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 2, 2019 - from Hamodia:
"Yerushalayim joined Tel Aviv in the crusade against plastic on Monday."
"Mayor Moshe Lion announced that the city’s kindergartens and preschools will no longer use one-time plastic dishes and utensils."
"The decision was made following what was said to be a successful pilot in 50 kindergartens over the past six months, similar to a decree implemented in Tel Aviv recently."November 24, 2019 from the Kashrus Magazine:
Rabbi Aron Margolin of the Diamond K has notified KASHRUS Magazine that he has visited the Tums factories and that Diamond K continues certifying Tums (U.S.A. products only) after the untimely death of Rabbi Rachmiel Liberman, the founder of Diamond K. We await word regarding other Diamond K kosher certifications.
November 7, 2019 from the Kashrus Magazine:
"'Diamond-K' Rav Hamachshir Rabbi Rachmiel Liberman,z”l passed away this summer. The family is arranging for the continuation of the certification within the coming weeks. In the interim there is no supervision on products bearing the 'Diamond-K' logo."
July 29, 2019 - from TimesofIsrael:
"On its fourth attempt to clinch a piece of the local fast food market, Kentucky Fried Chicken will run operations itself, won’t change recipe to adhere to Jewish law."
"One of America’s most famous fast food brands will be coming back to Israel this month, and this time will not attempt to appeal to the religious public."
"After reports earlier this year indicated Kentucky Fried Chicken was looking at relaunching in Israel — for a fourth time — the company has confirmed that it will open a new location in Nazareth around Christmas."
"KFC opened and closed in Israel in the 1980s and 90s, and then remained open between 2003 and 2012. "
"In all three previous cases the brand was operated by local franchises rather than the parent company itself, but the latest effort will be managed by the latter. "
"nd unlike prior iterations, KFC will no longer be kosher. In previous cases the famous fried chicken recipe was modified to keep within Jewish dietary laws, but these changes made the chicken more expensive and, according to some consumers, less tasty than the American original."
"In KFC’s last incarnation in Israel, franchise owner Udi Shamai’s eight locations went kosher after the company allowed him to switch the milk powder in the crispy coating to soy and to use kosher-slaughtered chickens instead of those provided by the company."
"'The moment we switched to kosher, sales began to plunge and it was no longer economically viable. The product was less good, whereas things had gone fine with un-kosher chickens,' Shamai told business website Globes."
"KFC is working on plans for multiple branches around the country following its inaugural Nazareth location. The chain has more than 23,000 restaurants in over 140 countries and territories around the world. It already has six outlets in three West Bank Palestinian cities. "
November 28, 2019 - from Yeshiva World:
"The McDonalds restaurant operating at Ben-Gurion International Airport opens on Shabbos but is certified kosher by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel."
"The restaurant was awarded the license to operate in Ben-Gurion Airport’s food court. It is a kosher branch and requested to remain open on Shabbos to service the travelers coming and going on Shabbos."
"Towards this end, McDonalds turned to the Zomet Institute towards learning if and how the branch may be operated on Shabbos without Chilul Shabbos. Zomet’s chief engineer, Yoni Ben David and his colleague, Daniel Shinsinsky, visited the branch at the airport."
"Some of what was explained to branch managers includes:
"There is currently one lawsuit against the Chief Rabbinate of Israel pending with the High Court of Justice, regarding hotels around Israel that operate on Shabbos and are certified kosher, some even mehadrin."
"A Jerusalem restaurant is suing the Chief Rabbinate because they want a kashrus certificate despite operating on Shabbos, as food is not cooked, only warmed, and persons buy vouchers before Shabbos. No money is taken, or meals charged on Shabbos. They feel since the restaurant is like a hotel, and as such, it should receive kashrus certification."
"To date, the Jerusalem Rabbinate has rejected requests for certification, prompting the case with the High Court."
November 25, 2019 from the IFT:
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued warning letters to 15 companies for illegally selling products containing cannabidiol (CBD) in ways that violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). The FDA also published a revised Consumer Update detailing safety concerns about CBD products more broadly. Based on the lack of scientific information supporting the safety of CBD in food, the FDA is also indicating that it can’t conclude that CBD is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) among qualified experts for its use in human or animal food."
"The actions come as the FDA continues to explore potential pathways for various types of CBD products to be lawfully marketed. This includes ongoing work to obtain and evaluate information to address outstanding questions related to the safety of CBD products. The FDA plans to provide an update on its progress regarding the agency’s approach to these products in the coming weeks."
"Some of the products are foods to which CBD has been added. Under the FD&C Act, it is illegal to introduce into interstate commerce any human or animal food to which certain drug ingredients, such as CBD, have been added. In addition, the FDA is not aware of any basis to conclude that CBD is GRAS among qualified experts for its use in human or animal food. There also is no food additive regulation that authorizes the use of CBD as an ingredient in human food or animal food, and the agency is not aware of any other exemption from the food additive definition that would apply to CBD. Therefore, CBD is an unapproved food additive, and its use in human or animal food violates the FD&C Act for reasons that are independent of its status as a drug ingredient. Some of the products are marketed as dietary supplements. However, CBD products cannot be dietary supplements because they do not meet the definition of a dietary supplement under the FD&C Act."
November 26, 2019 - from Jewish Press:
"Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon announced Tuesday that Israel will increase imports of butter, for both household and industrial purposes, in order to compensate for the ongoing shortage of the Israeli baking and household dairy necessity."
"Kahlon signed a directive that raised the household butter imports to 2,750 tons and industrial imports of butter for factories to 3,500 tons. The move increases imports by 13 and 24 percent, respectively, which Kahlon said would “increase the butter supply in the market and end the shortages in stores. "
"Butter in Israel is produced by the country’s largest manufacturer, Tnuva, and by the second-largest manufacturer, Tara. There has been a shortage of the milk-fat product for months. "
November 18, 2019 - from Haretz:
"Israelis are up in arms after a Facebook user published a photo of Tnuva-brand butter being sold in Canada for less than its price in Israel, while Israelis have been facing butter shortages for the past year."
"Tnuva is Israel’s largest dairy manufacturer. It has argued that the shortage of butter is due to a shortage of milk fat. Others speculate that Tnuva, along with Israel’s other dairies, are limiting their butter production in order to pressure the government to raise dairy prices, or to use the raw ingredient — butterfat — to make items with higher profit margins. Butter is one of several dairy items subject to government price controls. "
"Tnuva butter is likely being exported and sold in locations beyond Toronto, where it was photographed over the weekend being sold for 0.97 Canadian dollars per 100-gram bar (U.S. $0.73). Another Facebook user photographed Tnuva butter on supermarket shelves in Miami, being sold for $3.09 per 100-gram bar. Others said it was available in Montreal as well. "
"Tnuva butter is thought to sell for $2.39-$3.99 per 100-gram bar in the United States."
"In Israel, Tnuva butter is sold for 3.94 shekels per 100 grams ($1.13), a price set by the government."
"For nearly a year, Israelis have been facing butter shortages, with supermarket shelves frequently devoid of butter. The dairy industry has said the shortage is only going to worsen over the next year."
November 20, 2019 from the KVH:
KVH Kosher is pleased to announce the grand opening of The Kosher Veggie Crust - Brookline, 8 Cypress St, Brookline, MA 02445.
The Kosher Veggie Crust will offer a wide variety of items, including dairy Indian fare, a unique addition to the Boston Kosher scene. Opening day is set for December 3, 2019. All items will be Pas Yisrael, Chalav Yisrael & Bishul Yisrael respectively.
The Kosher Veggie Crust is not under Jewish ownership and is therefore halachically permitted to operate on Shabbos. Due to the difficulties in providing effective supervision to restaurants open on Shabbos KVH Kosher generally requires all restaurants to be closed on Shabbos – even when Halachically permissible.
KVH Kosher has worked with the management to address all Shabbos concerns. Inspections will be conducted regularly every Shabbos & Yom Tov to ensure Kashrus integrity is maintained.
Please note: All orders placed for Motzai Shabbos pickup will be prepared after Shabbos has ended and of course, KVH Kosher does not condone obtaining food from Veggie Crust on Shabbos itself.
July 29, 2019 - from SeafoodSource:
"Bumble Bee still owes $17 million to the U.S. Department of Justice, according to its bankruptcy filing. Meanwhile, former CEO Christopher Lischewski pleaded not guilty last year to associated criminal charges, and his trial began in California federal court on Nov. 4, according to Bloomberg."
"The tuna industry has been challenged by shifting consumer trends and concerns about overfishing and ocean pollution. Continuing sales declines also continue to pose problems. According to market research firm IRI, tuna sales fell 4% by volume between 2013 and October 2018. Millennials aren't very interested in canned products, and some of them don't even own can openers."
"Tuna producers have responded by introducing more convenient pouched products and innovative flavors, but sustainability factors and plant-based competitors — such as Good Catch, Sophie's Kitchen, Ocean Hugger Foods and Atlantic Natural Foods — are making things tougher."
"It will take some time to see whether Bumble Bee can adequately resolve its problems through the Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization process and a sale of the company. FCF is a privately held global firm founded in 1972 and is Bumble Bee's largest creditor. One of its business lines is trading in frozen tuna for canning and sashimi, so there could be some synergies moving forward between FCF and Bumble Bee."
July 29, 2019 - from SeafoodSource:
"U.S.A.-based Bumble Bee Foods has defaulted on its major operating loan."
"Bumble Bee has been in technical default since the end of March 2019, but its lenders have agreed to a forbearance period, allowing the company to continue its efforts to restructure itself to regain its profitability."
"Bumble Bee has struggled to abide by the terms of the loan as it pays off a criminal fine and additional millions in civil settlements for its involvement in a conspiracy to fix the prices of canned tuna sold in the United States between 2011 and 2013. The U.S. Department of Justice agreed to lower the amount of the criminal fine to USD 25 million (EUR 22.8 million) to protect the company from insolvency."
"Bumble Bee refinanced 100 percent of its debt in August 2017, after its guilty plea in the criminal case. At the time, it held a five-year, USD 200 million (EUR 169 million) asset-based revolving credit facility with Wells Fargo Capital Finance acting as the administrative agent, as well as a six-year, USD 650 million (EUR 550 million) loan with Brookfield Principal Credit as the administrative agent."
"The company faces further financial constraints in the form of an agreement with the DOJ that its criminal fine will increase in the event it is sold. "
November 24, 2019 - from YeahThatsKosher:
"A large fire early Friday morning destroyed an entire strip of businesses on Central Ave in Cedarhurst, NY (5 Towns). The new Mike’s Burgers, Josh’s Pizza, Ezra Pharmacy, frozen yogurt shop, and dry cleaners were all affected by the fire, which we were told was started in their shared basement."
"Mike’s Burgers had a fire in their original location a block down earlier in 2018. "
November 211, 2019 - from the Specialty Food News and NY Post:
"A class action lawsuit has been filed by Philip Williams on behalf of other vegans claiming that Burger King has contaminated the Impossible Burgers by exposing them to meat byproducts on the grill, reports the New York Post. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida."
"According to the suit, Williams ordered an Impossible Burger in Atlanta, where he learned the burger was grilled on the same surface as beef burgers. Williams claims the restaurant gives no indication that the burgers may be cooked on meat-touching grills. A Burger King spokesperson told the New York Post that the company can’t comment on pending litigation. "
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