or no 2 CHOSEMOIS, MAY NOT BE USED-ENDS GLUED OR TAPED IS NOT SUFFECIENT_MUST HAVE HASHGOCHA SEALS ON ENDS-INSIDE PLASTIC SHOULD ALSO HAVE CHOSEMOIS. regardless of which company

Insect free vegetables are oversprayed with poisons

Kosher Laws - Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger Photo: Dudi Vaaknin

Veggies' kashrut may be revoked for over-sprayingChief Rabbi Yona Metzger undertakes unprecedented initiative to withdraw kosher authorization from fruit and vegetable growers who use dangerous pesticides even if their use may not represent actual breach of

The Chief Rabbinate is embarking on a new initiative to revoke kosher certificates from fruit and vegetable growers who overuse pesticides, according to a new effort pushed through by Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger.
The rabbi intends to convene a meeting of the rabbinate's kashrut committee to discuss the issue. Metzger plans on meeting relevant officials in the health and agriculture ministries ahead of the meeting. If the initiative is authorized, it will be the first time the Chief Rabbinate stipulates conditions not directly related to kosher laws for the issuance of a kosher certificate.

In recent weeks, the Chief Rabbinate has been waging a battle against a number of vegetable growers who grow insect-less leafy vegetables, a condition that gains them a higher level of kashrut.

According to Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, chairman of the Chief Rabbinate's committee on the kashrut of leafy vegetables, some of the growers prevent the presence of insects on their produce by "spraying insecticides in insane quantities," instead of using tailored growing methods.

Within the context of his efforts to fight the phenomenon of over-spraying pesticides, Rabbi Eliyahu met with Chief Rabbi Metzger on Monday to reiterate to him that such behavior is not only inefficient in keeping pests away, but also endangers the consumer. He explained that the pesticides do not reach all areas of the fruits and vegetables on which they are sprayed, such that the presence of insects remains high. He emphasized that the sprays are toxic chemicals that are not removed by standard household washing.
In response, Metzger said that he has recently been looking into the option of removing the kosher certificates of companies and farmers who attempt to battle insects with over-spraying or use of forbidden chemicals instead of growing their produce in greenhouses or other various techniques that effectively treat the problem.
The chief rabbi added that he intends to pass a decision on the issue through the Chief Rabbinate's kashrut committee, but emphasized that he first will consult with the relevant officials in the health and agriculture ministries. The Chief Rabbinates has already established a team to examine the issue together with the government ministries and to put together new kashrut protocols.

The Rabbinate will discuss with the health and agriculture ministries the option of gaining up-to-date access to statistics on the quantities and types of insecticides being used during each harvest.
Rabbi Metzger is confident that the extended stipulations for obtaining a kosher certificate will stand up in the High Court. He has emphasized that he is aware that the move is unprecedented, but believes that it will authorized because of the health hazards involved in eating fruits and vegetables that have been over-sprayed, making the issue "a purely halachic consideration."
"Such fruits truly endanger those who eat them. You cannot grant kashrut to poison," he said.

DAGIM's Big-Fish stories-including imitation "crab"

Available from DAGIM; Portostock-Imitation Crab meat 12 lbs

Fish may be used only if there are "simonim" (scales) If a Shomer Shabbos removed the scales & gives it to you, you may use it. If the scales or skin was removed in the presense of a Shomer Shabbos and the Shomer Shabbos seals the package with 2 seals it may be used. If there is only one seal or ther are no seals & no skin "one may NOT eat the fish".

We observed in the past & now again, a variety of DAGIM frozen filets with no skin, no simonim, a non sealed box, etc Therefore those filets can NOT be used.

This is not the first nor the second time we find these serious issues by Dagim's products. when we questioned them "they always had a "fish-story", the Mashgiach, the machine, the Company, the this & the that story.

Consumers beware: Fish filets are coming from China, even with seals, & skin tabs would give somone a concern. Here we have Fish Filets coming from CHINA, no skin, no ID, no seals, etc R"L. What kosher consumer would even think of using it after all of the China production history.

This is more than a kashrus issue, it's a serious consumer safety issue as well.

What are the choices? King of the Sea products.

ETHICs in KASHRUS also וואס זאגט ג-ט ?

Cholov Stam-Cholov Akum = CHOLOV TREIFE! R'L-The consumer has nothing to rely on!

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RE: Cholov Stam-Cholov Akum is actually חלב טריף

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From the step by step procedure manual for DA's.

Perforate the abdominal wall and the abomasum with a swift downward

push of the trocar.

Use the push rod to move the toggle COMPLETELY through the length of the needle so that it will turn perpendicular to the long axis of the needle once in the abomasal lumen.

9. Before removing the trocar needle from the second suture site, place pressure on the external abdominal wall to force as much free gas from the abomasum as possible. This will reduce the tension on the sutures and help to reduce the chance of tearing the abomasal wall or leaking abomasal contents into the peritoneal cavity.

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There are numerous veterinarian procedures that make a milking cow a "Treife". The procedures include what is commonly known as "DA"'s, "C" section, Bloating etc. All of the Major Poiskim in the USA & Eretz Yisroel including Rav S. Eliyashev, Shlita ruled that it is a "treife" & the milk may not be consumed.

In the Cholov-Yisroel farms, the contracted system is to remove them from the herd & be compensated for the loss. On the other hand by the Cholov Stam-Cholov Akum farms there is no system in place to have them removed.

Any milk product produced from a "treife" is to be considered "non-kosher" & may not be used.

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There was a mistaken assumption that the major kosher certifiers were relying on an *unfinished "teshuva" from a Rav . * The unfinished Teshuva was writteen some 11 years ago.

There were many Factual & Halachik issues with the unfinished Teshuva. The Rav ended the teshuva with a "Hem'shech-yo'voi" (to be continued), to attempt to rectify the factual & Halachik dificulties.

The Rav recently decided that there is nothing more to add to the Teshuva not factual & not Halachikly. The kosher certifiers & the consumers can't rely on an unfinished teshuva "that is never going to be completed". (especially when there are still unresolved serious factual & Halachik assumptions ). In retrospect "how did any one ever rely on an unfinished teshuvah"??

So we remain with the Psak of all of the Major Poiskim "all of the CHOLOV STAM & CHOLOV AKUMUM is "ossur" and not permitted to be used".

What is a DA?

I. Left Displaced Abomasum and Its TreatmentThe primary cause of the problem requiring surgical intervention for its correction is apparently the diet provided dairy cows in order to increase the cows’ production of milk.

3 Housing cows in short stalls may be an aggravating factor since cows confined in such stalls may experience difficulty in rising to their feet. Struggling to rise may cause a malposition of an already dilated abomasum. The problem appears to be virtually non-existent in countries such as Australia and New Zealand where cattle are not normally fed grain but are simply allowed to graze in unconfined pastures.

4 The high carbohydrate diet provided in this country, or perhaps the accompanying reduction in consumption of grass, results in a high concentration of unabsorbed free fatty acids which decrease motility of the smooth muscle of the cow’s fourth stomach, the keivah or abomasum. As motility decreases, gas formation is increased by the liberation of carbon dioxide from the reaction between rumen bicarbonate and abomasal hydrochloric acid. As a result the abomasum becomes filled with gas. The abomasum normally lies to the right of the ventral midline along the abdominal wall. When distended by gas, the abomasum may become displaced and move to the left flank between the rumen and the body wall. As the distorted abomasum rises and moves out of place it may also become twisted at the point of connection of the abomasum to the intestine. In both its rising and twisting the abomasum behaves in a manner similar to a balloon filled with air. This twisting of the abomasum interferes with the free flow of the contents of the abomasum into the duodenum and the intestines. If the condition is not treated, the cow will stop eating and its milk production will decline drastically or it will suffer torsion displacement of the abomasum and die. Corrective treatment of this condition consists of anchoring the abomasum in its proper place.

Left displaced abomasum (LDA), as the condition is known, was first recognized in 1950. Since then the diagnosis has been made with increasing frequency. Professionals in the field report that it is their impression that surgical correction of LDA has become much more common in recent years.

5 It is thus not entirely surprising that rabbinic authorities remained unaware until recently of what has now become a relatively high incidence of surgical treatment to correct this condition that causes the animal to become a treifah. The incidence of LDA is the subject of a recent study by Dr. Steven Eicker of Cornell University’s New York State College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, New York. His study of some 13,000 cows on 26 farms in New York State6 shows a variation between farms in the occurrence of left displaced abomasum of between five and fifteen percent.7 The mean for the farms surveyed is between seven and eight percent.

None of the farms surveyed showed a prevalence of less than five percent.8 "Shishim" is 1.67%

Frozen brocolli, cauliflower, etc [hot house grown]

We aren't discussing at this time the unreliable claims of frozen vegetables free of any insect infestation.

The amount of poisons that are on those vegetables R"L is staggerring. The FDA doesn't monitor it when ikt comes into the USA, as it's a finished product. The funny part is people are eating it because of the "health-bebnefits". What we really have is neshoma poisonous insects & bodily poisons.

FISH INFESTED WITH WORMS IN THE FLESH-including canned salmon

This includes the canned Alaskan wild salmon-Dagim says they didn't see any worms in their salmon-nonetheless many have stopped using it.

Dagim as of late doesn't respond to my inquiries.

There has been lately more confirmation of worms in the flesh of fish.
There is a Rav Revach that has been doing some research into the subject. He is also involved with a company that sends fish to china to inspect for worms in the flesh. They do the inspections via a light-box. It's being done at a rate of 2 seconds a piece. They may be removing some of the larger ones but not the smaller thinner ones.

It doesn't make a difference, as long as even one remains, you can't use the fish.

There is a list that was put together by Rav Wagshall;

Wild salmon is one of the types that have worms in the flesh. Chillean & Norway don't have the problem. Farm raised is almost clean. Canned salmon is usually from wild salmon,

Cod- Black-wild (aka Smoked sable)
Flounder-BB Black Backs
Flounder-Dabs-wild
Flounder- Yellow Tail

Greysole- Canada
Hadock- Chatum
Hake
Halibut-Alaska
Halibut-East coast

Ling
Mullet
Pollock
Red perch-Canada
Red perch-Iceland

Scrad
Seabass-Chilean (aka smoked sable) Fresh & frozen
Turbot frozen
White fish- Canada

Gelbstein bakery's SALAD-GARDEN

Gelbstein's bakery in Lakewood is currently kosher certified by the KCL & Rabbi Gissinger. Gelbstein's also has a restaurant connected the bakery called SALAD GARDEN. The salad garden is currently not kosher certified by the KCL. Why not? ask the KCL. You might be surprised!

The KCL says the It does not meet their standards (KCL's political standards?) especially the vegetables being used re checking, etc

SNAPPLE-Should one rely on the kashrus standard?

We understand that Snapple is produced in many different plants. Some or most of the plants also produce non-kosher and or dairy. The products are pasteurized on hot equipment. Kashering is done by company CIP records not with a mashgiach, etc.

There has been more kashrus mishaps than can or should be acceptable to the kosher consumer.We only know about the ones that were caught & publicized. It seems that the kosher certifier has lost complete control of kosher at Snapple. BEWARE!

SNAPPLE! TIME TO CHANGE CERTIFIERS!

You can help solve the Treif טריף milk issue.

http://yudelstake.blogspot.com/2007/07/cholov-stam-cholov-akum-cholov-treife.html

Due to the Veterinary procedures on cows, many of the cows are actualy treif טריף. Milk from a treif cow is not kosher-this has nothing to do with Cholov-akum חלב עכו"ם. In the USA practically speaking there isn't Shishim on any farm, the treif cows ranges from 3% to 8% on the average. On the Cholov yisroel farms they remove all of those procedured cows. Hence all Cholov akum milk in the USA may be Cholov-Treif and not be permitted.

The farmers association realize that there is an over supply of milk on the market and that supresses the price the farmers receive. In order to keep prices of milk higher they at times remove a certain amount of milking cows in order to create some shortage. "SEE FOLLOWING ARTICLE".

The consumers should contact the kosher certifiers to ask the "CWT" to remove on a constant basis the procedured or treif cows, the price of milk in the USA would stabilize & we would eliminate the Treif Milk from the market. Then all those that want to rely on the various leniencies re: cholov akum can do so.

BTW- In some countries e.g. Germany, all procedured cows are removed permanently from the milking herds.

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5/13/2009 2:00:00 PM -Dairy Update: CWT To Remove More Than 100,000 Cows
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/bayer_Content.asp?ContentID=314544

The dairy industry’s self-help program, Cooperatives Working Together (CWT), announced today that it has tentatively accepted 388 bids representing 102,898 cows and 2 billion pounds of milk production capacity. CWT officials will now begin the task of culling or “retiring” that many cows from the nation’s dairy herd.

It is the first in a series of herd-retirements planned over the next 12 months. The number of cows and pounds of milk represent the largest single herd-retirement carried out in the six-year history of CWT.

Dairy farmers in 41 states submitted a total of 538 herd-retirement bids by the May 1 deadline. The 388 bids tentatively accepted represent 72 percent of the total bids received by CWT. The number of cows now scheduled to be removed account for 64 percent of the total number of cows offered and the 2 billion pounds of milk account for 67 percent of the milk production offered.

“The high percentage of bids CWT selected this time around is an indication that producers understood that CWT would only be able to accept reasonable bids per hundred pounds of milk in order to adjust the nation’s dairy herd and better align supply and demand,” said Jerry Kozak, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, which administers CWT.

Starting next week, CWT field auditors will begin visiting the 388 farms whose bids were accepted, checking their milk-production records, inspecting their herds, and tagging each cow for processing. All farms should be audited by early July and cows should begin moving off dairies by late May. All bidders will be notified no later than June 12 as to whether their bid was among those accepted.

“The bids selected ranged from farms with fewer than 50 cows to dairies with over 5,000, demonstrating that farms of all sizes in all areas are facing a very difficult year in 2009,” Kozak said. “Those that took advantage of CWT’s offer to retire their herds will aid others still wanting to farm by reducing the amount of milk coming to market and strengthening prices going forward.”

“CWT, thanks to the commitment of 36 cooperative members and over 500 individual dairy farmer members, has the resources to carry out additional herd-retirements in the coming months. That is why CWT will not announce the average level of the bids accepted until all the herd-retirements are completed,” Kozak noted. “We will continue to monitor key economic indicators in order to determine the right time to implement the next herd-retirement.”

Since 2003, CWT has been responsible for culling 285,717 cows through its herd-retirement program. It has also provided export assistance.

Its efforts have been made more imperative in recent months, due to the low milk prices received by dairy producers. Officials hope that removing thousands of cows will help bring supply and demand into better balance.

The ROCKLIN-STETSON "CAP" is SHATNEZ

Bs’d

INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS OF PROFESSIONAL SHATNEZ LABORATORIES
Yosef Sayagh 661 7th Street, Lakewood NJ 08701 (732) 364 7056 E-mail mailto:shatnezhedqtrs@yeshivanet.com-%20Editor: R’ Yosef Stolz (Los Angeles, CA)

Men’s “Rocklin by Stetson” Cap- June ‘09

Bencraft Hatters of Williamsburg is currently selling a men’s “Rocklin by Stetson” cap (Germany) whose contents label reads: 50% Wool 50% Linen.

Description: It is woven in a basket weave pattern [2 X 2]. Two threads going in one direction are off-white (one wool and the other one linen). The two threads going in the other direction are black (one wool and the other one linen).

Precautionary measure: With a 2 X 2 basket weave it is possible to come to an inaccurate conclusion about the composition of a fabric.

How could that happen? If only one thread from each pair is pulled and tested, one could end up with a linen thread in both directions and a determination that the fabric is pure linen.

This could of happened especially with this particular cap being that each thread pair seemed similar in both color and appearance.

In conclusion: When one is checking a 2 X 2 basket weave pattern for shatnez, it isn’t sufficient to test one thread in each direction; both threads going in both directions must be tested, even if they seem similar both in color and in appearance.

THRIPS IN ONIONS-tis the season

Thrips are being found in regular onions. This particular brand was CAVALARO's Goshen, NY.

strawberry insects video

http://www.veoh.com/collection/allothers/watch/v15037797bzWKgQFT#watch%3Dv15037796ZXKcyQfk

O'Neills? What's that?

Corp headquarters would like to see O'Neills Kashrus greatly improved-time will tell. We are in a holding mode at this time.

There are some Shechitas taking place at O'Neills in Nebraska.

Check with your butcher if they receiving any beef from there, regardless of the Kosher Certification.

Ask for something else instead, you may be happier with the kashrus standards at the other places [we don't mean for you to use any Rubashkin/Supreme]- There is a big difference between saying & doing.

As they say in ISO: Say what you do, Do as you say, Document it.

Winston Churchill: "The truth is incontrovertable, Malice may attack it, Ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is."

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Reb Noson Wachtfogel OB"M described what "Emes" looks like:

An old, slow moving, hunched back,

with a cane in each hand,

every one poking fun at him etc.

"UBB'ER - ER - VET - UN'KUM'EN, - Tzum - Soif.

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Hi Rabbi,
Because of your blog, I along with some of my friends are trying to be more careful in what we put in our mouths. We are in brooklyn. What meat & poultry brands do you recommend. Also I sometimes need to buy bet yosef because I have sephardic guests, can you recommend someplace? Much appreciated. Keep up the good work.

I must say I was bit skeptical about your accusations against agri as they do have the hashgocho of the OU & KAJ who are.... I met last week with a shochet who I know personally to be a yarei shomayim, he's been to AGRI & saw them in action & he told me it's a disaster. He said he even questioned some of the shochtim there & they admitted that they themselves won't eat the meat that they shechted by AGRI. I am no longer skeptical.

Shechita Certifiers?

There are some new shechita certifiers appearing on the market that we can't recomend.
Rabbi Meshulem Nusen Spiegel-
Rabbi Yechiel Steinmetz- Solomons Beef
Rabbi Yechiel Babad-Natural kosher poultry.

CRC-Chicago

Rabbi Teichmam

MEHADRIN is producing in different plants-ONLY SOME OF THEM ARE ACCEPTABLE- BEWARE!

The Chaburah brand of poultry has woken up and is finaly being replaced by the Kiryas Joel Poultry.

The Chaburah name belongs to Empire poultry, they can still use it as they please.

מיוחד is a new one on the market for poultry (at this time).

Do serious kashrus breaches by one affect the other?

We think it definitely does!

NOTE: Pictures are for demonstration purposes only.

It's alledged that at the Rosenblatt lamb שחיטה of 200 per hour, they were working with 1 שוחט בודק and 1 משגיח CRC/ OU of a caliber which we will leave out.

It's further alledged that they were doing some 200 lamb per hour, just about all were Glatt, no בדיקת חוץ, etc. Oh some of the recognizable faults also were the מקום שחיטה would make it a נבילה.

EMPORIO with SHATNEZ certified by 203 Lee Ave as "non-shatnez"

This Consumer alert of finding shatnez in checked clothing, is all too common with clothing checked by affiliates of 203 Lee Ave, Brooklyn, NY Labs and the Monsey Shatnez test center. Both of them are certified by Bais-Din Mishpat Sholom

NOTE: Educated consumers use only Shatnez Labs that are affiliated with the International Organization of Professional Shatnez Laboratories.

High rate of Assimilation- WHY?

Rav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach, OB"M told me that the reason of the high rate of assimilation is because as of the kulos & heterim of de americaner Rabonim in "bihul-akum und Yayin-nesech" halachos- I asked perhaps the Heteirim are acceptable? Reb Shlomo Zalman, responded it can't be-As CHAZAL said........otherwise we wouldn't have the high rate of assimilation.

He said "if we eliminate a bishul akum in New York, it will eliminate an intermarriage in Pariz.

BTW- Many sefardi communities do not allow for any geirus (conversions).

Ahava Dairy

Lawsuit seeks control of plant KOSHER DAIRY: Owners say they were denied access to facility by Ahava

By STEVE VIRKLER TIMES STAFF WRITER WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2009

NEW BREMEN — A legal battle has begun over control of the kosher dairy plant on Route 812 in the town of New Bremen. FJB LLC and Toobro NY LLC, which began operating the Lewis County Dairy Corp. plant in March, last week filed a lawsuit in state Supreme Court claiming they were unlawfully evicted from the plant by Ahava of California. However, Albany attorney Jeffrey S. Baker, who is representing FJB and Toobro, said the action shouldn't affect the approximately 50 people who work at the kosher plant, which produces bottled milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream that are sold in New York City.

"This is essentially a fight over who has management control," Mr. Baker said. "It's not the intention of my clients to put people out of work or affect the local dairy industry." Toobro, owned by Menachem and Schneur Bistritzky, in February purchased the assets of Ahava Entities, including the New Bremen facility and a kosher plant on Main Street in Ogdensburg, through two financial institutions that had liens on Ahava through Chapter 7 bankruptcy of that company's owner, Moise A. Banayan. The Ogdensburg plant is not involved in the current dispute. The Bistritzkys, who also own FJB, also received 20 trade names and trademarks in the deal, according to their lawsuit.

However, the suit claims Mr. Banayan "fraudulently transferred" many assets to other companies under his control and that Ahava of California — operated by Mr. Banayan and his brother, Fariborz, but not included in the Ahava assets — occupied the New Bremen plant through a lease agreement with Lewis County Dairy from August 2007. Toobro reached a five-year agreement with Ahava of California to lease the New Bremen and Ogdensburg plants for $30,000 per month, plus property taxes and all other operating expenses, according to court documents. On June 28, New York City attorney Leo L. Esses, representing Ahava of California, by letter instructed plant employees not to allow access to the Bistritzkys, the lawsuit claims.
Mr. Esses couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday.

Toobro has since regained control of plant operations through a temporary court order, Mr. Baker said.
The lawsuit claims Toobro was not given notice of any alleged default in the lease agreement or evicted through proper procedure, despite the company having "invested significant funds into the dairy manufacturing and distributing business, including payment of rent." It also claims Ahava of California had "unauthorized dominion" over equipment, books and records owned by Toobro during the alleged eviction.
Toobro is seeking permanent restoration of control of the facility, reimbursement of lease payments during the alleged eviction period and damages for lost profits, depreciation of the value of kosher products and interference with business relationships.

The next court appearance before Judge Joseph D. McGuire was scheduled for July 30, but Mr. Baker said it has been switched to July 31 because the first date falls on Jewish holiday Tish'a B'Av.

שבת pump-pot * The Shabbos Hot-Plate- Labriute self heat meals

Some Shabbos pump-pots advertise, does not require טבילה. It's based on the premise that some of the parts, a איד has a שותפות and the workers are paid some of their wages by the איד.

Can the Shabbos-Hot plate be used? Some poiskim are not comfortable.

Can the La-Briut self heat meals be heated on shabbos/Yom-tov?

SHATNEZ ALERT EMPORIO

STRAWBERRIES

Strawberries are infested with tiny insects that cannot be removed with water or pesticide, and are therefore forbidden according to halacha, The Torah and Land Institute has announced after a series of laboratory tests.

Rabbi Yehuda Amichai, who heads the institute, told Ynet that "it used to be enough to take the green leaves off of the strawberry and wash it with soap, but today the bugs stick to the dots on the fruit, and emerge even after a good washing".

He said strawberries that had been sprayed with pesticide were not safe either. "In the end they also have insects that won't come off, even if there are less," he said.

Chief Rabbi of Safed Shmuel Eliyahu ruled on the issue after consulting with a number of experts.

The solution, according to Amichai, is to either peel the skin from the fruit or to puree it in the blender. Although the puree will still have parts of insects, he explains, the halacha does not forbid their digestion.

But scientists and agriculturists are already working on a solution to the crisis, which includes the washing of strawberries in a large, Jacuzzi-like vat that eliminates the insects entirely. Rabbi Amichai said he hoped the method, still in preliminary stages of development, would work out.

RESTAURANTS-CATERERS, Etc & Hashgochas

Does the Shwarma king incident surprise anyone? It is most probably more common than you think. Without a SYSTEM, you usually wouldn't catch it.

The "SYSTEM" is missing.
Trained Mashgichim?
Take control Mashgichim?
Full time Mashgichim.?
Mashgichim that check in every order?

In every Hashgocha there are 2 critereas- The Standard of kashrus, The System implemented to uphold those standards.

Many of the blaring headlines "Treif found at this establishment", etc is in most part caused that the critere not in place NO-System.

Many Hashgochas try to have a high standard ( we don't use these products, etc) but their "system" or rather lack of it .........will either not catch the problem or inspite of no-system, the "treif" gets caught.

The Organizational Hashgochas always insist on a full time trained Mashgiach, who also checks in the products, etc. On the other hand, the higher standard Hashgochas at times rely on non-trained part time frum worker as being their eyes. A video camera that you need a technician to review the film is in essence a farce.

As we said previously on the kashrus hot-line "A heimishe hashgocha on a caterer or restaurant withou an OU also, is not reliable" as there is NO SYSTEM in place.

Additional kashrus issues

http://kashrusneias.blogspot.com/