Romaine - The only reliably clean romaine was Postiv, Kosher Garden, Blossom w/ Hisachdus-

 The Bodek romaine was infested, etc 

yet it was approved by Zichron Shmuel, Feingold group, Wagshall, etc 

 

cRc Kashrus Alert March 31, 2026 Please note that, due to an unusual combination of circumstances, the cRc certified lettuce sold over the past few days, has been found to contain insects and should not be used. Since many people purchased this lettuce for use at the Seder, and it may be difficult to find properly checked alternatives at this late stage, the cRc has coordinated an emergency production and distribution of a limited supply of certified hydroponic lettuce. (As with all hydroponic lettuce, a shaila should be asked on what beracha should be made). This lettuce will be provided free of charge to customers who bought the infested product. One may also take the above lettuce or buy unchecked fresh romaine lettuce and prepare it for the Seder with a few simple steps: remove the leaves so only the stalks remain, immerse and vigorously swish the stalks in soapy water, then rub each one under running water.

XANTHAN GUM & PESACH

 

XANTHAN GUM & PESACH

A Halachic Synopsis for Consumers & Food Manufacturers

What Is Xanthan Gum?

Xanthan gum is a polysaccharide produced through industrial fermentation. The bacterium Xanthomonas campestris is grown in large fermentation tanks where it feeds on a sugar (carbon) source, producing xanthan gum as a metabolic byproduct. The gum is then precipitated from the broth using alcohol, separated, dried, and milled into powder.

Critical point: Every Pesach and year-round kosher concern flows directly from what the bacteria consumed and what processing agents were used. The final powder may look innocent, but its halachic status is entirely determined by invisible upstream ingredients.

The Carbon Source — Chometz, Kitniyos, or Neither?

The sugar that feeds the fermentation determines the foundational Pesach status of the product. This varies dramatically by country of production:

By Region of Production

Region	Typical Carbon Source	Pesach Status
United States	Corn glucose	Kitniyos (Ashkenazim)
South America	Cane sugar	Preferred — neither chometz nor kitniyos
Europe	Wheat glucose	CHOMETZ — forbidden for all
China	Corn, wheat, or mixed	Uncertain — must verify per lot

The European Problem

European producers routinely use wheat-derived glucose as the fermentation substrate because it is economical and readily available. This makes European xanthan gum actual chometz — not merely kitniyos — forbidden for all Jews on Pesach under every halachic opinion, and subject to the full biblical prohibition of bal yiracheh u'bal yimatze.

The global marketplace compounds this: a product manufactured in the United States may contain xanthan gum sourced from a European or Chinese supplier. The ingredient label will simply say "xanthan gum" with no indication of origin or substrate.

The Non-Pesach Runs — Equipment Absorption (Bliyos)

This is perhaps the most overlooked dimension of the problem. Even at a facility whose year-round production uses wheat-glucose substrate and then transitions to a dedicated Pesach run, the equipment itself presents a severe halachic obstacle.

The fermenters, piping, heat exchangers, centrifuges, and dryers that operate year-round on chometz-based fermentation broth absorb chometz ta'am (flavor/character) deep into their walls through:

•       Prolonged hot contact — fermentation runs 48–100 hours at 28–32°C

•       Aqueous, acidic medium — optimal conditions for bliyah (absorption)

•       Repeated production cycles — absorption accumulates over time

Why 'Eino Ben Yomo' Does Not Help

The normal leniency that equipment unused for 24 hours (eino ben yomo) renders absorbed taste pagum (degraded) and less problematic does not apply to chometz on Pesach. Chometz is unique in halacha: even a degraded, pagum ta'am of chometz absorbed in a vessel prohibits that vessel and its contents on Pesach. Simply stopping production the day before Pesach is halachically meaningless.

Full kashering of industrial fermenters — enormous stainless steel vessels — requires hagalah (purging by boiling water) reaching every interior surface. This is an enormous undertaking requiring a complete operational shutdown under mashgiach supervision, and in many facilities it is practically impossible.

The Recycled Alcohol — A Chain of Chometz Contamination

One of the most economically significant steps in xanthan gum production is solvent recovery. After the gum is precipitated, the alcohol-water mixture is collected and redistilled, recovering approximately 85–95% of the alcohol for reuse in the next production cycle.

At a facility running chometz-based year-round production, this recycled alcohol is chometz-contaminated: it has been in full, prolonged contact with the chometz fermentation broth and the chometz-grown gum curd. It cannot be used for Pesach production.

Furthermore, the distillation columns used to recover the alcohol are themselves chometz-absorbed. Even bringing in virgin new alcohol and running it through unkashered recovery columns would contaminate it. The entire solvent recovery infrastructure must either be kashered or bypassed entirely for a legitimate Pesach run.

Bypassing solvent recovery means the full cost of new, virgin, kosher l'Pesach certified alcohol is borne for that production run, with no offset — dramatically increasing the cost of Pesach production and explaining why genuine kosher l'Pesach xanthan gum is rare and expensive.

The Nitrogen Source — A Hidden Year-Round and Pesach Concern

Beyond the carbon source, the fermentation medium requires a nitrogen source — protein-based nutrients that feed bacterial growth. The nitrogen source used at a given facility is rarely disclosed on product labels, yet it introduces its own layered concerns:

•       Yeast extract — most common; kosher certification required; brewer's yeast raises additional questions

•       Soy peptone / soy flour — plant-based but requires certification

•       Ammonium salts — inorganic, generally not a concern

•       Casein peptone — derived from milk protein; renders xanthan gum dairy (chalav), not pareve — a year-round concern for any meat or pareve application

•       Animal peptone / meat extract — derived from animal tissue; a non-kosher concern year-round without certification

•       Malt extract — CHOMETZ GAMUR year-round and on Pesach; derived from germinated barley

The Malt Extract Problem

Malt extract is produced by germinating barley in water — it is categorically chometz, not merely kitniyos. A facility could be using cane sugar as the carbon source — the preferred Pesach substrate — yet simultaneously using malt extract as the nitrogen source. The resulting xanthan gum would be chometz regardless. A plain kosher symbol does not address which nitrogen source was used.

The Alcohol Used for Precipitation

The alcohol used to precipitate xanthan gum from the fermentation broth carries its own kosher concerns:

•       Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) — synthetic, petroleum-derived; generally, not a kosher concern

•       Ethanol from grain (wheat, barley, rye) — CHOMETZ; if grain-derived ethanol is used in precipitation, it contacts the gum directly

•       Ethanol from grapes — non-kosher (yayin nesech) concern

•       Ethanol from sugar cane or beet — preferred; no chometz or kitniyos concern

In Europe, where grain ethanol is abundant and inexpensive, this is an active concern even for the precipitation step independently of the carbon source.

What the Certification Labels Actually Tell You

Certification	What It Guarantees	What It Does NOT Guarantee
Plain OU / OK / Star-K	Year-round kosher compliance	Pesach suitability; substrate identity; nitrogen source
OU 'Chometz-Free'	No wheat/rye/oats/barley/spelt in inputs	Free of kitniyos; suitable for Ashkenazim on Pesach
Kosher L'Pesach (OU-P)	Dedicated Pesach run under full supervision	The gold standard for Pesach use

For a genuine Kosher L'Pesach certification, a facility must demonstrate:

•       Non-chometz, non-kitniyos carbon source (typically beet or cane sucrose)

•       Fully certified nitrogen source — no malt, no animal-derived, no chometz components

•       Full kashering of all fermenters, piping, dryers, and milling equipment

•       New, virgin, kosher l'Pesach precipitation alcohol — no recycled stock

•       Kashered or bypassed solvent recovery system

•       Continuous mashgiach supervision throughout the entire production run

•       Separate, dedicated Pesach-labeled packaging

Practical Guidance for Consumers and Food Manufacturers

Do not assume. A kosher symbol on xanthan gum — even from a major agency — does not confirm Pesach suitability, particularly for products sourced from Europe or China. For any product containing xanthan gum that is intended for Pesach use:

•       Verify the specific substrate used (carbon source) for that production lot

•       Verify the nitrogen source and confirm it is free of malt, animal-derived peptones, and chometz

•       Confirm the precipitation alcohol is not grain-derived

•       Require a specific Kosher L'Pesach certification letter for the lot in question, not merely a year-round kosher certificate

•       Contact the certifying agency directly — not just the manufacturer — for clarification

 

For halachic guidance on specific products or production facilities, consult your posek and the certifying agency's Pesach documentation.OU Pesach Guide • cRc Pesach List • Star-K Pesach Database •

KEDEM GRAPE JUICE- non-mevushal pasteurized at 155F, non-mevushal wines are pasteurized at below 175F- high end wines non-mevushal is not heated at all- sounds confusing

Wine requires 2 seals , cooked wine Requires 1 seal.

There are certain of the larger size Grape Juice by Kedem that is "NOT MEVUSHAL" hence it would require 2 seals at all times.

There are wines that are also NON-MEVUSHAL. Check the label carefully.

One should be careful about leaving the wine & Grape Juice without proper seals when having workers or domestic help in ones home.

Hisachdus Harabonim Di’Lakewood-PESACH 5786/ by y. Shain-RECOMMENDED LIST- for copies kashrusy@aol.com- subject - pesach list

 

Hisachdus Harabonim Di’Lakewood-PESACH 5786/ by y. Shain-RECOMMENDED LIST- Must say kosher for Passover on each item.  OU PESACH guide, available at Shain’s, 1140 forest Ave, corner Carey St.

In general, OU-P” grocery items with no heimish hashgocha on package is a preferred Pesach product, as OU Mashgichim are better trained. 

ALL SOUR DOUGH STARTER MAY NOT BE SOLD FOR PESACH, IT must be burned - See Arugas Haboisem #112, among others. After Pesach One can order on-line, Sour-dough Starter- (100+-year-old) from King Arthur flour co. A Goyish owned co. w/ OU. https://shop.kingarthurbaking.com/items/classic-fresh-sourdough-starter

 

ALUMINUM FOIL- All year Hashgocha-Any

Baby formula- MATERNA from Israel (all w/ separate keilim) -J&J, Ross, Similac LeMehadrin 1,2,3, Sunrise

Baking powder-, Bakers Choice, Gefen, Any OU-P -Borsht- Gefen-,Any  OU-P

Cake Cookies- Oberlander, Reismans Schick, Elegant, Gelbstein’s, Chantilly, Bake master - not w/real raspberry jam.

Canned vegetables- Any OU-P, , Gefen -CANDIES- B’datz Yerushalem, Nirbartter, Volover, Any OU-P

CHEESE, CREAM, BUTTER- J &; J, Mehadrin, Haolam, Norman’s, Givat, Tenuva w/ Aida

Chocolates, etc. Chocolate chips-, Bakers Choice, Carmit, Kedasia Any OU-P- OU Parve.

COCOA Powder- Hersheys OU not special dark, cocoa mix- –Any OU-P

COFFEE INSTANT- Nescafe house blend W/P, Tasters choice regular, Geffen, any OU-P.  Folgers, regular, no-P required.

COFFEE WHITENER- Eden- Any OU-P  CONFECTIONARY SUGAR- , Gefen, any OU-P

CRANBERRY JUICE COCKTAIL & sauce-, Gefen, Kedem-Any OU-P

CROCK POT LINERS- Geula, Fantastic, Reynolds-Any OU-P

FISH- King of the Sea, Melech Yam, Dagim, Meal Mart, Fishy Neiman, Freund’s-must have “P”.

FLAVOR EXTRACT- Bakers Choice, Gefen - FRENCH FRIES- Eden-Any OU-P

FROZEN VEGETABLES- Broccoli, Spinach,- Positive / kosher garden, Be’leave Eidah, Blossom only w/ CRC Hisachdus

Dried fruit-w/OU P, yumzee, manishtana, joseph Xavier, setton, no raisins or figs even W/ Hashgocha, use Craisins-OU P.

Frozen strawberries, only peeled Kosher Garden, High Breeze farms, no others even w/ hashgocha

FRUIT CANNED-, Gefen, Any OU-P

Garlic fresh must be peeled &; rinsed-Frozen- Gefen, Any OU-P, must be rinsed well.

GRAPE JUICE- , Gefen, Kedem, Schwartz, Hadar, Laufer.

GROCERY ITEMS- , Masbia, Hadar, Meal Mart, Gefen, Any OU-P -Gold’s products all ONLY with OU-P-

HONEY- , Broad, Gefen, - Any OU-P Horse Radish- Flaum, Tuv Taam, Any OU-P

Hotel for Pesach- ?????NONE! only Openheimer’s

ICE CREAM- Mehadrin, J&J, Kleins, not with real fruit-strawberries, blueberries or raspberries

JUICE - Golden Flow, , New Square, Lakewood farms, Nature’s own (if made in Bayonne, NJ) Kedem

All Orange Juice- MUST BE FILTERED w/ 150 mesh PRIOR TO USE-including Dvash, golden flow, new square, Lakewood farms, etc.

KETCHUP- , Gefen, - Any OU-P

KOSHER GARDEN- POSTIVE, or Blossom with Hisachdus- PRE-CHECKED VEGIES & Herbs, spinach, romaine, broccoli, etc. 

KUGELS- Meal Mart / parve, W/OU-P

LEBEN, YOGURT- Mehadrin, J&J, Norman’s. Givat strawberry &; blueberry is from liquid-NO GEVINA BRAND 

Lemon juice- Real lemon &; Lime OU no P required -LIQUOR-Slivovitz, Tam Pree, Carmel, All OU-P

MATZOS-HAND, East Kenedy Lakewood/Bobov-prefered, Yad Binyomin, komemious-hand matzah only, beit shemesh w/ skver, Yahlom w/ Kedasia, Pupa-Tzeleim. MACHINE MATZOS- Beit Shemesh only w/ she’aris Hashgocha.

MACAROONS- Oberlanders, Gefen & OU=-P

MARGARINE-Eden, J&J, Mehadrin, Mothers, Haolam,  Marshmallows- Gefen, Golden Fluff -MAYONAISE- , Gefen, Any OU-P

MEAT- Fishels, Solomons, Birdsboro (available at Bingo), Alle. N. American only, Teva-Rav Miller, Continental (Canada), Food-ex, Evergreen only Solomons.  NO- Tevya's, no Agri Star, Aarons, KJ/KY beef, No SBD, Meyuchad, no S. American Alle/Meal Mart.

Bais Yosef Beef- BirdsBoro “BY” (at Bingo), fishels & Solomon's BY- not any SBD, nor Meyuchad, nor KJ beef, nor Alle MealMart

MILK-Golden Flow, Pride of the farm (all milked before pesach), Bethel, Wayside Goal milk products.

NUTS-Baker’s choice, No Klein’s, Any OU-P, Costco w/ OU-P, Kirkland almonds, walnuts, plain ou. all unshelled nuts-no BTH, Nuts Galore, pecans-OU-P raw no preservatives.

OIL-Cotton-seed, Roberts, Pereg, Manischewitz, , Masbia, Hadar, Gefen, Nut-Ola-Any OU-P 

OIL-HAZELNUT / WALNUT- Taamon w/ aidah, Gefen, lieber- check dates-over a year may be rancid

OLIVE OIL-GEFEN Pesach-(made a production with hashgocha from pressing through bottling) Aida Oil-Grapeseed-Laufers, or OU-P, Avocado- OU-P Note: OU on olive oil is not acceptable for Pesach.  PARCHMENT PAPER-Geula, Any OU-P or star-k p

POULTRY- Pella, Mesorah, Skver, Kiryas Joel, David Elliot. No Meal Mart, nor Empire, nor Aarons/Agri , no blu-pak @ Bingo

PICKLES- Flaum, Tuv Taam- Any OU-P

Positive/Kosher Garden or Blossom only with CRC/ Hisachdus- pre-checked vegies &; herbs, spinach, romaine, broccoli, etc.

POTATO CHIPS, STICKS- Blooms NOT Bloomy’s, Schwartz, Liebers, Golden fluff - POTATO STARCH- , E&S, Gefen, Any OU-P

POTATOES-INSTANT/MASHED- , dependable, Any OU-P -PRALINE PASTE- Baker’s choice-Any OU-P

*Quinoa- for sfardim w/ OU-P “very infested”-None for ashkenazim- Aida & R’ Shlomo Miller says it’s Kitniyous

Raisins-blueberries-none due to infestation.   *RICE-For sfardim that use rice- LUNDBERGS -ROASTING BAGS- Geula, Reynolds

 ROMAINE LETTUCE- positive, Kosher Garden or Blossom only w/ CRC/ Hisachdus- All others require washing &expert checking   Romaine whole -none, No Romaine Hearts from Andy Boy, Costco, Heimish, Israeli even with hashgochas.

 Spices- Pereg, , Masbia, R&L, Hadar, Any OU-P

Sardines-Melech yam, Dagim from morocco – Any OU- in water only-

Salmon- sides, w/skin Aldi’s, Fishing line- canned “only- farmed”, fresh- frozen needs a pesach hashgocha

SUGAR-White granulated USA W/ Pesach /Domino, Any OU-P - SALT non-iodized-W/ Pesach-all OU-P

SELTZER-UNFLAVORED-with pesach hashgacha-Any OU-P -SELTZER FLAVORED-Any OU-P, Vintage all flavors “P”

SOAP PADS- , Geulah, Gefen, Rokeach, Any OU-P

SODA- American dry, Be’er Mayim, Caffeine free Coca Cola, Classic Cola, Mayim Chaim, Mae Tovim, Pepsi W Bdatz, Seagrams, Sprite W/ PESACH - Any OU-P- NOT DIET

Strawberries- Kosher Garden Peeled-Frozen- NO other brands, Fresh, cut off top, peel the entire berry.

Sushi- All Nori sheets are infested w/ copepods. [Do not use any even during all year, use soy or rice paper].

TEA INSTANT-, Wisotzky, Nestea, LIPTON-Any OU-P -TEA BAGS-Lipton, Pathmark, Shoprite, Wisotzky, Gefen-Any OU-P

TOMATO PRODUCTS-, Gefen- any OU-P

TOOTHPASTE Personal items- Zohar, Adwe, Orbitul, Any OU-P

TOPPING-Eden, -any OU-P-VANILA SUGAR-, Bakers Choice, Gefen- any OU-P

Tuna- Shop-Rite Any OU-P, Dagim, , King of the sea, Melech Yam, Season, Star-Kist OU-P

VEGETABLES CANNED- , Gefen-Any OU-P -Vinegar Balsamic- KEDEM NY Not Bartenura- VINEGAR- , Kedem any OU-P Water- much available w/ OU-P

Bottled water- any OU, without minerals or flavors

WINE-Carmel, Rav Rubin, NYS Kedem w/ Tzelem, Segbach, Eidah, Schwartz’s, Armon. Kedasia, Skver, Rottenberg, Franfurter. 

 

Lakewood area stores- Bingo Beef/poultry Dept carries only BirdsBoro/Mesorah product. Alert: in the Bingo display cases, they have other brands as well, including the Blu-Pak which is not recommended. The Bingo confectionary re-packs, we are not comfortable with Hashgocha reliability of the repackaging. Be careful also of possible infestation.  Some of their meat has some hashgochas that may be questionable. After much research, we do not rely for all year & Pesach on the Hashgochas of Minchas Chinuch, Lakewood’s KCL, Tartikuv, Star-K, SBD, Steinmetz, etc.

Re: Pesach Hotels- For the educated kosher consumer that is concerned about kashrus standards and hotel atmosphere- we cannot recommend any of the Pesach hotels. Oppenheimer’s hotel is under KAJ all year and Pesach and is recommended.   

*Sefardim- Gluten free cakes must be Bishul Yisroel BY-Generally it is not-check with bakery if it is.

Shabbos Friendly appliances certified by Star-K are not recommended. GE Refrigerator with OU Shabbos keeper is for Shabbos.

Alert: fruits and vegetables from Israel, Tithes and Maaser, etc. must be taken, some may be Orlah. Not all sea-salt has a halachic status of מבושל.

Agri, Aarons, Rubashkin’s does not even meet the Kashrus standards of HEBREW NATIONAL. Alle/MealMart S. America and all SBD does not meet the kashrus standards of the Israeli Rabanut. All SBD “BY”  is a SKETCH!

 NOTE: ALL (including all w/ Hashgochas) ORANGE JUICE REQUIRES FILTERING FROM SCALE INSECTS. Non-commercial wines require filtering from mite insects. Filters are available at Shain’s 1140 Forest Ave, Lkwd, NJ 08701

 Shatnez testing only by International Association of Shatnez testers-trained- all other Shatnez testers results not reliable.

 Prepared by Y. Shain- kashrusy@aol.com 732-363-7979   

Do not use for Pesach

 

ALERT! COCA COLA IN ATHENS- UNAUTHORIZED- DO NOT CONSUME

They just had a mamzeres named Layah, per blessing of Sholom Kamenetsky and Rabbi Gershon Bess et al

A Typo for Shlomo? Shlomo Maimon

If "Shalom" happened to be a typo for "Shlomo," you might be thinking of Shlomo Maimon (1753–1800). He was a brilliant Lithuanian Torah prodigy who abandoned traditional Judaism to join the Enlightenment (Haskalah) as a secular philosopher, becoming a notorious example of a great mind lost to heresy.

Does anyone know when Sholom K. became a Heretic, as a bochur, yungerman, Rosh yeshiva?

TAMAR EPSTEIN REMARRIed WITHOUT A GET!

This is an urgent notification in regards to a woman who has now crossed the line and done the unthinkable. We at Mamzer Alert were very saddened to hear about the recent union of Tamar Epstein with her new boyfriend Mr Adam Fleischer. This tragic act of joining together a halachically married woman with a partner who is not her husband was consummated through Rabbi Nota Greenblatt, and with the approval of Rabbi Shmuel Kamentsky. We at Mamzer Alert condemn in the strongest terms possible this adulterous travesty, which encompasses nothing less than the utter trampling upon and total disregard for our holy Torah's marriage laws. The public needs to be aware that any of her future offspring will be considered mamzerim. See  http://daattorah.blogspot.co.il/2015/10/tamar-epstein-rav-gestetner-condemns.html

Shatnez Alert

 

­ אדר-ניסן תשפ"ו Shatnez Notice! Shatnez found in Daniel Tissu Woolen Suits! ­ Dear Friend,   It's essential to exercise caution with your wool garments and linen garments, even when purchased at a Jewish owned store. Please ensure they're tested for shatnez at a certified shatnez laboratory. Pictured above is a linen armhole tape from a Daniel Tissu brand woolen jacket, that has been discovered at the Flatbush Shatnez Laboratory. The Flatbush Shatnez Laboratory has released the following notice: "Many local merchants have recently started selling clothing made in Turkey. Turkish clothing is more likely to contain shatnez. A new men's suit brand, "Daniel Tissu," sold in Boro Park and Flatbush, has been found to have linen armhole tapes. As you may know, armhole tapes are very difficult to completely remove." ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ Pictured above is the fabric label of the Daniel Tissu suit. This finding underscores the importance of testing for shatnez, even when purchased at a Jewish owned store. Important: It is essential to have shatnez testing done only at a qualified shatnez laboratory. Proper garment testing and shatnez removal, as indicated in this notice, can be very challenging and should only be conducted by a qualified shatnez laboratory. Please share this information widely!   Vaad L'Mishmeres Shatnez