Infestation

SEE VIDEO:
http://vidyid.com/rabbi-vaya-and-a-middle-position-on-worms-in-fish-video.html

Corn on the cob is infested. Strawberries are infested.

How can one eat them?

Corn- kernels should be cut off from the cob & rinsed.

Strawberries- Cut off green, being carefull not to cut too much fruit & make a hole. Peel the entire outside. After freezing it's easier to peel.

Chinese Honey Trade Tainted By Dirty Dealings

Chinese Honey Trade Tainted By Dirty Dealings-ALEXA OLESEN-Associated Press Writer - June 30, 2010
Many of the Heimishe honeys are from China.


BEIJING (AP) — Businessman Yan Yongxiang was trying to get around stiff U.S. levies on imports of cheap Chinese honey. So he sent 15 shipping containers of cut-rate honey to the Philippines, where it was relabeled and sent on to the United States. It's called honey-laundering, and the subterfuge let Yan skirt $656,515 in taxes before he was caught in a bust and pleaded guilty.

What ‘natural’ means in food regulations!

Breaking News on Food & Beverage Development - Europe-By Special edition: Natural and clean label, 18-Jun-2010


What ‘natural’ means in food regulations


‘Natural’ has become a word consumers like to see on food product packages, while ‘clean label’ is an industry term to describe an E-number-free ingredients list. But exact definitions depend on who you are talking to, and what additive you are taking about.  A colourful discussion At the beginning of July any food products sold in the EU that still contain the so-called Southampton colours that were implicated in a study on hyperactivity in children will have to carry a warning label.

Child in car? Always leave back windows open 3 inches. Regardless-leave it open

As soon as you ebter your car & may be having a child in the car that day, leave the widows open 2-3 inches.

Fish update

There was meeting in Lakewood yesterday. Among those present at the meeting were Reb Shlomo Miller, Reb Gershon Bess & his son, Members of the Bais Horah, Kloizenberg Rosh kolel.

The outcome was, depending on whom you ask.

Emanuel update
http://www.bhol.co.il/news_read.asp?id=17703&cat_id=97

Lead found in baby food & juices.

A US legal public interest group has filed violation notices under a Californian safety law against dozens of companies after alleging it has detected levels of lead in a range of food and drinks for babies and children.

The Environmental Law Foundation (ELF) said it has lodged the notices on 9 June, 2010, under the state’s Proposition 65 Toxic Right to Know law against 49 companies. The non-profit group said its tests had revealed lead in apple juice, grape juice, packaged pears and peaches – including baby food – and fruit cocktail.

Companies who have been cited in the notices include Del Monte Foods, Hansen Beverage Co, Motts, J M Smucker, Safeway and Dole Packaged Frozen Foods Inc.

CREST toothpaste up-date

NEW INFORMATION ON CREST TOOTHPASTES IN USA & CANADA

Procter & Gamble very recently has decided to eliminate animal derived ingredients from all their Crest toothpastes both in USA and Canada.

It is a good news but we have to be very careful because Crest toothpastes with animal derived ingredients are still available in the markets. They are not giving any date when all the stock of animal derived ingredients Crest toothpaste will be sold out.

So please buy only the following four flavors of Crest toothpastes until for next 6 months or a year:

1. Crest Cavity Protection Regular flavor
2. Crest Cavity Protection Cool Mint Gel
3. Crest Cavity Protection Icy Mint Strip
4. Crest Cavity Protection Kid

Sothern Comfort update

Southern Comfort
According to noted authority on alcoholic beverages Rabbi Shmuel
Semelman, who is affiliated with the Jerusalem Religious Council
Kashrut Division, there are three categories of Southern Comfort.

1. Produced in Ireland, with a hechsher from Badatz Basel and Badatz
Beit Yosef. This is ONLY the case if the kashrut symbols are visibleb on the bottles, which are parve. A special run has been imported with
approval via the Jerusalem Rabbinate due to the efforts of Rabbi
Semelman, BUT ONLY those exhibiting the hechsherim listed above and
they too are parve.

2. There is another produced in Ireland, which is “authorized” by the but it is NOT under the organization’s supervision.

Rav Belsky's letter of recomendation to Yudel Shain

This letter was written to the Sfardik Rabonim that wanted to open a National Kashrus Organization.

After this letter of recomendation, I did question Rabbi Belsky & challenged many of Rav Belsky's "facts".

About 10 years ago at one of my visits to Rav Shmuel Wosner, Shlita I asked the following; Most (85% +) cows that are shechted are treif due to lung issues, so how could we drink milk?

Rav Wosner asked how old are the cows when shechted? 10-12 years old. So he said that many of treifahs we don't use is because of sofek.A sofek treifa doesn't live more than 12 months, so for the 11 years it wasn't a treifa which would be 95% of the milk. The last year we would asser the last 3 days of milk when we find that the cow is a treifah due to lung issues, etc.

The last three days of milk is not sold commercially, because it's removed from the milking herd to be sent to shechita.

"Never doubt ...., committed citizens... "Indeed, ................"

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,

committed citizens can change the world.

"Indeed, it-is-the-only-thing-that-ever-has."

CHEWING GUM-Some of the concerns

What is chewing gum made out of ?
Most chewing gums innocuously list "gum base" as one of their ingredients, masking the fact that petroleum, lanolin, glycerin, polyethylene, polyvinyl acetate, petroleum wax, stearic acid, and latex may be among the components. Because of standards of identity for items such as gum base and flavoring, manufacturers are not required to list everything in their product. According to Dertoline, a French chemical manufacturer, their adhesive "dercolytes" are used as a label and tape adhesive, as well as a chewing gum base. Many brands also list glycerin and glycerol as ingredients on the label. Both of those compounds can be animal-derived.

What are "E" numbers?

Pedestrians within a crosswalk

MOTORISTS in New Jersey MUST stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk. Failure to observe the law may subject you to one or more of the following:

2 POINTS- $200 FINE (plus court costs) -15 DAYS COMMUNITY SERVICE
INSURANCE SURCHARGES

NEW JERSEY STATUTE 39:4-36
Driver to stop for pedestrian: exceptions, violations. penalties.

A. The driver of a vehicle must stop and stay stopped for a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except at crosswalks when the movement of traffic is being regulated by police officers or traffic control signals, or where otherwise prohibited by municipal, county, or State regulation, and except where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided, but no pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield. Nothing contained herein shall relieve a pedestrian from using due care for his safety.

ALL Shnapps, Whiskeys, etc must have a reliable hashgocha

ALL Shnapps, Whiskeys, etc must have a reliable hashgocha. This list is intended just for the chometz status if one wants to give as a present.

Early Shabbos- What are the relevant Halachos?

http://yudelsreport.blogspot.com/2010/06/early-shabbos-what-are-relevant.html

Kashrus gathering re: worms in fish "VIDEO"

NEWS: There should be coming out some new Pisokim from the Eretz Yisroel Poiskim.

https://www.5tjt.com/international-news/7213-nationwide-kashrus-gathering-on-worms-in-fish.html

A. Equipment and materials-Sharp knife, pointed tweezers w/ curvature
Candling table. Rigid framework to hold light source below rigid working surface of white, translucent acrylic plastic or other suitable material with 45-60% translucency. Length and width of working surface should be large enough to permit examination of entire fillet, e.g., 30 x 60 cm sheet, 5-7 mm thick.

Light source. "Cool white" with color temperature of 4200 K. At least two 20-watt fluorescent tubes are recommended. Tubes and their electrical connections should be constructed to prevent overheating of light source. Average light intensity above working surface should be 1500-1800 lux, as measured 30 cm above center of acrylic sheet. Distribution of illumination should be in ratio of 3:1:0.1, i.e., brightness directly above light source should be 3 times greater than that of outer field, and brightness of outer limit of visual field should be not more than 0.1 that of inner field. Illumination in examining room should be low enough not to interfere with detection of parasites, but not so dim as to cause excessive eye fatigue.
Fillets.

Shatnez Alert

probing-kashrut-pitfalls-in-jerusalem

http://yudelsreport.blogspot.com/2010/05/probing-kashrut-pitfalls-in-jerusalem.html

Packaged fish with Anisakis issues

Any Fish from CHINA without a skintab should not be used!

ALERT: No whisky should be used without a proper hashgocha!

We find over the years that more and more information and alerts re: whisky.

Therefore there is no acceptable Heter to use any whisky without a hashgocha. It's more than מיעוט המצ'

Shain's Cold drinks in Lakewood

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1- Forest Avenue and Carey Street.

2- Third Street-between Forest ave & Madison Ave

3- 1105 North Lake Drive

NOTE: We have mini-refrigerators and signs for anyone that would like to accomodate the Cold drinks to their area. Call Shain 732-364-8046

Is CARP fish infested?

Trematodes

While more than 750 million people around the world are at risk for food-borne trematode infections (FBT), an estimated 40 million people are infected with one or more of these parasites (WHO, 1995). The majority of these infections (around 38 million) are fish-borne infections and are mainly occurring in some 20 countries where the parasites are endemic. Although seldom fatal, trematode diseases can cause morbidity and complications leading to death. The cause of infection is the ingestion of viable trematode metacercariae, which can be present in the flesh of, raw, inadequately cooked or minimally processed freshwater fish, molluscans and crabs. Infections are prevalent in several countries and among communities where eating raw, fermented or inadequately cooked fish is a cultural habit.

To control a disease, it is important to know where it is endemic. In trematode disease it is also necessary to have a complete understanding of the biology of the parasite, the life cycle and each stage of the life cycle must be known from the egg via the miracidium to the cercaria to the metacercaria to the adult parasite. All hosts must be determined: the snail (first intermediate), the animal host or vegetation (second intermediate) upon which metacercaria may encyst.

The adult worms are small, flat, slender and measures from a few up to 20 mm in length and 3-5 mm at the widest area. The general life cycle of trematodes, having fish as the second intermediate host is shown in Figure 5.13.

Figure 5.13 Life cycles of trematodes having fish as an intermediate host (redrawn from Strauss 1996).

There are three main groups of fish-borne trematodes infecting man (Table 5.23):

the liver flukes , the lung flukes, the intestinal flukes.

Table 5.23 Trematode parasites transmitted by fish

Parasite
Second inter-mediate host
Geographical area1
Estimated no. of infections (millions)

Liver flukes:

Clonorchis sinensis
> 100 species of freshwater fish, mainly carp
C, RK, J, R, V
7-13

1. Geographical area: SEA: South East Asia, EE: East Europe, R: Russia, U: Ukraine, C: China, RK: Republic of Korea, J: Japan, P: Peru, E: Ecuador, W+CA: West- and Central Africa, EU: Europe, ME: Middle East

אמר רבי חנינא אין בן דוד בא עד שיבקש דג לחולה ולא ימצא וכו )סנהדרין צ"ח

You figure it out!

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The person who calculated this bit of information has been a professor at The University of West Virginia in Morgantown, West Virginia for the last forty some years.

I never looked at the clunker program in such depth----

A clunker that travels 12,000 miles a year at 15 mpg uses 800 gallons of gas a year.
A vehicle that travels 12,000 miles a year at 25 mpg uses 480 gallons a year.

So, the average Cash for Clunkers transaction will reduce US gasoline consumption by 320 gallons per year.

They claim 700,000 vehicles so that's 224 million gallons saved per year.
That equates to a bit over 5 million barrels of oil.
5 million barrels is about 5 hours worth of US consumption.

More importantly, 5 million barrels of oil at $70 per barrel costs about $350 million dollars So, the government paid $3 billion of our tax dollars to save $350 million.

We spent $8.57 for every dollar we saved.

I'm pretty sure they will do a great job with our health care, though.

Israeli firm to produce Krill (crustacean) oil as a food?

Breaking News on Supplements & Nutrition - Europe
Enzymotec krill gets Novel Food status
By Lorraine Heller, 18-May-2010
Related topics: Nutritional lipids and oils, Cardiovascular health, Cognitive and mental function

Krill oil as a food ingredient has received another boost in Europe, with Israeli firm Enzymotec announcing its krill product line has obtained Novel Food status.

Krill oil, rich in omega-3, phospholipids and antioxidants, is derived from the planktonic family of crustacean.

Enzymotec entered the market for krill oil in 2007. The firm’s range includes phosphatidylserine-based ingredients it markets for cognitive development, lipids for infant formulas, as well as pure krill oils. The novel foods status granted to Enzymotec’s product is the fourth krill approval of its kind in Europe.

Novel food

Europe's Novel Food regulation was introduced in 1997 and requires any food or ingredient not commonly consumed in the EU prior to May 1997 to undergo safety assessment before it can be sold across the EU's 27-member bloc.

It is a notoriously long-winded and unpopular process that has been much criticised by industry for stalling innovation, but the European Commission has mooted that it will be simplified or streamlined or both.

Sustainability

Krill are tiny shrimp commonly eaten by whales, and which form the largest animal biomass in the world. Omega-3 rich krill oil harvested for human purposes accounts for less than one per cent of that biomass.

The minute crustaceans have been in the public eye of late, over concerns that certain krill fishery was not being conducted in a sustainable manner.

US-based natural foods retailer Whole Foods pulled krill supplements from its shelves, stating that “declines of some predator populations in the areas where the krill fishery operates suggest that fishery management needs to better understand how to evaluate the prey requirements of other marine species in order to set sustainable catch levels for krill.”

Enzymotec confirmed its krill products are sustainably harvested. It sources its products only from vessels and facilities monitored by Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), it said.

"We are inspecting and verifying that each Krill shipment is harvested within the limits of the zone and dates for which the specific fishing vessels had received its fishing license from CCALMR," said Neta Scheinman Enzymotec's Director of QA.

Demand prompts expansion

Last year, Enzymotec announced the expansion its krill capacity in a move that would consolidate its production in a new 200,000 sq ft facility. This was in response to increased customer demand, the firm said at the time.

In 2008, the firm also expanded its product line to include a krill oil with modified phospholipids and omega-3 content, which it sells at a "significantly lower price" to its high-grade version.

Having a two-tier pricing system for its krill offerings, in addition to its other lipid ingredients, allowed the company to better compete with the likes of global krill market leader, Canadian-based Neptune Technologies & Bioressources.

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BEWARE: Israeli Grape Juice

http://www.jerusalemkoshernews.com/wp-content/uploads/4-14-10c.pdf

Chief Rabbinate of Israel
Kashrut Fraud Division -Kashrut Alert – 18
27 Nissan 5770 -April 11, 2010

As a result of repeated and continuous inquiries into the reliability
of grape juice sold in Israel without kosher certification from local
rabbinates, a surprise inspection was made by representative of the
Chief Rabbinate of Israel Kashrut Enforcement Division, accompanied by
Rabbi Yaakov Chaim Klein Shlita, the rav and av beit din of Yesodot
(Nachal Sorek area), which is near the area inspected.

On location a number of wines and grape juices under the supervision
of the Eida Chareidit Sephardi of Jerusalem, Badatz Sheerit Yisrael,
Badatz Rabbanut Kraiyot-Ashdod, Badatz Chanichei Yeshivot under the
leadership of Gavaad Rabbi Mordechai Gross Shlita and Badatz Beit
Hora’ah Mispat Zedek Kisei Rachamim Bnei Brak.

During the surprise inspection we noticed some of the products were
outside the winery, without any supervision. Barrels and vats without
proper seals and kashrut plombers (chotem b’tok chotem – required
double seal) with the exception of one.

Stickers attesting to the kashrut of products were strewn about
without supervision as requried. Remains of wafers and other chametz
cookies were found about the same area, despite the product claiming
to be kosher for Passover year round [as is the case with wines in
general].

Found were wines classified as “otzar beit din, regular, some mevushal
and some not mevushal. Even more serious is the fact that entry to the
facility is almost unhindered.

As such, as well as the fact the winery does not have supervision
from a local rabbinate, as required under law, we are therefore
informing the public that the Rabbinate assumes no responsibility for
the following wines and grape juices.
1. Alexandroni 100% natural grape juice
2. Argamon sweet wine
3. Gefen Naot grape juice
4. Gefen grape juice
5. Gefen HaMelech grape juice
6. Kisei Rachamim grape juice

One is advised to visit the website link provided above to see the
actual labels of the products mentioned to familiarize oneself with
them.

Link to Rabbi Kleins letter reporting on his findings -
http://www.jerusalemkoshernews.com/wp-content/uploads/4-14-10d.pdf

Rabbi Yaakov Sabag
Chief of Kashrut Division
Rabbi Rafi Yochai
Chief of National Kashrut Fraud Prevention

Worms in fish

Note: HERRING does have the anisakis worm.
http://yudelstake.blogspot.com/2010/01/herring-may-also-be-problem-of-worms.html

BEWARE- Israeli produce at COSTCO

ORANGES

Clementines

Peppers

ETC

Unauthorized Shatnez tester in the "Heights".

The Monsey shatnez Test center continues to deceive the public with their testing. ALL of their tested garments require retesting by a qualified Shatnez test lab. All of the labs affiliated with the International Shatnez testers are qualified.

Cocoa adulterants-

Cocoa and chocolate adulterants: NOTE: The FDA has some tests that can detirmine some of the cocoa adulterants e.g. soy flour
Bulk adulterants: Arrowroot, wheat, Soy flour, Indian corn, sago, potato, tapioca flour, chicory
Color adulterants: Venetian red, red ochre, iron compounds

Fish worms-Gedolei Haposkim

beef cuts that don't have a "chelev" issue

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No concerns of chelev: Brisket, chuck, fore shank.

2 consecutive 10 minute videos of shechita

2 10 minute videos of Rabbi Westheims shechita.

1- http://video.aol.co.uk/video-detail/shechita-and-kashrut-of-meat-12/1208541917

2- http://video.aol.co.uk/video-detail/shechita-and-kashrut-of-meat-22/2755810088

Can everyone say "yudeinu-loi-shufchu"? R"L

תניא: 'רבי יוסי בן אלישע אומר: אם ראית דור שצרות רבות באות עליו - צא ובדוק בדייני ישראל, שכל פורענות שבאה לעולם לא באה אלא בשביל דייני ישראל,
שנאמר (מיכה ג ט) שמעו נא זאת ראשי בית יעקב וקציני בית ישראל המתעבים משפט ואת כל הישרה יעקשו [פסוק י] בנה ציון בדמים וירושלים בעולה [פסוק יא] ראשיה בשחד ישפטו וכהניה במחיר יורו ונביאיה בכסף יקסמו ועל ה' ישענו [לאמר הלוא ה' בקרבנו לא תבוא עלינו רעה] - רשעים הן, אלא שתלו בטחונם במי שאמר והיה העולם; לפיכך מביא הקדוש ברוך הוא עליהן שלש פורעניות כנגד שלש עבירות שבידם, שנאמר (מיכה ג יב) לכן בגללכם ציון שדה תחרש וירושלים עיין תהיה והר הבית לבמות יער ; ואין הקדוש ברוך הוא משרה שכינתו על ישראל עד שיכלו שופטים ושוטרים רעים מישראל, שנאמר (ישעיהו א כה) ואשיבה ידי עליך ואצרף כבר סגיך ואסירה כל בדיליך [פסוקכו] ואשיבה שפטיך כבראשונה ויעציך כבתחלה [אחרי כן יקרא לך עיר הצדק קריה נאמנה '
אמר רב פפא: אי בטלי יהירי - בטלי אמגושי אי בטלי דייני בטלי גזירפטי;
אי בטלי יהירי - בטלי אמגושי, דכתיב (ישעיהו א כה) [ואשיבה ידי עליך] ואצרף כבר סגיך [ואסירה כל בדיליך;
אי בטלי דייני בטלי גזירפטי - דכתיב (צפניה ג טו) הסיר ה' משפטיך פנה אויבך [מלך ישראל ה' בקרבך לא תיראי רע עוד .

אמר רבי מלאי משם רבי אלעזר ברבי שמעון: מאי דכתיב (ישעיהו יד ה) שבר ה' מטה רשעים שבט משלים

'שבר ה' מטה רשעים' - אלו הדיינין שנעשו מקל לחזניהם;
שבט מושלים' - אלו תלמידי חכמים שבמשפחות הדיינין.
שבט מושלים = מקל אגרופין של מושלים, היינו דיינים רשעים שתלמידי חכמים שבמשפחותם להם למקל ולאגרוף: שעל ידיהם היו מעמידין אותן, ומחפין עליהם, ועושין סניגרון לדבריהם

מר זוטרא אמר: אלו תלמידי חכמים שמלמדים הלכות ציבור לדייני בור.
אמר רבי אליעזר בן מלאי משום ריש לקיש: מאי דכתיב (ישעיהו נט ג) כי כפיכם נגאלו בדם ואצבעותיכם בעון שפתותיכם דברו שקר לשונכם עולה תהגה?
'כי כפיכם נגאלו בדם' - אלו הדיינין;
'ואצבעותיכם בעון' - אלו סופרי הדיינין
'שפתותיכם דברו שקר' - אלו עורכי הדיינין;
'לשונכם עולה תהגה' - אלו בעלי דינין.

Mashgichim's "Bill of rights"

Rabbis Mull ‘Bill of Rights’ For Kashrut Inspectors-by Adam Dickter-Assistant Managing Editor

As the kosher food industry in America continues to grow, rabbis who organize supervision in their local communities are considering a measure to protect employees’ rights.

At a conference next week in Dallas, representatives of Orthodox regional rabbinical councils, known as vaadim, will discuss adoption of what some have termed a bill of rights for kosher certifiers, or mashgichim, that was proposed at last year’s conference.

“This is the first time there has been an opportunity for various agencies to sit under one roof and talk about this,” said Rabbi Sholem Fishbane, executive director of the Association of Kashrus Organizations, which convenes the annual vaadim conference. “The problems aren’t new, but the opportunity to solve them is.”

Prompted by complaints that the quality of supervision is affected when representatives of small certifying agencies are at the mercy of restaurant owners and other businesspeople, the recommendations include ensuring minimum pay, benefits, a safe work environment and preventing mashgichim from being assigned menial tasks.

But most of all the boards want to address the potential conflict of interest that arises when a mashgiach has to fear for his job (Orthodox mashgichim are overwhelmingly male) either because an owner or manager will demand his removal or because the establishment might close as a result of the disclosure.

Two of the provisions to be discussed address the conflict issue. One suggests that a mashgiach who uncovers a violation that results in an establishment’s closure be given preference when a new position becomes available. The other suggests that a mashgiach be free to complain directly to his supervisor and that he be protected from retaliations.

The specter of such a conflict was raised last month when a mashgiach was fired from Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, alleging that it was in retaliation for his complaints about kashrut conditions. But in that case the Orthodox Union, which was responsible for kashrut there, said the complaints were unfounded, and the agency did not object to his dismissal.

The AKO resolutions would not be binding but would for the first time set a uniform standard of workplace conditions for supervision at small businesses, a field that has long been subject to informal arrangements.

More than 70 representatives from councils across the country are expected at the conference. Founded in 1985 but revitalized in recent years, the AKO also holds an event for nationwide kosher supervision agencies timed to coincide with the Kosherfest trade show, which takes place in October at the Meadowlands Exhibition Center in New Jersey.

Rabbi Reuven Stein of the Atlanta Kashrus Commission, who drafted and presented the working conditions recommendations last year and chairs an AKO committee on mashgichim, said that complaints generally come from employees of vaads and other small agencies because supervisors at larger companies, who are placed in factories or larger catering facilities, are generally subject to the protections of corporate policies in place there, or better protected by their agencies.

“There were some issues where mashgichim felt they were not working in safe conditions or were being treated by management more like line workers, a dishwasher or someone else in the kitchen,” said Rabbi Stein. “I generally found that those who work for the larger organizations are usually protected by those organizations.”

While many small kosher establishments have supervision that entails only spot checks by a mashgiach, others, particularly those owned by non-Jews or non-Sabbath observant Jews, have full-time certifiers on the premises, which entails long hours. Some business owners expect mashgichim, who are being paid by the business, to do work other than inspection while they are on the premises.

And when violations are found they can lead to tension between the mashgiach and owner or manager.
Large agencies, such as the industry leader, the Orthodox Union, require that an owner or manager consult with the OU before dismissing any mashgiach. But smaller groups like vaads often don’t have that kind of leverage.

At the same time, concern for how kashrut is enforced and the ability of certifiers to ensure integrity has also increased. The current issue of Kashrus Magazine, an independent publication based in Brooklyn, features a roundtable with representatives of kosher certifying agencies sharing ideas and insights, titled “Keeping Mashgichim Happy.”

Rabbi Chaim Fogelman of OK Kosher Certification notes in the discussion that his agency requires business owners to place two weeks’ pay for a mashgiach in escrow to increase his comfort level. “If the mashgiach has an issue or finds something wrong, he will not hesitate to say something to the OK because he knows he will still get paid,” writes Rabbi Fogelman.

Rabbi Yosef Wikler, publisher of Kashrus, noted in an interview that it was clear that vaad rabbis and the AKO are listening to feedback from their certifiers.

“They are taking the matter seriously and hopefully helping [mashgichim] grow professionally, not just in providing seminars for them but also in how they are treated by the companies they work for.”

Rabbi Stein of Atlanta said he wasn’t sure how his committee would vote on the proposals.
“The document could change, things could be added to it,” he said.

Another committee at the conference is to deal with recent changes in the production of alcoholic beverages and their impact on the kashrut of beer and whiskey.

“Beer has become a big problem,” said Rabbi Fishbane, noting that when Anheuser-Busch started making a non-kosher, clam-flavored brew, kashrut inspectors asked to tour the bottling facility to see if the change involved equipment used for other varieties. Kashrus Magazine recently advised against using Budweiser products until the company receives kosher certification or inspection from a kashrut expert.

Some beers and whiskeys, too, have become problematic because they are distilled in the same casks used for unkosher wine, said Rabbi Fishbane.

Hospital kosher certified cafeterias-are they reliable?

http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c36_a17601/News/New_York.html

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

Fish list

BUTTER FISH-infested
COD SABLE FARM RAISED-not infested
COD/SABLE SMOKED ALASKA/CHINA-infested
FLOUNDER- YELLOW TAIL, YELLOW FIN SOLE, DABS (wild), black dabs –infested
FLOUNDER-FLUKE, GEORGES, TILAPIA- not infested

HAKE- infested
HALIBUT- EAST COAST, WEST COAST- infested
HALIBUT- FARM RAISED – not infested
HERRING- Russia, Holland, Germany - Infested

Herring- Canada- not infested

POLLOCK FRESH & FROZEN-infested
RED PERCH- infested
SALMON WILD- CHILE, NORWEIGIAN – not infested
SALMON WILD- infested

SALMON CANNED-INFESTED

SCROD- infested
SEA BASS FRESH & FROZEN chili & peru, SMOKED SABLE- infested
SOL- infested

Rav Wosner on Kashrus