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 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.
August 13, 2026 from the CPSC:
Brookstone-branded Tabletop Fire Pits have been recalled because use of the fire pits can result in uncontrolled pool fires where flames burn across the surface of pooled or spilled alcohol, as well as flame jetting from fuel containers, resulting in serious or fatal burns.
Consumer Contact: Southern Telecom toll-free at 877-832-3822 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, email at support@customersupport123.com, or online at www.southerntelecom.com and click on “Recall Information” at the top of the page for more information.
Description: This recall involves Brookstone-branded indoor/outdoor Tabletop Fire Pits with model number BSFIREPIT01 (UPC code 680079015930); BSFIREPIT02 (UPC code 680079015947); and BSFIREPIT03 (UPC code 680079015954). The fire pits consist of a round or hexagonal concrete open reservoir intended to contain burning liquid alcohol. The model number and the UPC code are located on the bottom of the product packaging.
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the Brookstone-branded Tabletop Fire Pits immediately and contact Southern Telecom to receive a full refund. Consumers can email a photo of the fire pit with “Recalled,” their name, and the date written on it in permanent marker to support@customersupport123.com and then dispose of the product. Do not sell or give away these hazardous products.
Sold At: Macy’s, Marshalls, T.J. Maxx, Indoff, iBuy, and Newton Buying Corp. stores nationwide and online at Macys.com and other websites from February 2023 through December 2024 for between $20 and $25.
August 13, 2026 from The Shelby Report:
"C&S Wholesale Grocers has announced a proposed transaction to become the majority owner of The Winn-Dixie Co. The deal is expected to close in early 2027.
"C&S, as part of a consortium of private investors, acquired Winn-Dixie from Aldi U.S. in 2025. Under the new agreement, Anthony Hucker, CEO of Winn-Dixie, will continue to serve as a special advisor over the coming months. Raymond Rhee will serve as Winn-Dixie CEO until the transaction closes. Winn-Dixie remains committed to its Jacksonville, Florida, community and will continue to have an office presence there.
"C&S and Winn-Dixie have been partners for more than 20 years
"Keene, New Hampshire-based C&S was established in 1918 as a supplier to independent grocery stores. Today, the C&S family of companies, including Grocers Supply, Hansen Distribution Group, Davidson Specialty Foods and SpartanNash, delivers supply chain solutions, products and services to chain, independent and military customers from 60 distribution centers nationwide. The company also operates more than 200 corporate-run grocery stores primarily under the D&W Fresh Market, Grand Union, Family Fare, Martin’s Super Markets and Piggly Wiggly banners."
August 9, 2026 from Jerusalem Post:
"A class action lawsuit worth NIS 350 million against the Golda ice cream chain was approved on Sunday, alleging that several sugar-free options offered by the vendor actually contained sugar, the Central District Court ruled.
"According to the ruling, laboratory tests showed that the offerings actually contained 6.6 grams of sugar per 100 grams of ice cream, which is over thirteen times the amount allowed for a product to be labeled "sugar-free."
"The application for the lawsuit was originally filed in February 2024, after the applicant, Sol Yarkoni, purchased what she thought was sugar-free ice cream from a Golda location on Ramat Gan's Jabotinsky Street.
"Yarkoni, who was on a low-carb diet at the time, claims she later felt as if she had eaten sugar, prompting her to bring a sample of the ice cream to a Health Ministry-authorized laboratory.
"Golda argued that the labels were not misleading to customers on the basis that a reasonable person would know that dairy products naturally contain lactose, or natural milk sugar. The company claimed that dairy products labeled "sugar-free" are clearly meant to imply that no sugar was added to them, rather than the natural sugar being removed.
"The court's decision stated that there was reason for Yarkoni and others to assume that ice cream labeled "sugar-free" was in fact sugar-free, noting the fact that most of Golda's products are clearly not sugar-free, giving further value to the label.
"The court concluded that sufficient grounds existed to allege financial damage, with the amount to be determined at a later date following further proceedings."
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