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.
December 23 2025 - from the Times of Israel:
"Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Tuesday signed an order expanding the value-added tax exemption on personal imports from $75 to $150, arguing that it is necessary to allow cheaper imports to encourage competition and lower prices.
"The move will go into effect on Wednesday. The VAT, a type of consumption tax, is set in Israel at 18 percent.
"In a statement, Smotrich said it is part of “a broad and significant series of steps” aimed at lowering the cost of living, alongside efforts to shake up the banking and dairy sectors.
"All of these steps are predicated on the proposition that 'it can be cheap here,' he said, arguing that “the Israeli economy is often dominated by a small number of strong monopolies,” giving consumers only the illusion of choice.
"The finance minister asserted that the change will 'oblige the monopolies to enter into real and fair competition for your hearts and your pockets. To be better and cheaper and more service-oriented and more competitive.'
"The move — on which government bodies were split, according to the Globes business outlet — drew outrage from some Israeli businesspeople, who took the move as a betrayal of domestic industry.
"Israel is ranked fourth in the list of developed countries with the highest comparable prices, according to an Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development report published earlier this year. Last year, the OECD reported that food and beverage prices in Israel were 52 percent higher than the average among developed countries, second only to South Korea."
December 17, 2025 from World Israel News:
"Israel is awaiting a decision from President Donald Trump on the tariff rate in hopes that the US president will consider lowering it from the hike proposed last year to 17%.
"The rate derived from US calculations tied to its bilateral trade deficit.
"While lower than the levies imposed on some countries under Trump’s broader tariff initiative, Israeli officials argue the figure is inconsistent with the strategic and economic relationship between the two allies.
"Since April, Israeli goods entering the US have been subject to shifting interim rates.
"For several months following Trump’s initial tariff announcement, Israeli exports were taxed at 10%, matching a temporary baseline applied to many countries.
"Beginning in early August, that rate rose to 15% on roughly 60% of Israeli exports, pending a final determination.
"The discussions are unfolding as the US enforces sweeping sector-based tariffs that apply universally, including to Israeli products.
"Those efforts expanded in December, when Barkat signed a new agricultural trade agreement with US Trade Representative Jamison Greer.
"Under the deal, Israel will eliminate tariffs on about 300 US food and agricultural products, with some exemptions taking effect immediately and others phased in over the next decade.
"Trump’s pending decision is expected to clarify whether those concessions — and Israel’s broader case — will translate into a lower long-term tariff rate."
December 18, 2025 - from Anash.org
"A decades-old matzah bakery in Boro Park was left devastated early Wednesday morning when a massive five-alarm fire tore through the facility that for years produced matza under the CHK and supplied matzos to thousands of Lubavitcher families. Founded in 1909 on the Lower East Side and relocated to Brooklyn in 1920, the Boro Park Seder Matzah Bakery produced more than 600,000 pounds of matzah annually.
"The fire broke out around 2 a.m. at the bakery, located on 36th Street in Kensington, quickly engulfing the building where matzah had been baked for generations. According to firefighters, the blaze began near the bakery ovens and spread rapidly after igniting stacked matzah boxes and the matzah.
"A mashgiach at the bakery told Anash.org that the fire started from the gas unit near the oven that was recently mandated by the government, which apparently blew up inside the bakery.
"The Department of Buildings has issued a full vacate order for the bakery due to “extensive fire damage, including a partially collapsed roof,” and reported that adjacent properties also sustained fire damage."
December 12, 2025 from the FDA:
Town Food Service Equipment Co., Inc. of Brooklyn, NY is recalling aluminum saucepans, because it has the potential to be contaminated with lead (Pb) which may leach into food.
The saucepans being recalled were distributed in AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, WA, WV, Puerto Rico and Quebec City, Canada through its network of authorized food service equipment dealers, which include retailers, between January 1, 2023 and November 30, 2025.
The 4 sizes of aluminum saucepans being recalled have capacities ranging from 1 quart to 3 quarts, have indented graduations on the interior, and a plated steel handle riveted to the body. The pans, boxes, or bags the pans are packed in may be marked with one of the following item or SKU numbers.
| Item no. | Description | SKU |
|---|---|---|
| 35400 | Town brand 1 Quart Aluminum Saucepan | 843784003566 |
| 35401 | Town brand 1-1/2 Quart Aluminum Saucepan | 843784003566 |
| 35402 | Town brand 2 Quart Aluminum Saucepan | 843784003573 |
| 35403 | Town brand 3 Quart Aluminum Saucepan | 843784003580 |
Consumers who have purchased and are in possession of any of the items are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Town Food at 718-388-5650 Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM EST, or email our recall coordinators at recall@townfood.com. Updates on the recall will be posted on our recall webpage: https://townfood.com/recall-alum/
December 11, 2025 from the CPSC in conjunction with Government of Canada:
Vevor Ice Crushers have been recalled because the ice crusher can experience a thermal event and ignite, posing a fire hazard.
Consumer Contact: Sanven Technology toll-free at 855-599-6320 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, email at recalling@vevor.com, or online at https://www.vevor.com/pages/vevor-ice-shaver-recall or at www.vevor.com and click on “Product Recall” for more information.
Description: This recall involves Vevor’s ice crushing machines designed for consumer use. The ice crusher has a handle that consumers press down to feed ice into a shoot; the handle activates a cutter within the feed shoot. The products were advertised as Ice Shavers, Ice Crushers, and Snow Cone Makers. The ice crushing machines were all sold under model number BY-300 and BY-300 FS and came in yellow, red, silver and blue. “Vevor” and the model number are printed on a label on the top of the product.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled ice crusher and contact Sanven for a full refund. Consumers should email a photograph of the ice crusher with the unplugged power cord cut in half to recalling@vevor.com.
Sold Online At: Vevor.com, Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Wayfair.com, HomeDepot.com and Lowes.com from July 2021 through July 2025 for between $40 and $86
December 9, 2025 - from the Times of Israel:
"More than a quarter of families in Israel struggle to access enough food as the country’s two-year war against the Hamas terror group and a rising cost of living deepened economic hardship, aid organization Latet warned in a new report.
"The report by Latet, a nonprofit organization working to combat poverty and nutritional insecurity, is based on a survey and data collection from more than 3,500 households carried out from July to August 2025.
"According to the report, the minimum cost of living, defined as the expenditure required for basic subsistence, including food, housing and health care, has increased by more than 5 percent over the past year and stands at NIS 5,589 ($1,733) per person and NIS 14,139 per household of two adults and two children a month. Meanwhile, inflation has accelerated by a mere 3.4% over the past year.
"The minimum monthly income below which a household is considered poor is set at NIS 4,105 per person and NIS 10,508 for a family of four, according to the National Insurance Institute (NII).
"Due to the increasing cost of essential goods, an average family in Israel had to cope with an additional annual expense of NIS 9,000 and a single household with NIS 3,500 to maintain a basic standard of living, according to Latet’s calculation.
"Israel is ranked in fourth place in cost of living in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) list of developed countries with the highest comparable prices. The country’s high cost of living continues to reduce welfare and spur social tensions as Israelis are contending with the economic repercussions of a two-year war, including extended reserve duty callups, prolonged work absences and business closures.
"Almost 27% of families, or 867,256 households, including 1.2 million children, live with food insecurity, an increase of more than 25% compared to a year ago, according to the report. About a quarter of Israeli aid recipients began needing food assistance since the war began in October 2023, the report said.
"Food insecurity has been defined as the inability to ensure a constant supply of food that contains all the nutritional elements necessary for proper development and health. While it can lead to malnutrition, it is not the same thing. It is a prime cause of obesity and is closely linked to disease and increased vulnerability to illnesses.
"According to Latet, 42.5% of assistance-seeking households surveyed in the study said they “experienced hunger” due to not having enough money to buy sufficient food, with 67.6% testifying that they had to forgo medications or necessary medical treatments. The survey showed that 83.2% of households receiving assistance have at least one breadwinner, while 54.8% reported worsening employment conditions since the war erupted on October 7, 2023."
December 10, 2025 from FoodDive
December 7, 2025 from VINnews:
"Hungary has opened its first Cholov Yisroel dairy production facility, a development that Jewish leaders say will significantly expand kosher access for the country’s growing Jewish community and visiting Israelis.
"The new dairy, called Garaboncias, is located about 70 kilometers from Budapest and will produce locally supervised kosher milk, yogurt and cheese for the first time.
"The certification effort was led this week by Rabbi Avraham Yisrael Rubin, a prominent halachic authority in Mehadrin kashrut. Rubin traveled to Hungary to inspect the plant, review its production systems, and provide training for onsite supervisors. He was joined by his son, Rabbi Ze’ev Rubin, and kashrut specialist Rabbi Binyamin Neufeld, who assisted in the oversight and evaluation process.
"The initiative was organized by EMIH — the Association of Hungarian Jewish Communities. Chief Rabbi Slomo Köves, the group’s leader, said the goal is to expand locally produced kosher food and reduce reliance on imports. He noted that producing dairy domestically is expected to lower costs and make kosher more accessible.
"Until now, Hungary’s Jewish population and visiting Israeli tourists have depended largely on imported long-life milk from Belgium and France.
"The Garaboncias plant’s opening marks the first time Hungary will offer fresh Cholov Yisroel dairy products produced under continuous rabbinic supervision."
September 25, 2025 from the Conjunction with the Government of Canada:
This recall involves Oster French Door Toaster Countertop Ovens with model numbers TSSTTVFDXL, TSSTTVFDDGDS, TSSTTVFDDG-033, TSSTTVFDXLPP-033 and TSSTTVFDDAF-033. The recalled ovens have a spring-loaded bilateral “French door” made of glass with metal handles. The four models differ in cooking options (e.g., air fryer) and control types (analog dials or digital push-button controls). “Oster” is engraved on the front bottom right of the oven. The model number can be found on the backside of the oven as well as on the original packaging.
Issue: The oven’s doors can unexpectedly close, posing a burn hazard to consumers.
September 25, 2025 from the CPSC in Conjunction with the Government of Canada:
Oster French Door Countertop Ovens have been recalled because the oven’s doors can unexpectedly close, posing a burn hazard to consumers.
Consumer Contact: Sunbeam Products Inc. toll free at 800-334-0759 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or online at https://recall.oster.com or www.oster.com and click on “Product Recalls” at the top of the page for more information.
Description: This recall involves Oster French Door Countertop Ovens with model numbers TSSTTVFDXL, TSSTTVFDDG, TSSTTVFDMAF and TSSTTVFDDAF. The recalled ovens have a spring-loaded bilateral door made of glass with metal handles. A label on the backside of the oven identifies the model number. In addition, the original packaging has information identifying the model number. The four models differ in cooking options (e.g., air fryer) and control types (analog dials or digital push-button controls). “Oster” is engraved on the front bottom right of the oven.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled countertop ovens and contact Sunbeam Products Inc. to receive a free repair kit. The repair kit will include a clip-on device that provides additional holding force to help keep the doors in the open position when reaching in the oven, along with repair instructions and a QR code link to an installation video. The repair kit does not require any tool to install.
Sold At: Bed Bath and Beyond, Costco, Walmart and other stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com and Overstock.com from August 2015 through July 2025 for between $140 and $250.
December 4, 2025 from the CPSC:
14-ounce Children’s Sport Tumbler has been recalled because the rivets on the handle can come loose, causing the handle to detach, posing a choking hazard for children.
Consumer Contact: HydroJug via email at service@thehydrojug.com or online at https://www.thehydrojug.com/recall or https://www.thehydrojug.com/ and click on “Recall” at the bottom of the page for more information.
Description: This recall involves the 14-ounce sport tumbler with serial number 235010 or no serial number on the bottom of the tumbler under the rubber boot. The handle with the rivets is attached to the lid of the tumbler. The recalled tumbler was sold in five patterns: Cowgirl, Daisy Checkers, Dinosaur, Sport and Bows.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled 14-ounce sport tumbler and contact HydroJug for a free replacement lid. Consumers should email HydroJug at service@thehydrojug.com and provide order details (if available), shipping address and photos of the bottom of the tumbler showing the serial number or that there is no serial number. Consumers will be asked to include photos of the recalled tumbler lid permanently marked with the word “Recalled” and to dispose of the recalled tumbler lid. HydroJug will confirm eligibility and send a replacement lid.
Sold At: Academy Sports, Scheels, Combined Sales Company, Gordons Ace Hardware, Bucks Ace, Kents Grocery, Basin Sports and online at Hydrojug.com, Amazon.com, Well.ca and iHerb.com from May 2025 through June 2025 for about $25.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 656 reports of the rivets on the handle coming loose. No injuries have been reported.
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