K A S H R U T . C O M_©

Rabbi Herman CHODOSH BULLETIN-2 Sept 16

THE NEW PROBLEM WITH FLOUR

A few weeks ago a very large amount of Gold Medal flour was recalled because of salmonella contamination. As a result, the normal supply chain of wheat to mills has been upset, as mills are trying to get wheat to make up the shortfall. For the Yoshon consumer, this means that the rules that have helped us for the past many years may not be relied on, at least temporarily. This affects national brands such as Gold Medal flour from KC and Heckers and Ceresota flours. It may also affect some of the Jewish brands. Therefore, until further notice, any flour purchased in groceries for home baking can NOT be assumed to be Yoshon unless (1) they have a Yoshon label under hashgocho or (2) have a dating code to indicate that they were packed before Jul 29 ’16. Some sample codes are given below.

WARNING ABOUT BARLEY: The O-U has warned that significant amount of worm contamination has been found recently in pearled barley. We have been warning in the Guide for years that barley must be checked for worms before use, all year around. PLEASE NOTE that this is not a Yoshon-related problem, since the worms have been reported even before the Chodosh season has started and no barley has yet been stored for Yoshon use.

NOTE TO MASHGICHIM: The revised Chodosh packing date for the Bay State flour mill in Clifton, NJ is Aug 22, not Aug 28.

SELECTED DATING CODES FOR ALL PURPOSE FLOUR

• Gold Medal (all mills) Feb 7 ’18.
• Heckers and Ceresota Jan 29 ‘18
• Pillsbury Jan 29 ‘18
• Shoprite July 29 ‘17
• Stop and Shop Jul 29 ‘18

For other brands and other types of flour, modify the code in last year’s Guide as detailed below, or call the Hot Line.

Star-K Yoshon Quick Reference Guide 2016 as of September 1, 2016.