A very nice Shabbos and Yom-Tov minhag

There is at least one family that at all seudas Shabbos & Yom-Tov each adult (including guests) reads out loud 1 page of "the 39 Melochos of Shabbos" by Rabbi Ribiat.

It doesn't long to finish all of the 39 melochos, and then they do it again.

The chofetz Chaim writes that it's pratically impossible for one to observe Shabbos properly without constantly reviewing Hilchas Shabbos.

Ethics in Kosher certification

We owe it to the kosher consumer


We in the field of Kashrus have accepted a fiduciary responsibility on behalf of the kosher consumer. Therefore, we owe our fidelity to the kosher consumer to uphold and maintain that fiduciary responsibility.

Executives who face troubling decisions are often confused about how to arrive at the right, moral and ethical course of action. This is not surprising since by definition a “moral dilemma” is one where there is no clear right and wrong, only positives and negatives.

Letter from Colgate About their Vegetarian Products

NOTE: Can one rely on the following letter that it's kosher? NO
Letter from Colgate About their Vegetarian Products

For vegetarian consumers, Colgate offers a large selection of products free of animal-derived ingredients. With more consumers seeking such products every day, Colgate is committed to making it easier for consumers to identify and select these products.

PEPSICO is the biggest supporter of "Toeivah" Boycott their products-Pepsi & SABRA salads

The Princeton Committee on Palestine has sponsored a referendum in next week’s USG elections that asks Dining Services to sell an alternative to Sabra hummus in all its retail locations on campus.

The Strauss Group and PepsiCo each own 50 percent of Sabra Dipping Company.

Jerusalem Kosher News articles

http://www.jerusalemkoshernews.com/2010/11/can-the-hechsher-hack-it/

http://www.jerusalemkoshernews.com/2010/11/bringing-kosher-standards-to-the-tzibur/

http://www.jerusalemkoshernews.com/2010/11/bringing-kosher-standards-to-the-tzibur-2/

NEW!
http://www.jerusalemkoshernews.com/2010/11/bringing-kosher-standards-to-the-tzibur-part-3/

Boilers In Kosher Production

Boilers In Kosher Production

In order to process/ cook food you need heat. In the commercial & industrial food processing, steam & hot water are used extensively. We will first explain the basics of the "Steam" boiler operating system, & then the concerns to the kosher consumer afterwards. The source used for steam and hot water is a "boiler", heated by different fuels.

PEPSI Alert-

There are PEPSI bottles that do NOT have a kosher certifying emblem on the bottle. Those plants are NOT kosher certified and therefore should not be consumed.

From an Email

A COKE "VP" responded, If the OU is not comfortable to put their logo because they don't visit the plant, the kosher consumer shouldn't feel comfortable consuming it without the logo.

Purchasing food for your employees

Some thought re: Purchasing food for your employees.

In general employers do not provide food for their employees. At times the situation is such that the employer does provide food for the employees. A caterer on an outside or out of town job would usually provide food for his employees. At a company party the food is generally provided by the employer.

If none of the employees are Jewish, may the employer serve non-kosher food which of course is cheaper? Can the employer serve pepperoni pizza? Is there a question of Bosur- bi’cholov, which is ossur-bi’hanoah? The pepperoni is cooked together with the cheese on the pizza pie.

Consumer retail pack "palm shortening", is it kosher?

There are at least 2 retail size consumer packs of palm shortening by the same distributor. One is from Brazil with the Hashgocha of Rabbi Illowitz which is acceptable. The other one is with a different Hashgocha and there is a serious concern of treifus, and should not be used.

What's In A Flavor? what may be some kashrus issues?

What's In A Flavor?

When manufacturing a flavor there will be the unwanted aroma etc. caused by the chemical reaction. How does the flavor scientist circumvent the problem? Most flavors are synthetic, there are over two thousand flavors in use & only five hundred are natural. The various chemicals used in a flavor are made in (PPM) parts per million.

Some of the common chemicals used in flavor manufacturing are; Amyl acetate, benzaldehyde, carvone, ethyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, and methyl salicylate among the many others. Each aroma chemical contributes to the success of the ultimate flavor.

Can one rely on a Hetter not a Psak?

I was by Rav Eliyashev, Shlita last Elul to discuss various kashrus issues. Rav Eliyashev changed the subject and wanted to know if all of the facts are known as far as the ships carrying liquid food items. I told him that some of the information was gathered but numerous ships and shipping routes it's still unclear as what's being hauled, and is no relatively fool proof system in tracking all of the shipments e.g. South America, etc.

Then Rav Eliyashev says והוא כבר עשה ההתירים שלו so I ask who is the Ruv speaking about that made his Heteirim רב בלסקי? He says yes,

Quail eggs? So many calls lately.

There are may types of quail, most do not have any Mesorah at all. There is such an over abundance of food available with mesorahs according to everyone so why bother?

2. Are Guinea Fowl and Quail kosher? We would like to eat the eggs.

The Torah lists 24 species of non-kosher fowl. All others are permitted. However, over the years uncertainty has arisen over the identification of these birds. Therefore, Jews consider a fowl kosher only if there is a tradition that this species has always been considered kosher (as with chicken). There is no such tradition regarding Guinea Fowl and Quail, and therefore, they are not considered kosher.

The above is from the Star-K's site, if they couldn't find a way to use it, that's it- case closed

Don't use BRUNSWICK SARDINES ALERT- No Mashgiach Temidi? Why?

DON"T USE BRUNSWICK SARDINES, nor any sardines without a Mashgiach-Temidi

Crustaceans are being found in them, in one can after the other- They must all be recalled.

The following kashrus alert is from a reader's question and consultation with the OU and Bumble Bee on September 22, 2010.

A reader reported finding krill, a small crustacean similar in appearance to a small shrimp in some cans of Brunswick Sardines in Olive Oil. Sardines are a small herring and are a natural seafood product. The main components of the herring diet are krill and other zooplankton present in the ocean in which it lives.

Shabbos problem- Electronic / key Locks in Hotels

At least some of the Electronic room locks with a key as well may be a problem for Shabbos. The internal tracker records all of the uses of the key. "Saflok" is one of them.