K A S H R U T . C O M_©

September 20, 2022 from the COR Detroit:

KROGER, MEIJER and GREAT VALUE [Walmart] brands of PRETZELS that previously had a plain OK symbol, including Pretzel Sticks, Pretzel Rods and Pretzel Mini Twists, are now changing to an OK-D symbol due to dairy equipment, and should not be eaten together with meat. Packages that still bear a plain OK symbol are pareve. Several other store brands of OK certified pretzels (e.g., Clancy’s at Aldi) will also be changing status. Check each bag. (Note: These pretzels are not Pas Yisroel.)

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Kosher Advisory Walmart Pretzel Mini Twists & other other Walmart Great Value Pretzel products

March 14, 2022 and March 18, 2022 from the OK in response to a question from the editor:

Walmart Pretzel Mini Twists, Pretzel Rods, Pretzel Sticks, Pretzel Salty Sticks, Pretzel Nuggets Sourdough, and Pretzel Twists are changing from pareve to DE (labeled with the OK D symbol). All packaging with the OK symbol are still pareve.

From the OK, the status can change to dairy without notification (since the product is already approved as dairy. The consumer should check with the OK office every few months to reconfirm the DE status of this product.

The pretzels will be DE and labeled with the OKD symbol.

Posted September 18, 2022

• OU Pas Yisroel List for 5783-2022 is here
• The Star-K Yoshon Quick Reference Guide 5783 is here
• KVH Certified Pas Yisroel List 5783 is here
• Kof-K Pas Yisroel Product Guide is here
• Scroll K Rosh HaShana Food Guide: Yoshon & Simonim is here
• cRc Simonim Chart is here
• New Square Kashrus Council Rosh HaShana Bedikas Tolaim Guide is here
• Information from the COR Detroit September 20,2022:
  • PAS YISROEL: The K-COR wishes to remind consumers of the accepted custom to be stringent on Pas Yisroel during Aseres Yemei T’shuva. Please be advised that many K-COR certified establishments produce or sell some bread and cake products that are not Pas Yisroel. Please ask the Mashgiach or call the K-COR office for details regarding specific establishments.
    • The following establishments are totally Pas Yisroel: ZEMAN’S, BAKE STATION, DAKOTA BREAD COMPANY, PIZZA STOP, SPREADS BAGELS & CAFÉ, PRIME 10, SOUL CAFÉ RESTAURANT, KAPLAN CAKES, and YODELS ‘N MORE. At THE GROVE [One Stop] FRESH BAKERY dept., all items that are sold loose, or repackaged with a Grove label, are Pas Yisroel. At JERUSALEM PIZZA, the pizza and bagels are Pas Yisroel. • KORDAS’ breads, rolls, and buns from METROPOLITAN BAKING CO. bearing the K-COR symbol are Pas Yisroel, except for Pita Bread which is not Pas Yisroel. • MILANO BAKERY bread and rolls that bear the K-COR symbol are Pas Yisroel*, except for Milano Bread Sticks which are not Pas Yisroel.
    • SIMPLY NATURE KNOCK YOUR SPROUTS OFF SPROUTED 7 GRAIN BREAD at Aldi with an OK symbol is Pas Yisroel*.
    • SPECIALLY SELECTED brand SMALL BATCH SOURDOUGH LOAF, ITALIAN BREAD and any other Specially Selected breads at Aldi bearing a Scroll K symbol are Pas Yisroel.
    • TRADER JOE'S brand of CHOCOLATE BROOKLYN BABKA, CINNAMON BROOKLYN BABKA, and HALF MOON COOKIES that bear OU Pareve are Pas Yisroel. (They are no longer Yoshon.)
    • TRADER JOE’S ORGANIC FRENCH ROLLS and TRADER JOE’S ORGANIC FRENCH BAGUETTE that bear MK certification [Montreal] are Pas Yisroel*.
    • TRADER JOE'S CHALLAH - BRAIDED EGG BREAD that bears an Earth K symbol and states "Pas Yisroel” is Pas Yisroel. • TRADER JOE'S SPROUTED WHEAT 7-GRAIN BREAD that bears an OK and states “Pas Yisroel” is Pas Yisroel*. [NOTE: Trader Joe's Sprouted Wheat Sourdough Bread and Sprouted Wheat Multigrain Bread bearing a Star-K are not Pas Yisroel.]
    • GOLDBERGS FINE FOODS CHALLAH TWIN PACK TRADITIONAL that bears an OK and states “Pas Yisroel” (available at Costco) is Pas Yisroel.
    • NATURAL OVENS BAKERY KETO-FRIENDLY WHITE BREAD with an OU ink jetted on the individually wrapped loaves (available at Costco) is Pas Yisroel.
    • ROSEN’S breads, buns and rolls with an OU (available at Costco) are Pas Yisroel*.
    • FOOD FOR LIFE EZEKIEL SPROUTED GRAIN BREADS with the Kof-K symbol are Pas Yisroel*. The Pocket Bread, however, is not Pas Yisroel.
    • MATT’S BAKERY COOKIES with OK Pareve are Pas Yisroel*.
    • LILLY’S BABKA, RUGELACH and other cakes and cookies with an OU from Lilly’s Baking Company / Brooklyn Brands are Pas Yisroel. (The labels no longer need to state Pas Yisroel. They are not Yoshon.)

      *per the “glow-plug method” [an electrical heating element turned on by the Mashgiach], which most Kashrus agencies consider Pas Yisroel. (The OU, however, does not accept this as Pas Yisroel, based on the psak of Rabbi Yisroel Belsky zt’l.)
  • HONEY:
    • Standard honey goes through a filtering process, which removes the non-Kosher bee parts. Even “raw and unfiltered” honey is usually strained, to remove the bee parts. However, some completely unprocessed honeys are neither filtered nor strained. If the label or the manufacturer states that the honey is not strained, or if bee parts are visible, that honey should be avoided.
    • "Forest honey", "Honeydew honey", and "Beechwood honey" (or honey named after other types of trees such as Pine, Fir, Oak, etc.), generally refer to honey produced by bees that have consumed the non-Kosher excretions of aphids and scale insects left on trees (as opposed to standard honey produced from flower nectar). These are not considered Kosher according to some opinions, and should be avoided.
    • "Royal Jelly" is a bee product that, unlike regular honey, is an actual secretion of the bee. Some Poskim therefore rule that it is not included in the permitted category of “honey”, and it should be avoided.
  • FISH HEADS:
    • The frozen Rainbow Trout fish heads now being sold at Superior Kosher Meats are completely fresh water raised, and do not need to be checked for lice.
    • Rainbow Trout from Norway are heavily infested, and require thorough cleaning and checking [see below].
      The following is from New Square Kashrus Council:
    • White fish: White fish heads are free of infestation concern.
    • Salmon/Baby Salmon: Salmon heads [even farm raised] are commonly infested with salmon lice (brownish parasites ranging in size from approximately 1-3 cm).
      • The entire gills must be removed. (It may be easier to first cut the head in half before cleaning).
      • Rinse the head thoroughly with water while rubbing all surfaces of the head (inside and outside), including all cracks, crevices and folds, and under and around the tongue. Inspect the head to make sure it is clean.
      
      One who wants to avoid the checking process may just rinse the head and cook the head in a separate pot, take a small piece from the flesh of the head, and visually inspect it before eating to make sure there is no foreign object on it. 
    • Carp: Carp heads may be infested with very small transparent insects called Argulus that are very hard to detect. There is no known method to clean infested carp heads properly, and they should not be used unless checked by an expert.
  • BLACK EYED PEAS are often infested and require careful checking. The following is based on the Star-K procedure for checking dried, canned or frozen black eyed peas, and applies even if the product bears Kashrus certification. (Note: All canned peas and beans always require Kashrus certification, for general Kashrus concerns.)
    • Dried black eyed peas should first be boiled in water. After they have been fully cooked, turn off the flame and allow them to soak in the water for 2-3 hours.  The peas will swell and the peel will become translucent. Then check as below.
    • Canned or frozen black eyed peas may be checked straight out of the can/bag; there is no need to boil or soak.
    • To check (all types): Take the black eyed peas and inspect for holes or dark-colored stains, as this may indicate an insect beneath the thin peel.  If there is a dark spot on the peel, remove the thin skin and check if there is a cavity with a bug in it. (The black "eye" spot is not a sign of infestation.  Similarly, orange colored stains on the surface are not signs of infestation; only dark or black stains are of concern.)
    
    [Note: For those who prefer not to rely on checking, some Poskim advise that the Rosh Hashana simanim custom can be fulfilled without eating the item, by placing it on the table and looking at it.]

South African Kosher Alert: Broccoli and Cauliflower

May 16, 2022: From the South African Beth Din:

Freezerlink brands containing Broccoli and/or Cauliflower are not kosher certified even when bearing the kosher logo.

Brands include

• Gourmet Greens
• Genadendal
• Super Mix

The company will cover the BD logo with a sticker and remove the logo from future packaging.

September 16, 2022 - from KVH Kosher:

The following flavors of Sweet Tree Ice Cream are Dairy, even though they bear a plain KVH symbol:

• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
• Cookies and Cream

Corrective action is being taken.

The other flavors are Pareve:

• Dark Chocolate
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl
• Vanilla Bean

September 16, 2022 from the Star-K:

Packages of frozen organic broccoli, distributed by Omena Organics of Omena, MI, bear an unauthorized STAR-K symbol. Product was found in Midwest markets, including Whole Foods. Corrective action is being taken.