K A S H R U T . C O M_©

Kosherfest 2020 Postponed Due to COVID: New Dates of Events to be Announced

September 2, 2020 from Koshertoday:

"The ongoing restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic has prompted exhibitors and buyers to recommend a postponement of Kosherfest 2020 which was scheduled for November 11-12, 2020. Diversified Business Communications and Lubicom Business Consulting, co-producers of Kosherfest, are analyzing the results of a survey sent to several thousand exhibitors and buyers. Once completed, a new date will be announced. Also, under consideration are virtual events such as the New Product Competition. Kosherfest officials are in consultation with key officials of the food industry to determine the best dates for the show in 2021. The decision to postpone this year’s Kosherfest came as the pandemic continues in many countries throughout the world. Countries in Europe, South America and Israel are under travel restrictions which is likely to continue for the balance of 2020. Many companies in the US are also restricting travel, which is one of the main reasons Kosherfest 2020 is being postponed. 'Kosherfest is an international show with hundreds of visitors from all parts of the world,' said a Kosherfest spokesperson. 'If our attendees cannot travel, we obviously have to consider alternate dates.'"

Domino sugar plant closed by silo fire

August 28, 2020 from the Food Business News

"The 111-year-old Domino Sugar refinery in Chalmette, La., was forced to close the afternoon of Aug. 27 due to a fire in one of its silos, according to news reports from the area."

"Local press reports indicated the fire broke out in one of the plant’s 10-story silos during restart operations at around 4:00 p.m. Central Time and spread to a second silo. There was no evidence of an explosion, but the cause of the fire still was under investigation. The silos were said to be filled with refined sugar."

" source at Domino said it was not yet known when operations at the plant would be able to resume. The refinery is one of the largest in the world."

"Operations at the plant had been halted as a precaution ahead of Hurricane Laura, which made landfall to the west, near the Louisiana-Texas border, early in the morning of Aug. 27. There was no damage to the Domino plant from the hurricane, or to the Louisiana Sugar Refining, LLC, refinery in Gramercy, La., which continued to operate during the storm."

"The loss of a major refinery comes at a time when spot sugar supplies are tight late in the 2019-20 marketing year that ends Sept. 30. Total domestic sugar production (beet and cane) in 2019-20 was down 11% from 2018-19 due to weather-reduced sugarcane production in Louisiana and an early freeze that prevented the harvest of thousands of acres of sugar beets in 2019."

"It was not yet known how the loss of production from the facility will impact sugar prices, which already had been firming the past couple of weeks as beet processors have sold about 80% or more of their prospective 2020-21 beet sugar production, and cane refiners had most of their September through December 2020 supply committed and also were well sold for 2021."

"Domino is part of ASR Group, which also includes C&H Sugar, Redpath Sugar, Tate & Lyle Sugars and Sidul. ASR Group is owned by Florida Crystals Corp. and the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida. Domino joined ASR (then American Sugar Refining) in 2001."

Nanomateriales, Sa De CV Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of All Lots of Zanilast+gel Due to the Presence of 1-Propanol Asiaticon SA de CV Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of V-Klean

August 26, 2020 from the FDA

Apodaca, Nuevo Leon, Nanomateriales is voluntarily recalling all lots of ZANILAST+ GEL, Sanitizer gel, to the consumer level. FDA laboratory analysis found ZANILAST+ GEL to contain 1-propanol.

The product is used as a sanitizer gel, for hand washing to decrease bacteria on the skin and is packaged in 1 liter, 25 liters, and 1 gallon plastic bottles distributed from 05/29/2020 to 06/17/2020 in the States of California, New York and New Jersey.

Nanomateriales, SA de CV is notifying its distributors and customers by e-mail and phone and is arranging for return of all recalled products. Consumers and distributors that have ZANILAST+ GEL which is being recalled should return to place of purchase.

Consumers with questions regarding this recall can contact Nanomateriales SA de CV by phone (+1 (210)963 5679) or e-mail (contacto@nanomateriales.com.mx) on working days (Monday through Friday) from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Central Time. Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using this drug product.

Reopened Schools Find Health Risks in Water After Covid-19 Lockdowns

August 27, 2020 - from New York Times:

"The new coronavirus is not the only illness that teachers, students, parents and staff will have to worry about as some schools attempt to reopen this fall. Legionella could lurk in the water supplies of school buildings, and some measures to keep people in schools safe from coronavirus may even increase risks from deadly illnesses caused by the bacteria."

"Last week in Ohio, officials found Legionella at five schools in an assortment of towns. On Friday, a district in Pennsylvania also announced it had found Legionella at four of its schools."

"Legionella, usually Legionella pneumophila, is the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease, a respiratory condition. It can form in stagnant water and then disperse through the air and be inhaled when, for example, a shower or tap is turned on. It can be fatal in one in 10 cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although young children are less at risk of Legionnaires’, older students, adults and people with compromised immune systems are vulnerable."

"To protect against the spread of coronavirus, many school buildings have been unoccupied since March. Their bathrooms, cafeterias and sports facilities have gone unused. While low occupancy in schools is typical during summer breaks, many are open for summer school and other activities. Experts worry that water was left to stagnate in plumbing during lockdown, and that schools don’t have plans or effective guidance from health authorities for dealing with the effects of prolonged shutdowns."

"Precautions that schools may take to limit coronavirus infection risk could also add to Legionella concerns. For instance, some schools are turning off drinking fountains to prevent oral spread of the virus, or closing off every other sink to ensure social distancing. Some sports facilities also remain closed because of the risk to student athletes and coaches."

"But stagnant water in unused drinking fountains or sink plumbing could be a good reservoir in which the bacteria could grow. And shower heads like those found in locker rooms are common places for Legionella to proliferate. Facilities managers will need to be on guard for the bacteria in school athletics complexes if sports start again next spring. And Dr. Whelton said that many people responsible for managing buildings’ water systems 'had no idea you can acquire Legionella from showers and toilets.'"

"The only way to tell if the flushing is effective is to test the water. Flushing once does not get rid of Legionella if it is present. Milton Union High School in Ohio began testing their water in late July. They found that after 72 hours the chlorine level had dropped to zero. They flushed again and when they tested 24 hours later it was back again to zero. They tested the water and found Legionella."

As lockdowns lift, new hazards lurk in the water - PLEASE FORWARD TO THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBEL FOR BUILDING OPENING as the lockdowns ease

April 28, 2020 - from Nature:

"Stagnant water in unused buildings can harbour infectious bacteria and heavy metals. Scientists point out that guidance on reopening is limited. "

"As some regions prepare to lift the lockdowns in response to COVID-19, scientists who study water are worried about the potential for a secondary health crisis waiting in the dormant plumbing of offices, gyms, restaurants and schools."

"Because of the threats from heavy metals leaching out of pipes, and bacteria and parasites growing in stagnant water, researchers are studying locked-down water systems in an attempt to understand how people can safely reoccupy buildings."

"The longer a building sits unused, the more potential there is for harm. That’s because the length of time between water treatment and use is one of the key factors determining bacterial regrowth.""One of the main concerns is Legionella, a genus of bacterium that causes Legionnaires’ disease."

" The most common advice after a period of dormancy is to run all taps at full flow for a set amount of time — usually 5 or 10 minutes — to flush the stagnant water from the pipes."

"And the complications don’t stop there. For large complexes such as universities, there might not be enough staff to routinely flush every building. Already-struggling small businesses could baulk at the increased water bills that would result from proper flushing. And without sufficient masks and respirators, staff carrying out flushing operations are at risk of inhaling Legionella and other pathogens that might be growing in the pipes."

"The most important things that building owners and managers can do right now" "are to flush taps regularly, carry out low-cost testing and start to build up a water-management plan."

Asiaticon SA de CV Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of V-Klean Hand Sanitizer Gel, Medically Minded Hand Sanitizer Gel and Protz Real Protection Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer Due to Potential Presence of Methanol (Wood Alcohol) and Subpotent Ethanol Levels

August 25, 2020 from the FDA

Mexico City, Mexico, Asiaticon SA de CV (Mexico) is voluntarily recalling all lots of V-Klean Hand Sanitizer Gel, Medically Minded Hand Sanitizer Gel and Protz Real Protection Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer sold in 13.5, 16.9 and 33.8 ounce bottles to the consumer level. The products are being recalled due to the potential presence of methanol (wood alcohol) and subpotent ethanol levels.

The product is used as a hand sanitizer and is packaged in plastic clear bottles with clear tops with UPC Code: V-Klean in 8.5 fl. oz. (250 ml) bottles: 716053704993 V-Klean in 16.9 fl. oz. (500 ml) bottles: 716053704993 V-Klean in 33.8 fl. oz. (1000 ml) bottles: 716053704993 Medically Minded in 16.9 fl. oz. (500 ml) bottles: 676753003782 Protz in 13.5 fl. oz. (400 ml) bottles : 7503019005002 The recall includes all lots. This product was exported to different distributors nationwide.

siaticon SA de CV is notifying its distributors by voluntary recall letter and consumers via this press release. Consumers that have the product subject to this recall should stop using and either contact Asiaticon SA de CV per the below for disposal instructions or return it to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions regarding this recall can contact Asiaticon SA de CV at direccion@asiatic-connection.com (0052 1 55 21553488). In the US: at 929 394 3020 (available Monday to Friday 9.30 am 6 pm eastern time) Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to using this product.

FDA updates on hand sanitizers consumers should not use including list of recalled hand sanitizers.