Kashrut.com - Kosher Food Alerts and Mislabeled Products

Update: Gel Spice, Inc. Issues Expanded Recall of Ground Tumeric Powder Due to Elevated Lead Levels

August 5, 2016 - From the FDA:

Gel Spice, Inc. is expanding its recall of ground turmeric powder to include additional brands because of elevated lead levels. Lead can accumulate in the body over time. Too much can cause health problems, including delayed mental and physical development and learning deficiencies. Pregnant women, infants and young children especially should avoid exposure to lead. People concerned about blood lead levels should contact their physician or health clinic to ask about testing. The additional products being recalled are identified in the table below.

Brand/Description and Net Weight	Lot/BB code	UPC NUMBER
Spice Select/8 oz	03/18/19	076114007730
Market Pantry/0.95 oz	05APR2019	085239211038
Gel/15 oz	04/18/19	076114800867
Gel/15 oz	05/16/19	076114800867
Clear Value /0.75oz	04/27/19	036800354920
Lieber’s/2 oz	05/13/19	043427006361
Spice Supreme/2 oz	05/17/19	076114364628

The products were distributed by various retailers throughout the United States.

Sampling and testing of another product, produced from the same bulk turmeric, revealed the elevated level of lead.

Consumers who have purchased the ground turmeric powders identified above should discard the product. Consumers with questions about the recalled product may call (201) 564-0435 between the hours of 8 AM to 4 PM Eastern Time, Monday-Friday.

Gel Spice, Inc. Issues Alert on Elevated Lead Levels in One Lot of Fresh Finds Ground Turmeric Powder

July 28, 2016 - From the FDA:

Gel Spice, Inc. is recalling one lot of Fresh Finds Ground Turmeric Powder because the product contains elevated lead levels.
The recalled "Fresh Finds Ground Turmeric" is packaged in 3.75 oz. PET jars. It has a code of B/B 03/08/19 and B/B 05/18/19 on the neck of the container.The package also has a UPC code of 81026-01230. The product was distributed at Big Lots Stores throughout the United States.
Routine sampling by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ food inspectors and subsequent analysis of the product by the New York State Food Laboratory revealed the elevated level of lead.
Lead can accumulate in the body over time. Too much can cause health problems, including delayed mental and physical development and learning deficiencies. Pregnant women, infants and young children especially should avoid exposure to lead. People concerned about blood lead levels should contact their physician or health clinic to ask about testing.
Consumers who have purchased “Fresh Finds Ground Turmeric” should discard the product. Consumers with questions about the recalled product may call (201) 564-0435.

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/Alerts/?alert=A5570

Kosher Alert Imperial Garden

August 5, 2016 from the OU:
Imperial Garden Frozen Organic Brown Rice, Edamame & Kale, JYC International Inc., Houston TX: The Orthodox Union does not certify any Imperial Garden product. Some frozen Imperial Garden Organic Brown Rice, Edamame & Kale is being sold in a display box that has an unauthorized OU symbol. The individual bags do not have an OU on them. This product is sold in some Costco stores (and possibly elsewhere). Corrective actions are being implemented.

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/Alerts/?alert=A5582

Kashrus advisory on Margarine

August 7, 2016 from the Vaad of Denver:
Margarine in King Soopers: Several flavors of country crock margarine (not all) are Pareve; please check the label. Blue bonnet margarine sticks lactose free are pareve (again), please check the label.

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/Alerts/?alert=A5581

Fresh sprouts from Denver linked to 9-state outbreak

August 5, 2016 - From the FoodSafetyNews:

At least 30 people across nine states have fallen ill in an outbreak of Salmonella infections traced to “Living Alfalfa Sprouts” supplied by Sprouts Extraordinaire of Denver.
A number of the victims reported eating fresh sprouts at several different restaurants before becoming ill, according to the Friday afternoon outbreak announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The 30 confirmed victims are infected with strains of Salmonella Reading or Salmonella Abony. Traceback investigation as of Friday showed several victims had eaten fresh sprouts on sandwiches from restaurants supplied by the Sprouts Extraordinaire company.
The recalled alfalfa sprouts were sold in 5-pound boxes and labeled “Living Alfalfa Sprouts,” according to the CDC.
Illnesses onset dates for the outbreak victims range from May 21 to July 20. Illnesses that occurred after July 12 might not yet be reported because of the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is confirmed and reported by local and state officials. This takes an average of 2 to 4 weeks.

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/Alerts/?alert=A5580

Beyond Better Foods, LLC Issues Allergy Alert On Undeclared Peanuts In Mislabeled Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

August 6, 2016 - From the FDA:

Beyond Better Foods, LLC is recalling select cases from a single production run of Enlightened brand Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip ice cream because they may have been packaged in Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream containers and thus contain undeclared peanuts.
This recall is the result of mislabeled product. Specifically, portions of one lot of Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip ice cream was mistakenly filled in pint sized Enlightened brand Mint Chocolate Chip pint containers, and capped with Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip labeled lids. These packages have a base container labeled “Mint Chocolate Chip,” a lid labeled “Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip” and are filled with Peanut Butter Chocolate chip ice cream. The opaque container reveals tan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip ice cream inside -- not light green Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream. All affected products have a “best by” date of November 18, 2017.
Customers who have purchased mislabeled Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip ice cream in an Enlightened brand Mint Chocolate Chip container are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Questions may be directed to 1-800-819-2998 Monday-Friday between 9AM and 5PM Eastern Time.

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/Alerts/?alert=A5579

Herb Vinaigrette and Raspberry Vinaigrette - Unauthorized COR Symbol

August 5, 2016, - From the COR:
Your Fresh Market Herb Vinaigrette and Raspberry Vinaigrette: These two products are not kosher, even if bearing a COR symbol.

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/Alerts/?alert=A5578

Kashrus alert on TCHO Mokaccino Bar

August 4, 2016 - from Kosherquest.org and confirmed by Earth-K.

TCHO Mokaccino Bar contains dairy ingredient as listed on the label. This product was inadvertently labeled as DE (dairy equipment) instead of D (dairy).

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/Alerts/?alert=A5577

South African kashrus notice on Fiestas Chips

August 4, 2016: From the Beth Din of Johannesburg:

Please be aware that due to a change in formulation, all Fiestas Chips are now Milchik (Not Chalav Yisroel). This refers to packaging with and without the Beth Din logo. Please be aware that the 750g packets of Thrive cereal are labelled

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/Alerts/?alert=A5575

Rabbi Herman CHODOSH BULLETIN-2 Aug 16

THE OFFICIAL START OF THE NEW CHODOSH SEASON

"The Chodosh season has begun this year somewhat earlier than usual due to the agricultural conditions in the growing areas. Our estimates of the start of Chodosh for each crop are based on the reports from the US Department of Agriculture. This year, this information is enhanced by reports sent to me by several mashgichim, for which I thank these mashgichim.

PLEASE POST THIS BULLETIN IN SHULS AND OTHER LOCATIONS WHERE THOSE WHO ARE CAREFUL ABOUT CHODOSH WOULD SEE IT.

Freshly baked items using spring wheat, including breads, challahs, bagels, rolls, pizza and some cakes and cookies may be Chodosh in the Midwest after the PURCHASE DATE of Jul 29. Elsewhere in the US, this date would be Aug 12.
Packaged foods from spring wheat may be Chodosh after the PACKING date of Jul 29, or the PURCHASE date of Aug 12.
Noodles and pasta may be Chodosh after the PACKING date of Aug 13 and the PURCHASE date of Aug 27.
Barley, such as pearled barley, may be Chodosh after the PACKING date of Aug 9 and PURCHASE date of Aug 23
Oats: Oats in all products, including cereals, may be Chodosh starting with a PACKING date of Jul 20, PURCHASE date of Aug 3. (The known exception is for General Mills cereals including all Cheerios, for which the Chodosh packing date is July 31 or later.)
Barley malt (also listed in the ingredients as “malt”) may be Chodosh as of the packing date of Dec 15. Package codes should be checked after the purchase date of Dec 15 for beer made from barley malt and Mar 15 for malt in other products.

Even though Pesach was late on the solar calendar this year, still almost all of the 3 crops of interest were planted after Pesach and are Chodosh. The early harvest this year is due to weather conditions in the growing areas.

This information is from GUIDE TO CHODOSH-YOSEPH HERMAN,
HOT LINE 718-305-5133,
EMAIL: yherman@earthlink.net

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/Alerts/?alert=A5574

Kosher Alert Mother’s Maid Grape Juice

August 1, 2016 from the OU:
Mother's Maid Unsweetened Grape Juice, Burnette Foods, Inc. Elk Rapids MI: The Orthodox Union does not certify Mother’s Maid Grape Juice. Some labels were printed with an unauthorized OU symbol. Corrective actions have been implemented.

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/Alerts/?alert=A5573

Older alerts

The information posted is from secondary sources. We cannot take responsibility for the accuracy of the information.

Copyright © kashrut.com. Permission is granted to reprint these alerts in hardcopy print media if kashrut.com is credited as the source of the information.
כל האומר דבר בשם אומרו, מביא גאלה לעולם אבות ו"ו

Phone: (781)784-6890 E-mail: ajms@kashrut.com	URL: "http://www.kashrut.com/"

Arlene J. Mathes-Scharf Food Scientist - Kosher Food Specialist

	Scharf Associates P.O. Box 50 Sharon, MA 02067

K A S H R U T . C O M_©

The Premier Kosher Information Source on the Internet