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.
June 13 2018 from the NewYorkPost:
"akeout joints across the Big Apple will have to find an alternative to Styrofoam containers by Jan. 1, when the city will start enforcing a ban that was upheld in court last week, Mayor de Blasio announced Wednesday."
"The ban - which aims to reduce litter and save landfill space — includes plates, trays, clam-shell containers and packing peanuts, which the city has determined can’t be profitably recycled."
"Smaller businesses with annual revenues of less than $500,000 can apply for exemptions if they can prove they would be unduly harmed financially."
June 12 2018 from the DistilleryTraii:
"The folks at Tamworth Distilling in Tamworth, New Hampshire have taken it to a new level with flavoring their two year old bourbon with castoreum from beaver castor sacs. The castoreum is found in the anal sac glands located just below the tail of beavers."
"Technically, this two year old straight bourbon turns into a whiskey with the flavor additions."
Castoreum made from beaver sacs is considerd a "natural ingredient" by the FDA.
June 19 2018 from the FoodSafetyNews:
"Changes sought by brewers to Canada’s National Beer Standard are open for comments during the next 90 days, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)."
"Nevertheless, Canadian brewer associations favor “modern beer standards” with a handful of changes. CFIA opened a 90-day comment period on the change last Saturday (June 16) that will continue until Sept. 14, 2018. Amendments would include:
June 8, 2018 from the The Guardian:
The British Food Standards Agency (FSA) "is investigating claims meat was found in ready meals advertised in major supermarkets as suitable for vegans and vegetarians". A "newspaper report alleged that traces of pork were found in Sainsbury’s own brand 'meat-free' meatballs, and traces of turkey were detected in a Tesco macaroni ready meal, which is part of the supermarket’s new vegan foods line."
"The Telegraph reported that it had sent samples to a German government-accredited food testing laboratory, which found the traces of meat in the two products."
June 8, 2018 from the Yeshiva Wrold and June 11, 2018 Matzav.com:
"Following a YWN report on Thursday about a Lakewood child suffering irritation on his tongue after eating a type of sour candy, the Paskesz company has announced suspension of its production."
"The company said it is “voluntarily taking the precaution of temporarily suspending distribution of Sour Worx,” and asks customers to take Sour Worx off the shelves pending completion of the investigation."
June 6, 2018 from the NJJN:
"Cait & Abby’s Bakery in South Orange, which has provided kosher baked goods since it opened in 1995, has dropped its kashrut certification effective May 28. In addition to its regular offerings of cakes, pies, breads, cookies, and cupcakes (containing the same ingredients they were previously made with), sandwiches and other items containing nonkosher meat — including bacon and ham — are now on the menu."
"The decision to remove the kosher certification was made for financial reasons." The owner said that Friday used to be his bast day but in the last two or three years is is like a normal day. The list of standing orders for challot was 35 and it had shrunk to six or seven.
May 10, 2018 from the JTA:
"The owner of a frequently vandalized kosher eatery in the Dutch capital said he will close it down unless city officials install permanent security measures outside his business."
"Sami Bar-On’s lawyer, Herman Loonstein, told the Het Parool daily Wednesday that his client feels it is “irresponsible to go on like this” at HaCarmel restaurant without permanent security measures."
"In December, a 29-year-old Syrian asylum seeker smashed the restaurant’s window while holding a Palestinian flag. He then broke into the restaurant and grabbed an Israeli flag as two police officers watched before they arrested him. He has been charged with vandalism, but not a hate crime."
"Since the incident, the restaurant’s windows were smashed once more and are repeatedly spat on and smeared with garbage, Bar-On said. Police beef up security after each incident but leave shortly after, he said."
"Bar-On also claimed the mayor has refused to meet him on the issue. But a municipal spokesperson said that Bar-On has declined several offers by the city to have him meet lower-level officials."
May 30, 2018 from the DW.com:
"The verdict follows a denial of approval for temporary slaughterhouses in Belgium's Flemish region during Islamic Eid al-Adha festival. Several Muslim groups said the denial infringed their right to religious freedom."
"Ritual slaughter of animals without stunning must be done only in approved slaughterhouses, the European Union's top court ruled on Tuesday."
"The verdict by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) is a setback for several Muslim organizations and mosques, who had argued that the requirement infringed their right to religious freedom as there were not enough approved slaughterhouses to meet the high demand during festivals."
"What did the court say?
May 17, 2018 from the Matzav.com:
"After Satmar Bikur Cholim was suddenly barred from patients’ rooms at NYU, leaders of Williamsburg Hatzalah, “Chesed”, “Mekimi”, and representatives of Satmar kehillos met with NYU Hospital top officials.
NYU reassured their full commitment to serve the community and will continue to accommodate Bikur Cholim activities in accordance with the Hospital policies."
May 6, 2018 from the Gifteringotham.com and May 22, 2018 from JTA:
"NYU MEDICAL CENTER located at 550 1st Ave, in Manhattan has stopped a decade’s old practice of letting Satmar Bikur Cholim visit by professional volunteers and their ability to serve and offer basic social services to patients and their families. In a sudden change of policy, the NYU Hospital administration didn’t notify any volunteer organization professionals that they will not be allowed to give food to patients or advocate on behalf of any patients. The new policies have seriously effected urgent services the organization provides."
"For years, volunteers from the Satmar hasidic movement have fanned out daily across the city, boarding private buses and carrying bags full of kosher food cooked each morning (except Saturday) at the organization’s commercial kitchen in Williamsburg, Brooklyn."
"Members of the Satmar Bikur Cholim go to a dozen hospital and rehabilitation centers, bringing food and paying a quick visit to any patient who requests it. The volunteers also provide specific recommendations for doctors and rehabilitation centers, when requested, and the organization can provide financial assistance to needy patients."
"'The Satmar Bikur Cholim director says that the policy change “had to do with our advocacy in the hospital. Because we’re very big in patient care management and advocacy, the hospital did not like that we’re watching them so closely. NYU Hospital’s policies have changed and have become more difficult for the Jewish community.'"
May 16. 2018 from the Star-K:
If you plan to leave on a flame on your gas cooktop (especially covered with a blech) or plan to leave your gas oven on over YomTov, make sure that the area is well ventilated. If oxygen is not provided there is a strong possibility of generating carbon monoxide, which is a lethal gas.
The following safety alert is from the rabbi of the Young Israel of Brooklineposted on September 13, 2013.
Please be aware that one must leave a window open or exhaust fan on when a gas range or oven on for the holidays to prevent a possibly fatal buildup of carbon monoxide.
From the COR Detroit: Please consult your Rav regarding what is permissible in case your carbon monoxide detector sounds on Shabbos or Yom Tov.
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