BROCOLLI & CAULIFLOWER

Broccoli and Cauliflower May Lose Kashrus Jerusalem… by Idele Ross, KosherToday Israel Bureau…

Three Israeli companies and an importer representing a US company, all of whom produce frozen broccoli and cauliflower for the Israeli market are in jeopardy of losing the kashrus certification for these products.

Testing carried out on behalf of the Chief Rabbinate’s Kashrus Department found microscopic insects which render the two popular vegetables nonkosher by Jewish law. The department is awaiting a final decision from the rabbinate regarding the next steps.

Maariv reported that the three Israeli companies: Sunfrost, Milotel and Pri-Galil and the American Bodek company have been notified by the Rabbinate about the change. Contacts between the companies and the Kashrut division are underway in order to prevent the certifications from being withdrawn.

Dart Foam Cups & plates & kashrus issues

The following items were gathered by others.

DART FOAM CONTAINERS FOR FOODS Fri Feb 09 11:17:10 CST 2007
Dart Corporation has informed MCG in writing that the releasing agent Zinc Stearate used on their molds for the manufacturing of polystyrene products is obtained from animal fat.


Crest Toothpaste -Sun Jan 07 09:58:07 CST 2007
Procter & Gamble Company has informed MCG that Crest, "Pro Health Toothpaste" is made with animal derived ingredients.

The following Crest toothpastes are made without animal derived ingredients and there is no information about presence or absence of alcohol in flavor.
1. Cavity Protection Toothpaste
a. Regular Flavor
b. Cool Mint Jell
2. Anti Cavity Toothpaste
a. Rgeular Flavor
3. Kid Crest
The rest of Crest toothpastes contain animal derived ingredients.

Enfamil Nutramigen, Nutramigen Lipil and Similac's Alimentum baby formulas are made with proteolytic enzyme such as protease, obtained from pork pancreas to hydrolyze protein. Both products are recommended for babies having allergic reaction to milk, soy, wheat.

Ross Laboratory's Elecare Powder is answer for babies having allergic reaction to milk, soy and wheat. This product is made with Kosher Parve ingredients but without Kosher symbol dueto Kosher dairy status according to Ross Laboratory. This product do not contain Nucleotide. This product is not available at supermarkets but can be obtained from http://www.rossstore.com/ or calling 1-800=367-6852.


CONFECTIONER;S GLAZE -Thu Dec 28 22:30:43 CST 2006

Confectioner's or Resinous's glaze is a coating on candy or sprinkle. Confectioner's glazes are alcohol solutions of various type of food grade Shellac. Shellac is the secretion of Coccus lacca insects deposited on tree in India. The concentration of shellac in confectioner's glaze is between 20-30%. The lowest alcohol content of confectioner's glaze is about 3.5%. The confection's glaze is applied to hard and cured candies in a pan.

The shellac is also providing some lac wax. The purpose of confectioner glaze on candies is to provide durable, glossy finish; other coatings will not provide shinny gloss like shellac. Same glaze is applied in pharmaceutical products.

We recommend avoiding all candies with confectioner's glaze.

RUSSIAN HATS & SHATNEZ

Bs’d-INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL SHATNEZ LABORATORIES
Yosef Sayagh 641 7th Street, Lakewood NJ 08701 (732) 364-7056 E-mail shatnezhedqtrs@yeshivanet.com
Editor: R’ Adam Singer (Savannah, Georgia)

Russian Caps–Jan ‘07
All Russian textiles must be carefully checked for shatnez before they are used. The Russian garment industry is known to make extensive use of linen and wool in all types of garments.

Rosh Hashanah is a time when thousands of yiden from all over the world come to the kever of Rav Nachman M’Breslov in Oman, Russia. R’ Yoel Schocket and R’ Eliezer Assoulin urged the askonim of Breslov to set up a temporary “Shatnez Testing Laboratory” in Oman, Russia,

The askonim launched a “shatnez awareness campaign” in Oman and requested that R’ Yoel Schocket and R’ Eliezer Assoulin make themselves available to test garments for shatnez starting a few days before Rosh Hashanah. This service has beeen available for the past three years.

R’ Yoel said “most of the Russian Hats (Kutchmers) that they tested were shatnez."

A Wool Russian cap bought in "Oman" Russia made its way to Mexico.
It was given to R’Moshe Cabasso (Mexico Shatnez lab) for testing.
R’ Moshe found an inner lining in the cap's beak that was 100% linen.

Russian hats have always been known to contain shatnez.

We find that the Chofetz Chaim in his sefer Machne Yisroel instucted Jewish soldiers in the Czar’s army to wear their uniform which contained shatnez only when faced with a risk of capital punishment for non-compliance. If not obligated to wear headgear , the Chofetz Chaim added, they should go bareheaded rather than wear a hat containing shatnez.

Brocolli spears

The following kashrus alert is from the OU on January 10, 2007.

Bodek 10 oz boxes Broccoli Spears (not bagged), Bodek Kosher Produce, Inc., Brooklyn, NY: Product bearing code #3193-ZK9 under OU, CRC, and Rav ....... certification is being reviewed for possible levels of insect infestation. Anyone in possession of this product code number is asked to call 212-613-8148, or email at kashalerts@ou.org. Consumers should also be advised that this product was packed in 2002 and has not been distributed by Bodek to stores within two years.
The previous alert can be cited with the URL: http://www.kashrut.com/Alerts/?alert=A1924

RE: "Tola'im"

http://hydepark.hevre.co.il/topic.asp?topic_id=2120268

ACIDOPHILUS-DAIRY???????

In general all "acidophilus" is dairy or on a dairy base.

There is NO dairy in Freeda's acidophilus. Freeda's plant is 100% dairy free.

SHOULDER PADS-SHATNEZ

Bs’d INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL SHATNEZ LABORATORIES by R' Yosef Sayagh 641 7th Street, Lakewood NJ 08701 (732) 364-7056
E-mail shatnezhedqtrs@yeshivanet.com Editor: Yosef Stolz Los Angeles California

"Bitul Regarding the Linen Fibers that are found in the Cotton Fill of Shoulder Pads" – Aug ‘06

We would like to discuss shoulder pads that are constructed by placing raw fibers in between two layers of felt. The raw fibers are pressed and matted between two felt pad covers .The cotton fill sometimes contains linen fibers.

Question: Are the linen fibers botel? Answer: There are two cases:
1) The linen and cotton fibers are all the same color.
2) The linen fibers are a different color than the cotton fibers.

Case #1: If the fibers of linen are the minority and are not noticeable because they are the same color as the cotton fibers, the poskim have paskened l’heter, since they are botel. [If the fibers of linen are the majority, even though they are not noticeable, then bitul obviously does not apply.]

Case #2: If the fibers of linen are a different color than the cotton and are clearly noticeable, for example the linen fibers are brown and are mixed with white cotton fibers, it is a mach'lokes of poskim whether the fibers are botel.

What is the basis of the argument? The Tashbeitz [Vol 2, Teshuvah 4] says in the name of the Rashba, Ran, Ra’avad, and Tosafos: “The general rule of bitul does not apply when the issur is noticeable”[The Gilyon Ma’harsha (Yora Deah, 98:4) and the Taz (Orach Chaim, 632:3) say that this general rule because it is noticeable it isn't botul even if it is the minority is a din Mideoraisa,.

The Levush (see Minchas Yitzchok, Vol 10, end of response 97) says that this is only a din Miderabbonan.]What is the reason that something that is noticeable (nickar) cannot be nullified by the majority (botul berov)?

There are two explanations given:
1. Because the rule of nullification applies only when everything is totally mixed together. If the issur is noticeable, it is not mixed together.

2. The Tashbeitz says that the rule of nullification applies when everything is mixed together, if however the issur is situated in a known place, i.e. on the surface and not blended in with the heter, it can simply be removed. Why apply the rule of bitul when you can simply remove the issur?

The difference between these two explanations would be, if the issur is noticeable but it is not removable, according to the first explanation, the fact that it is noticeable renders it a separate entity, therefore the rule of bitul will not apply. [The fact that it is not removable does not change the ruling and it remains ossur.]

However, according to the second explanation, being noticeable is not the deciding factor. It all depends on if the issur is removable. Therefore, if the issur is not physically removable, even if it is noticeable, the rule of nullification (bitul) will apply. Rashba says that if an issur is noticeable but not removable, the rule of bitul will apply. [see Minchas Yitzchok (Vol 10, end of response 97) ]

The Tzemach Tzedek (Yora Deah, response 70 #5) adds that if it is only possible to remove the issur with great effort, one can rely on bitul. [See Malbushei Yesha (2, seif 11)]

Conclusion: If the fibers of linen are the minority but are noticeable, for example the linen fibers are brown & are mixed with white cotton fibers, then: According to the Tashbeitz, Rashba and Tzemach Tzedek; even though the linen fibers are noticeable, the rule of nullification applies, as explained above.

However some poskim paskened that there is certainly a makom to be mach'mir and it is appropriate to have these types of shoulder pads removed. They base this on the fact that, as noted above, some poskim conclude that the general rule of nullification does not apply when the linen fibers are noticeable, even though it is not possible to remove them.

Shoulder Pads -Joseph Abboud Men’s SuitR’ Dovid Ginsburg (Chicago) found brown linen fibers in the white cotton fill of a Joseph Abboud men’s suit, as seen in pictures below.

NON-KOSHER MEAT IN HATZLACHA GROCERY MONSEY

THERE WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE MEAT DEPARTMENT AT HATZLOCHA GROCERY WAS SELLING NON-KOSHER MEAT.
THE MEAT DEPARTMENT WAS SUBLET TO A MR.FINKEL WHOM HAD HIS BUTCHER IN A BACK AREA OF THE GROCERY.

ANY ONE THAT HAS PURCHASED MEAT PRODUCTS THAT WERE PROCESSED AT THAT FACILITY SHOULD "KASHER" THEIR UTENSILS.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT fINKEL WAS CAUGHT WITH THESE SHENANIGANS, ABOUT 8 YEARS AGO YEHUDA SHAIN CAUGHT HIM & REPORTED IT TO HIS RAV HAMACHSHIR & HIS MASHGIACH REB SHLOMO ULMAN, SHLITA, THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT IT & CONTINUED THE HASHGOCHA.

A certifier the consumer can rely upon

The certification has been in the past mostly for industrial products.
As of late it has been available for the commercial and retail consumer as well.

The Double U certifies kosher weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, affairs, Hotels, etc.

To contact us;

kashrusy@aol.com

732-363-7979

 

Reliable, All pi Halacha by Lakewood Rabbonim-CHALA BURNING- KASHERING- SHAIMOS- over 20 years in Lakewood

Others are throwing Chala in the trash- WATCH THE CHALA BEING BURNED!

Alert: In the past, some entities were disposing chala without burning, etc OBSERVE THE CHALAH BEING BURNED! Reliable burning of Chalah, Kashering utensils, shaimos

 

Pesach 5786 List- if anyone wants the list send an email kashrusy@aol.com, subject line- Pesach list-

Hisachdus Harabonim Di’Lakewood-PESACH 5786/ by y. Shain-RECOMMENDED LIST- Must say kosher for Passover on each item.

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!

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

NOTE: ALL (including all w/ Hashgochas) ORANGE JUICE REQUIRES FILTERING FROM THE SCALE INSECTS. Non commercial wines require filtering from the mite insects. Filters are available at Shain-1140 Forest Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701 @ $10.00

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

Are all of the Pesach services the same, no, they aren't

Kashering-Burning Chometz-     Shaimos