THIS SECTION IS FOR NEWS AND INTERESTING STORIES RELATED TO FOOD, NUTRITION AND FOOD PROCESSING. THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY RELATED TO KOSHER BUT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO THE KOSHER CONSUMER, MANUFACTURER OR MASHGIACH.
August 25, 2026: from the OI
"In July, a massive fire tore through the Agri Star Meat & Poultry plant in Postville, Iowa, one of the largest kosher meat-processing facilities in the U.S. The blaze destroyed approximately 75% of the plant and raised immediate concerns about the supply of kosher meat and poultry less than two months before Rosh Hashanah.
"The U.S. is already facing historically tight cattle supplies, which have put pressure on the beef supply and driven prices very high. On top of that, kosher meat production presents its own challenges because it is difficult to find slaughterhouses that are prepared to accommodate kosher slaughter. Against that backdrop, the potential loss of a major facility could have very serious ramifications.
"The plant resumed the shechita of poultry last week, and beef this week.
"With Rosh Hashanah approaching, what impact do you expect the fire to have on the availability and price of kosher meat and poultry in the coming weeks?
"There won’t be a shortage as a result of the fire, since Agri Star has already begun returning to production. Unfortunately, prices tend to rise at this time of year regardless; that has nothing to do with the fire.
"Consumers need to pay close attention to what they are buying. If you are buying meat at a grocery store and it is no longer in its original packaging from the slaughterhouse, for example, make sure you know who is certifying the repackaging and that it was done under reliable kosher supervision. You want to know that the meat has been properly supervised from the point of slaughter to the point of purchase."
July 30, 2026: from the cbs2iowa
"The community of Postville is beginning the long recovery process after a massive fire destroyed much of the Agri Star Meat & Poultry processing plant Tuesday.
"Agri Star said it is still evaluating its short-term plans and will provide verified updates as more information becomes available.
"The fire could also have impacts beyond northeast Iowa.
"According to OU Kosher, the organization that certifies the plant's kosher operations, the facility processes a significant share of the kosher beef and chicken sold in the United States. The loss of production could tighten an already limited summer supply ahead of the Jewish High Holidays, including Rosh Hashanah in September.
"As we monitor the situation in Postville, the safety of the employees and firefighters is our first concern,' said Rabbi Moshe Elefant, CEO of OU Kosher. 'The damaged facility means a significant portion of kosher beef and chicken slaughtered and sold in the U.S. will not enter the kosher supply chain.'
"The organization says it is working with Agri Star and other suppliers to increase production at other facilities to help reduce potential shortages."
July 28, 2026: from the VinNews
"A major fire broke out early Tuesday at the Agri Star Meat & Poultry plant, one of the world’s largest kosher meatpacking facilities, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky and prompting a multi-agency response across northeast Iowa.
"The blaze was reported shortly after 4 a.m. at the sprawling processing plant on North West Street. Multiple fire departments from the region responded as heavy smoke billowed from the facility, visible for miles and drifting into neighboring Fayette County.
"Agri Star confirmed the fire in a Facebook post around 9 a.m., stating that emergency crews had been on scene since early morning and were actively working to contain the flames.
"Officials indicated disruptions to distribution are expected.
"Agri Star is Allamakee County’s largest employer and a major supplier of kosher beef and poultry. The plant, formerly known as Agriprocessors, was founded by the Rubashkin family and acquired in 2009 by interests associated with Canadian businessman Hershey Friedman. It has faced previous incidents, including a smaller boiler-room fire in May and an explosion in 2021 that injured two workers."
July 29, 2026: from the OU on "x"
August 22, 2026 from Euronext Finance:
"A federal judge on Friday dismissed major portions of a Ben & Jerry's lawsuit accusing its former parent Unilever of trying to silence the ice cream maker's social activism, dismantle its board and stop funding its namesake foundation.
"U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel in Manhattan dismissed seven claims and part of an eighth in a 10-count complaint by Vermont-based Ben & Jerry's, whose flavors include Cherry Garcia, Half Baked and Phish Food, and by various independent directors.
"Castel also said Magnum, the Amsterdam-based company that has owned Ben & Jerry's since it was spun off from Unilever last year, will take Unilever's place as the primary defendant.
"The dismissed claims relate primarily to how Ben and Jerry's operates, while the two claims that survived in full relate to missed payments by Unilever.
"Unilever's 2000 purchase of Ben & Jerry's had preserved substantial and uncommon freedoms for the ice cream company, relative to most acquisitions.
"These included an independent board, and the ability to continue pursuing a social mission and charitable work dating from its 1978 founding by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield.
"The relationship began unraveling in 2021, however, when Ben & Jerry's decided to stop selling ice cream in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
"Ben & Jerry's accused Unilever of violating the 2000 merger agreement by censoring its speech, which has included protests against the war in Gaza, and ousting a chief executive who supported the company's social activism. The alleged censorship also included an effort to suppress planned criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump as he began his second White House term.
"In addition, it accused Unilever of violating a 2022 settlement over the sale of Ben & Jerry's trademark rights in Israel, by failing to pay $2.5 million to Ben & Jerry's and $2 million to support Palestinian almond farmers.
"Castel said the merger agreement's "plain meaning" did not afford Ben & Jerry's Class I directors and the Ben & Jerry's Foundation a right to sue on behalf of the company, including on the appointment and removal of directors.
"The judge said the directors could challenge new board eligibility requirements. He also said directors could sue over the missed payments on their own behalf, not on Ben & Jerry's behalf.
"Unilever and Magnum agreed that claims over the missed payments could proceed for now, court papers show."
August 26, 2026 from Israel National News:
"Instead of prepared meals for reheating, soldiers will receive fresh, varied Mehadrin kosher food that meets stringent halachic standards.
"A series of new measures being led by the IDF Chief of Staff’s adviser on Haredi affairs is intended to improve service conditions and adapt the military support framework for soldiers from the Haredi community.
"As part of the program, the Logistics Corps and the General Staff Supply Center in the Technology and Logistics Directorate have formulated an updated approach to providing meals for Haredi soldiers in the military.
"The first stage will include the gradual discontinuation of meals distributed in sealed, prepackaged trays - the method used until now for soldiers who require Mehadrin kosher food. Instead of the trays, daily food services at bases will be expanded to allow fresh and varied Mehadrin kosher food to be served as part of the regular supply system, while ensuring respect for the soldiers’ way of life.
"The program is being implemented in cooperation with the “Mehadrin and Special Populations Section," a new body established within the Military Rabbinate’s Kashrut Branch as part of a broader initiative to improve services for soldiers who require Mehadrin kosher food, those with medical dietary sensitivities, and all service members.
The section is responsible for establishing policy and halachic supervision in the areas of procuremp>"ent, infrastructure, and field operations, as well as formulating dedicated procedures for kitchens on military bases designed to ensure that food meets halachic standards without compromise.
"The initiative is the product of joint staff work by the Chief of Staff’s adviser on Haredi affairs, the Military Rabbinate, and the Technology and Logistics Directorate. The process included an examination of the current situation, identifying gaps based on reports from soldiers and commanders in the field, and developing a logistical solution that enables Mehadrin kosher food to be incorporated into the general food-service system."
August 20, 2026 from the CPSC :
Name of Product: 4 in 1 Plug in Natural Gas and Carbon Monoxide Detectors Model KH158. The detectors were sold under the following brand names: ARIKON, ELECOIN, FLUNGSKY, HAOKESITE, Hembisen, JNHCD, KAKIMENT, KH Alert, KOABBIT, NICGOL, NORJAN, OUMEBIU, Sooguard, Vilfet, Vzmcov, WESHLGD, XLA Alert, YOJOCK
Hazard: Stop using 4 in 1 Plug in Natural Gas and Carbon Monoxide Detectors Model KH158 immediately because the detectors can fail to alert consumers to the presence of hazardous carbon monoxide.
Description: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to stop using 4 in 1 Plug in Natural Gas and Carbon Monoxide Detectors Model KH158 immediately because the detectors can fail to alert consumers to the presence of hazardous carbon monoxide.
The manufacturer, Shenzhen Kanghua Shengshi Industrial Co., LTD dba KH Alert of China, has not agreed to recall these detectors.
Sold Online At: Amazon.com, eBay.com, AliExpress, microcenter.com and snapklik.com in single and multipacks from June 2024 through July 2026 for between $13 and $140.
August 20, 2026 from the CPSC :
JINHEZO Mini Waterproof LED Tea Lights have been recalled because the LED Tea Lights violate the mandatory safety standard for consumer products with button cell and coin batteries because the button batteries can be accessed easily by children, posing an ingestion hazard. Additionally, the packaging and product do not have the warnings required under Reese’s Law. When button cell or coin batteries are swallowed, the ingested batteries can cause serious injuries, internal chemical burns and death.
Consumer Contact: Mystic Zo by email at jinhemaoyi2016@sina.com for more information.
Description: This recall involves JINHEZO Mini Waterproof LED Tea Lights. The circular tea lights are clear with a white base and are about 1” in diameter and 1.14” tall. They come in a pack of 24 lights with 48 coin-cell batteries (two per light).
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled LED Tea Lights immediately and contact Mystic Zo for a full refund. To receive a refund, consumers will be asked to email their order number or bar code number, if available, along with a photo of the tea lights disposed of in the trash to jinhemaoyi2016@sina.com.
Note: Button cell batteries are hazardous. Batteries should be disposed of or recycled by following local hazardous waste procedures.
August 19, 2021 - from Matzav.com
"A new price comparison of Israeli supermarket chains has revealed dramatic differences in the cost of basic household purchases, with shoppers potentially paying nearly NIS 3,000 more for the same full basket depending on where they shop.
"The weekly comparison, presented by Tzvi Tessler on Kol Chai’s 'Hamoked Hatziburi,' examined two categories: a smaller basket of laundry products and a comprehensive household basket containing hundreds of items.
"The results showed especially large disparities in laundry products, where the difference between the least and most expensive retailers reached 31.04%. In the full household basket, the gap between the cheapest and most expensive chains amounted to NIS 2,860.24.
"For laundry products, Rami Levy Mehadrin ranked as the least expensive retailer overall, with the basket costing NIS 369.50. Yesh Bashchuna was the most expensive, at NIS 484.20 — a difference of NIS 114.70."
Details information is on the article here
"he findings underscore how significantly a family’s choice of supermarket can affect its expenses. For frequently purchased products such as laundry detergent, fabric softener and cleaning supplies, even relatively modest differences can add up over the course of a year. When a complete household basket is considered, the price gap can already reach thousands of shekels in a single broad comparison."
August 18, 2021 - from Matzav.com
"Israel’s Agriculture Ministry has temporarily blocked the import of frozen chicken from Brazil, removing a Brazilian poultry plant owned by Baladi from the list of facilities approved to export to Israel following a renewed examination of veterinary oversight and production procedures.
"Dr. Sergio Dolev, acting director of the Agriculture Ministry’s Veterinary Services, informed Baladi that its Brazilian poultry facility was being removed from the approved list and that Brazil would, for the time being, not be authorized to export poultry meat to Israel.
"The ministry said the decision followed a reassessment of the approval process, which determined that imports could not proceed until officials conduct an on-site examination of the production system and determine whether Brazilian authorities are capable of supervising it in accordance with Israel’s stringent requirements.
"Agriculture Ministry officials stressed that the decision was based on professional considerations involving public health and animal welfare. Should the approval process be renewed, a team of Veterinary Services experts is prepared to conduct a comprehensive inspection before officials consider allowing Brazilian poultry imports into Israel.
"The Agriculture Ministry’s move comes amid a broader dispute that has already reached Israel’s Supreme Court following a petition filed by Baladi concerning the establishment of procedures and kashrus approvals for importing poultry from abroad.
"Kashrus officials welcomed the Agriculture Ministry’s decision to suspend the veterinary approval process, saying it would prevent imports from moving forward before the necessary halachic safeguards are fully established.
"According to those officials, shechitah of poultry abroad and the supervision of overseas production involve significant halachic complexities. Suspending the proposed imports, they said, removes pressure to establish arrangements hastily and helps ensure that no products reach Israeli consumers until comprehensive inspections have been completed and a rigorous system of halachic supervision is in place.
"Israel’s domestic poultry industry, particularly farms operating in peripheral areas and communities near the country’s borders, is considered an important component of national food security. Israel has one of the world’s highest rates of chicken consumption, with domestic demand currently supplied entirely through locally raised poultry operating under Israeli supervision.
"laughterhouses throughout Israel also operate under continuous oversight from leading kashrus organizations, creating a supervision chain extending from poultry farms through shechitah and processing until the product reaches consumers.
"Kashrus officials stressed that beyond the legal and commercial questions surrounding imported poultry, protecting kashrus standards and consumers must remain the overriding priority."
August 17, 2026 from Meatingplace:
"Agri Star Meat and Poultry is preparing for a potential limited resumption of processing operations after a devastating fire.
"The blaze, which originated in a laundry accident and burned for three days earlier this month, destroyed an estimated 75% of the plant. Agri Star employs more than 600 workers, and is one of the U.S.’ top processors of kosher meats; rabbis commented that the lost capacity could affect the supply of kosher meats for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur holidays.
"Regarding the plant’s limited reopening, Agri Star stated it is 'thrilled to begin welcoming some of our team members,' and it has 'begun the call back/text process.'
"The processor continued, 'Although we still have a great deal of work ahead of us — and rebuilding will take time — bringing members of our team back through the doors and beginning production again represents an important and hopeful milestone. The road ahead will require continued patience, flexibility, and hard work, but we are incredibly grateful and proud to be taking this step forward.'"
August 13, 2026 from Yeshiva World
"he British government is preparing a sweeping package of new measures against Israel that could include a ban on goods from Israeli settlements, additional sanctions targeting Israelis and organizations linked to the settlement movement, sanctions against more Israeli ministers, and tighter restrictions on arms exports, Middle East Eye reported Wednesday.
"Among the most significant proposals is a ban on goods originating in Israeli settlements. The Foreign Office is also examining whether companies and organizations with business or other links to settlements could face legal sanctions. Britain’s Charity Commission is meanwhile investigating several British charities accused of sending money to settlements. Former Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in June that “no UK charity should be supporting [settlements],” but stopped short of backing a ban on such donations. Burnham’s government is now exploring one.
"The proposed ban has drawn opposition from Labour Friends of Israel, which argued earlier this month that “a boycott of all trade with settlements is practically and politically impossible” and would affect Israeli businesses operating in settlement blocs as well as East Jerusalem and the Old City. But polling cited in the article found overwhelming support inside Labour, with 87 percent of party members backing a ban on settlement trade and just six percent opposed.
"If adopted, the package would amount to a broad escalation in British policy toward Israel, potentially affecting settlement goods, companies and charities with settlement ties, Israeli individuals and ministers, and military exports — with the first measures expected after Parliament returns in September."
August 13, 2026 from the CPSC:
Cooluli Minifridges, 10-Liter and 15-Liter models have been recalled because the recalled minifridges’ electrical switch can short circuit, posing fire and burn hazards.
Consumer Contact: Cooluli at 718-834-5312 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, by email at recall@cooluli.com, or online at www.cooluli.com/pages/product-notices-recalls or www.cooluli.com and click on “PRODUCT RECALLS” at the top of the page for more information.
Description: This recall involves 10-Liter and 15-Liter Cooluli minifridges with an internal power supply and two power input ports (AC and DC) on the back of the minifridge, instead of a single DC port. The removable power cord on the recalled minifridges does not have a “brick” power adapter (as is commonly used with laptop chargers). “Cooluli” is printed on the front of the minifridges. They were sold in a variety of colors including black, blue, green, white and red or with multicolored patterns, photos and logos. The recall includes batch numbers 1535 through 1545 and 1200000 through 1202080. The model (ITEM #:) and batch numbers are printed on a label on the inside of the minifridge door. The minifridges were sold in the Infinity, Classic, Glow Beauty and Vibe Series.
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled minifridges immediately and contact Cooluli for a free replacement power cord. Consumers will be asked to visit www.cooluli.com/pages/product-notices-recalls to enter the model and batch numbers to determine whether their minifridge is included in the recall. Consumers who have recalled minifridges will be instructed to unplug the minifridge, cut the power cord and submit photos to Cooluli showing the model and batch numbers of the fridge. Cooluli will provide a replacement DC power cord and permanent sticker to cover the AC port.
Incidents/Injuries: Cooluli has received at least 19 reports of the minifridges smoking, sparking, burning, melting, overheating or catching fire, resulting in property damages totaling more than $80,000. One consumer reported a smoke inhalation injury.
Sold Online At: Amazon.com and Cooluli.com from January 2019 through October 2024 for between $80 and $120.
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