Wednesday, November 30, 2011

FDA apple juice arsenic guidelines expected

By Mark Astley, 29-Nov-2011-The US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) could be poised to perform a U-turn on levels of arsenic in apple juice through the development of new guidelines - a letter sent to consumer groups has revealed.

In the letter sent to the Empire State Consumer Project and the Food and Water Watch, the authority said they would be collecting all relevant information before evaluating the best course of action.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

DNA-certified seafood in restaurants ?

Restaurants around the world will soon use new DNA technology to assure patrons they are being served the genuine fish fillet or caviar they ordered, rather than inferior substitutes, an expert in genetic identification says.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

The status of the Chazir (Cham'zir)

Sometime after Mashiach comes, the "chazir" will be permitted to eat.
The question is, will the chazir become a "maaleh-gairah" or the current chazir will become permitted?

Logic says it will become a "maaleh-gairah", as todays chazir to be permitted, we don't have to wait for mashiach, enough Rabonim have permitted chazir or treif in one way or another.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4152397,00.html

Rav Elyashiv On Speaking On The Phone & Driving

Maran Posek HaDor HaGaon HaRav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv Shlita was asked by rabbonim affiliated with the Chafetz Chaim road safety organization regarding a driver who speaks on a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle, Kikar Shabbat reports. The Rav was asked if such a person is classified as a ‘rodef’.

According to the report, the posek hador ruled that such a person “Is not exactly a rodef, but close to being one”.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Cole slaw cabbage V bagged shredded cabbage (infestation)

For their Cole slaw they do a spot check of a few outside leaves of the cabbage-they don't even wash rinse it. Who's going to find the insects in the finished cole slaw with mayonaise, etc.
When they sell shredded cabbage, they also wash rinse it. May one rely on such a system? Ask Hisachdus re: Flaums products.

Corn on the cob-infested? ALL!

Corn on the cob-infested? ALL!
That's correct, you must remove all of the kernels, rinse & then use.
All of the "corn on the cobs" in the market even with hashgochas can't be used due to infestation.

We are surprised & shocked to find the Golden-Flow brand Corn-on-the-cob with Hishachdus hashgocha.
The thrips hide beneath the kernels.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Olive oil adulteration


The industry association of South African olive oil producers, has decided to support the adoption of the same olive oil standard recently put into place in Australia.

Andries Rabie, Chairman of the South African Olive Industry Association (SA Olive), said the government in South Africa had established a committee to consider the recommendation.



Thursday, November 03, 2011

From "Good Shabbos everyone"

From: gs@notspeeding.com-
 Sent: 11/3/2011 6:06:27 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time

Good Shabbos Everyone- Parshas Lech-Lecha 5772

Good Shabbos Everyone. One day, several years ago, Reb Mordechai Shain was passing the corner of Main and Maple streets in Monsey, New York, on a Friday afternoon when he spotted a family sitting on the front steps of the Yeshivah Spring Valley.

Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Grape seed extracts has its kashrus issues

http://www.nutraingredients.com/Industry/Indena-grape-seed-extracts-earn-kosher-certification
 Indena grape seed extracts earn kosher certification-02-Nov-2011
Italian botanical extracts leader, Indena, has earned "LBD" kosher certification for its range of polyphenol-rich grape seed extracts from the largest kosher agency in Europe, as the market for kosher products expands. The certification took several years to achieve and included, “extensive site inspections by Rabbi Akiva Padwa”, director of certification at the UK-based kosher agency, KLBD. The review included, “the entire process from harvest, through preparation of the seeds to the extraction of the polyphenols.”
“We were delighted to go through the auditing process because KLBD is recognised by our customers as an international kosher agency,” said Christian Artaria, marketing director and head of functional food development at Indena. Certification is opening up markets and helping to make business easier.”

Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Nonprofits join forces to tackle botanical adulteration

Nonprofits join forces to tackle botanical adulteration - By Elaine Watson, 03-Nov-2011

Three leading not-for-profit organizations have joined forces to create an education program to help the dietary supplements trade wise up to the tricks used by unscrupulous suppliers to adulterate botanicals.

In Kashrus we must be able to "Track from Farm to Fork"

Ambitious European Project Traces Food from Farm to Fork


More than a dozen colleges and companies have joined a consortium under the guidance of the University of Wolverhampton, to pilot RFID technology as it tracks the movements of fish, wine, cheese through production and on to retailers.

Oct. 28, 2011—A European project overseen by the University of Wolverhampton and a consortium of universities, technical institutes and commercial entities is determining how radio frequency identification technology can benefit the perishable-goods supply chain. The project, known as Farm to Fork (F2F), was launched last year, with half of its funding provided by the European Commission's ICT Policy Support Program—aimed at stimulating innovation and competitiveness—which includes a half-dozen pilots throughout Europe to track fish, wine and cheese through the production process and on to stores.