Infestation in various pasta products,

The following insect infestation alert is from the COR on December 24, 2010.

Please be advised that we are receiving reports of insect infestation in various pasta products, some of which were manufactured in the past 2 to 3 months. Insects can be small and black, approximately 2-3 mm in size. This situation is being monitored and is under review by COR.

At this time, we recommend that you check your pasta before cooking. An easy way to ascertain whether insects are present is to spread the product across a white paper plate and look for the signs of infestation. will be revised.

Minced v Ground fish-What's the difference? who cares?

Minced fish: meat consists of minced flesh removed from the fish carcasses by cuts made parallel to the backbone.
Ground fish: Consits of fish meat that was ground. Sometimes it's ground twice for a finer mix.
Surimi, Fish sticks, etc use "minced fish" not ground fish. Some fish have an issue with anisakis or other imbedded worms in the flesh,
Pollock is one of those that have kashrus concerns. Therefore if it's minced, you should refrain from using it.

STRAWBERRIES, may be used "only" after peeling them

Strawberries are an infested fruit. The thrips hide under the seeds, all of the washing & checking can minimize but not eliminate the insects.

Therefore the only method is to peel the entire outside of the Strawberry after removing the green stem.

RE: Frozen strawberries. There are at least 3  frozen strawberries with hashgochas. The cold facts are that frozen strawberries have minimized but not eliminated the infestation completly.

In Eretz Yisroel all of the reliable Hashgochas say that the frozen strawberries must be "pureed" and "cooked" prior to using them. All of the frozen strawberries with any hashgocha in the USA "must" also be pureed and cooked prior to use, including the ones with EIDAH's Hashgocha.

Edible Flowers, how badly are they infested?

Edible flowers come in beautiful shades of various colors and they are edible also. The kashrus issue is the "protein" contained in the flowers because of the high incident of insects, live ones as well. Therefore even if you don't eat them, they should not be on the plate because some of those insects are very much alive and they may enjoy your food on the plate.

The "Mother" of Lakewood's problems

The Pretzel Lady

A little old lady sold pretzels on a street corner for 25 cents each. Every day a young man would leave his office building at lunch time and as he passed the pretzel stand, he would leave her a quarter, but never take a pretzel.

This went on for more than 3 years. The two of them never spoke. One day, as the young man passed the old lady's stand and left his quarter as usual, the pretzel lady spoke to him. Without blinking an eye she said:

"They're 35 cents now."//www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0ugCXra2qw

Lasagna infestation dilema

Heimish pasta has often been infested for a few reasons. Some of the the Heimish  companies produce annually or bi-annualy.  Some of them therefore do not put on date codes. Some of them have very poor humid hot storage facilities. Either the insects are found before cooking or while cooking. Lasagna presents a unique problem, as its cooked with the sauce & added product, one can't see the infestation.

Others have opted therefore to purchase only "dated" relatively fresh product not necessarily the heimish brands but with a reliable hashgocha nonetheless. It's advised if you have a questionable lasagna product, to partially par boil first and check the water for infestation.

Oranges & Tangerines are coated with "LAC" (non-kosher), and scale.

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Oranges & Tangerines may be coated with Lac resin (an extract from insects). we have seen it printed on the bags at Shop-Rite. If one intends to use orange rind, the Lac resin would be a concern. Another concern would be that at times on citrus fruits there are tiny inbedded insects or larvae known as "scale".

Ensuring Food Safety and Kashrus Protection Through Supply Chain "TRACEABILITY"

Executive Summary

To ensure the safety of the domestic and global food supply, demands for brand protection assurance are on the rise from customers and the food industry marketplace itself, along with increasing national and global food safety initiatives. To address these growing requirements, food processors and distribution warehouses up and down the supply chain now find automated traceability systems are a virtual necessity. For many food processors, the current challenge is to identify an automated approach to traceability that is both cost-effective and a good fit for their current business operations.
http://www.pddnet.com/WhitePapersPortal/wpContent.aspx?id=100719&source=Food_WhitePaper_Blast

UPDATE: Worms in herring (jarred)? "2 Mumchim (fish experts) say it's not anisakis, nor a worm

Falsely claimed the OU certified its "tilapia" fish as kosher

The Orthodox Union is suing a Pennsylvania-based seafood-importing company, saying it falsely claimed the OU certified its tilapia fish as kosher, highlighting a common problem in the increasingly global kosher marketplace.

In a suit filed in federal court in Manhattan this month, the Orthodox Union, a Manhattan not-for-profit with a kosher division, sued Western Edge Inc. for trademark infringement and deceptive trade practice, alleging the unauthorized use of its registered certification mark. The suit alleges that Western Edge produced a fraudulent letter when asked by a Brooklyn food company about the kosher status of its tilapia fillets.

Matzo baking in India?

http://www.indianfoodrecipe.co.in/video_view.php?query=35754

This is the answer?

ששאלתם שקמו אנשים שמשתדלים להיות השלוח' דרבנן בעניני הציבור וכו''

שולחן ערוך חושן משפט, סימן ג' סעיף ד

רמ"א וז"ל -להושיב דינים ושופטים מי שירצה ומכל מקום מי שעושה זה בלא רשות הקהל (י"ג) מצער הציבור ועתיד ליתן את הדין תשובת רשב"א

אורים ותומים (י"ג) מצער הציבור. הוא לשון ריב"ש בתשובה, והרמ"א העתיקו ,ותמהני שלא העתיק שהוא חרם רבינו תם ורשב"ם וראב"ן וק"ן רבנים והוא בתשובת מהר"ם דפוס פראג בסופו (קנט-ב') וז"ל, ועוד גזרנו ונידינו וחרמנו בשמתא ובשם מיתה שלא יהיה אדם רשאי ליטול שררה על הציבור לא ע"י מלך וכו 'כי לענוש וכו 'אם לא שימנו אותם רוב הקהל מפני חשיבותם , והעובר על זה וכו' פתו פת כותי וכו' 'ושו נפשו ינוח ברכות על ראשו, עכ"ל.

A good laugh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geYurdqTGak&feature=player_embedded

No shabbos Cameras! Shuls, Yeshivas, have cameras? Check it out.

A few years ago, the Yerushalayim municipality installed a number of security cameras throughout the Old City. It was a time when there was a rash of stabbings and stabbing attempts in the Old City, and the cameras were aimed at helping catch the perps and also discouraging crime in the future, as perps will know they can more easily be apprehended.The issue was raised that perhaps the cameras operating on Shabbos would be a problem for those walking through the Old City on Shabbos to go to the Kosel.

Who is the ultimate decider that it's acceptably kosher?

You!, You are making  the ultimate decision that it meets your kashrus standard, when you put it in your mouth,

Beef prices are on a steady climb up

Herring is on the way out, Herring salad is on the way in.

In Eretz Yisroel and many in the USA as well don't consume herring anymore due to the anisakis worm.

Chopped / ground herring salad does not have the issues.

Some are developing some very interesting herring salads.

Non-Checked produce being put into packaging with Hashgochas

נתפס כשחברתו אורזת עלי ירק לא מפוקחים בתוך שקיות הנושאות ציוני כשרות מהודרים והרבנות המקומית

עלי ירק המוצגת כמפוקחת (גם אם היא נושאת מותגי כשרות ידועים) ממשווק זה עד להודעה חדשה. נא ליידע את המשגיחים בהתאם  גוש חי"ה המעידים על ירק ללא תולעים ובכך נגרמה הכשלה חמורה לציבור. הואיל ואירוע זה אינו הראשון אצל משווק זה הוחלט כי אין לקלוט כל תוצרת של הרבנות הראשית לישראל

THE CHIEF RABBINATE OF ISRAEL

היחידה הארצית לאכיפת חוק איסור הונאה בכשרות

ALL TRUMP (General Mills) is heavily infested at this time

ALL TRUMP (General Mills) is heavily infested at this time.


New Square Kashrus Council-Rabbi C. M. Wagshal, Rabbinic Administrator

RONZONI elbows infested

The following information regarding insect infestation is from the hakhel.info with additional information from the OU and posted on December 7, 2010.

Hakhel.info reported insect infestation has been found in boxes of Ronzoni Elbows. People who keep yoshon and others should be aware that improper storage conditions may be a factor in insect infestation.

listen to this, read the rest, read more.

http://www.bhol.co.il/Article.aspx?id=22071