K A S H R U T . C O M_©

The following additional Israeli chodosh information is from Yoseph Herman on February 1, 2013.

The continuing guidelines on purchase of Cheerios in Israel, as well as elsewhere, is the same as was formulated by the O-U and was printed in the Guide. Namely, wheat and wheat starch listed in the ingredients are Yoshon. If WHEAT GERM is listed then the Chodosh date on the package is Aug 16 '13. If there is no wheat germ but there is barley (not malt) such as Multigrain Cheerios, the Chodosh date is Aug 22 '13. If there are no wheat germ or barley, but there are oats then the Chodosh date is Nov 7 '13. When the O-U in Israel and when Osem the importer of Cheerios announced that all Cheerios in Israel are Yoshon, they meant that they only import those batches of Cheerios that satisfy the guidelines that have been published. This can be easily verified by checking the "best if used by" date on the packages.

The following additional Israeli chodosh information is from jerusalemkoshernews on January 26, 2013.

"General Mills in Israel Yoshon clarification:
All General Mills products imported to Eretz Yisroel either through Nestle or through General Mills Israel are Yoshon regardless of the production dates.
The OU does not take responsibility for products imported through private importers.
By “private importers”, the OU means the following:
It was explained to me that for as long as a box of cereal is marked “Approved by the Chief Rabbinate” ( אישור רבנות ראשית ישראל) then it is official and it is fine. Boxes that are not marked like this, which are often found in small grocery stores in areas around Israel, are not included in this Yoshon alert and may indeed be problematic and one must check Yoshon codes to make a determination. "

The following chodosh information is from Rabbi Y. Herman on January 18, 2013.

"Quaker oats MADE IN CANADA, such as the instant oats packets made in Canada and sold in the USA (that are not listed in the "beis" section) have a package Chodosh date that is 7 days earlier than stated in the table. Namely, for instant oats packets, the Chodosh date should be Mar 17 14. Those with later dates may be Chodosh. We apologize for not making this clear distinction between cereals made in the USA and those made in Canada.
The O-U in the USA and the O-U in Israel have issued differing advisories regarding the status of Cheerios cereals sold under the Nestle label in Israel. The latest advisory of the O-U main office in the USA still applies the same guidelines for the Cheerios in Israel as they have been advising for those being sold in the USA. Namely, wheat and wheat starch in the ingredients are Yoshon. If WHEAT GERM is listed then the Chodosh date on the package is Aug 16 '13. If there is no wheat germ but there is barley (not malt) such as Multigrain Cheerios, the Chodosh is Aug 22 '13. If there are no wheat germ or barley, but there are oats then the Chodosh date if Nov 7 '13.
The O-U in Israel stated that all Cheerios stated that ALL Cheerios sold in Israel are Yoshon. The Guide is maintaining contact with the O-U office in the USA. Once these differences are resolved, we will issue a further bulletin on this matter.

Ed Note: One can sign up for chodosh information from Rabbi Yoseph Herman by email by sendinb a blank email message to Chodosh-subscribe@jif.org.il