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 10, 2023 from the CPSC:
Electric and stovetop pressure cookers have been recalled because the pressure cooker’s lid can unlock and be removed during use, causing the hot contents to unexpectedly splash out, posing a burn hazard to consumers.
Consumer Contact: Sensio toll-free at 855-647-3125 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at https://recall.sensiobrands.com, which may also be accessed from https://bellahousewares.com and https://cruxkitchen.com by clicking on “Pressure Cooker Recall” in the Home Page banner and then on “Click here for more info,” or by clicking on “Recall Information” at the bottom of the home page under the “Pressure Cooker Recall” section.
This recall involves Bella, Bella Pro Series, Crux, and Cooks electric pressure cookers, and Bella stovetop pressure cookers. The stainless-steel electric pressure cookers are six-, eight-, and 10-quart capacity. The stovetop pressure cookers are five-, eight-, and 12-quart capacity. The item or model number of the recalled pressure cookers is printed on the permanent on-product label or imprinted stamp on the bottom of the cookers. The item or model numbers of the recalled pressure cookers are:
| Brand | Electric Pressure Cooker Item No. | Size | Stovetop Pressure Cooker Model No. | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bella | 14467 | 6-Qt | JY-PC20US-5P | 5-Qt |
| 14570 | 6-Qt | JYPC24US-8P | 8-Qt | |
| 14595 | 8-Qt | JY-PC26US-11P | 12-Qt | |
| 14682 | 8-Qt | |||
| 14710 | 6-Qt | |||
| 14718 | 8-Qt | |||
| 14719 | 6-Qt | |||
| 14780 | 10-Qt | |||
| Bella Pro Series | 90072 | 6-Qt | ||
| 90073 | 8-Qt | |||
| Crux | 14721 | 8-Qt | ||
| Cooks | 22276 | 6-Qt |
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled pressure cookers and contact Sensio for a refund.
Incidents/Injuries: Sensio has received 63 reports of incidents, including 61 burn injuries, some of which involved second and third degree burns to the face, torso, arms, and hands.
Sold At: JCPenney, Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Macy’s and Target stores nationwide, and online at Amazon.com and other websites from September 2015 through September 2020 for between $30 and $70 for the electric pressure cookers and for between $8 and $18 for the stovetop pressure cookers.
posted August 7, 2023 from the FDA:
"NOTE: This Consumer Update sheds light on the results of a recent FDA survey on dark chocolate products with dairy-free claims.
"If you’re allergic to milk and you love dark chocolate, how do you know whether you can indulge in a dark chocolate bar without having an allergic reaction? That’s what the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wanted to learn.
"Milk is a permitted ingredient in dark chocolate, but it is also one of eight major food allergens (substances that can cause reactions that are sometimes dangerous). U.S. law requires manufacturers to label food products that are major allergens, as well as food products that contain major allergenic ingredients or proteins. The eight major food allergens are milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans.
"Some dark chocolate products are made without milk as an ingredient, but milk has sometimes been found in these products. Why the problem? In part, it’s because milk can get into a dark chocolate product even when it is not intentionally added as an ingredient because most dark chocolate is produced on equipment that is also used to produce milk chocolate. In these cases, it is possible that milk may inadvertently wind up in the dark chocolate. If a dark chocolate product is labeled as “dairy free,” the FDA expects that it should not contain milk.
"Allergens contained in a food product but not named on the label are a leading cause of FDA requests for food recalls, and undeclared milk is the most frequently cited allergen. Chocolates are one of the most common sources of undeclared milk associated with consumer reactions.
"Milk in Dark Chocolate: What We Found: The FDA released the results of a new survey of dark chocolate products collected during 2018 and 2019. The survey covered products that are labeled as “dairy free” or with similar claims. The FDA found that four of the 52 products sampled (12 of 119 samples), all dark chocolate bars, had potentially hazardous levels of milk allergen. The levels, ranging from 600 to 3,100 parts per million (ppm), had the potential to cause severe reactions in consumers with milk allergy. All four products were recalled."
August 1, 2023 from the Patch.com:
"Baskin-Robbins, the Canton-based multinational ice cream chain, is under fire by a Hindu statesman due to accusations that the company does not disclose that its rocky road ice cream contains beef gelatin.
"Rajan Zed, President of the Universal Society of Hinduism, recently said in a news release that Baskin-Robbins confirmed to him that the gelatin in its rocky road ice cream comes from both porcine and beef—sources which are not explicitly mentioned in the ingredients list shown on packages.
Information from the editor:
July 21, 2023 from the DeleciousFood:
"Experts continue to believe that consumers should be encouraged to eat less meat to reduce climate emissions. The UK’s Climate Change Committee, for example, recently recommended a 20% reduction in meat consumption by 2030, rising to 35% by 2050.
"However, consumer appetite for meat and dairy is growing amid the consolidation of plant-based brands.
"Labeling meat-free foods as ‘vegan’ or ‘vegetarian’ does more harm than good, with meat eaters ‘significantly less likely’ to choose these meals when labeled as such, a new study has found. However, the removal of these labels did not lead to vegans/vegetarians accidentally choosing options with meat.
"The researchers conducted two experiments. In the first, nearly 160 students at an event could choose either a hummus wrap made with only vegan ingredients or a Greek salad containing dairy: feta cheese. For some participants these dishes were labeled as vegan or non-vegan options, for others they were not labeled.
"The results revealed that the first option was preferred by participants who saw the form without a label. In contrast, participants who saw the labeled form preferred option two instead.
"In a second online study, nearly 700 participants were asked to hypothetically choose from five menu options. These were vegetarian or meat-based; vegan or meat; vegan or vegetarian; or completely vegan or vegetarian.
"Similarly, for the first study, for some participants the options were explicitly labeled vegan and vegetarian, while others could only see the list of ingredients. Again, the results revealed a negative effect of labelling, with around 10% choosing a vegetarian or vegan meal in the absence of labelling."
July 25, 2023 from the CNN:
"The plant-based milk market is exploding, offering beverages made from seeds, nuts, legumes, grains and blends of those ingredients, often marketed as ready replacements for the traditional choice of cow’s milk.
"However, not all of those plant milk options are fortified to meet the levels of various nutritional ingredients contained in dairy, according to a new unpublished study presented Monday in Boston at Nutrition 2023, the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition.
"The study analyzed nutrition labels and ingredients for 233 plant-based milk products from 23 different manufacturers and found only 28 of the beverages had as much or more protein, vitamin D and calcium as cow’s milk.
" After analyzing the labels, the researchers found 170 of the 233 alt-milk options were fortified with calcium at levels similar to the average 300 milligrams of calcium per 8-ounce glass found in dairy milk. Those same 170 products were also fortified with similar levels of vitamin D as dairy. (Cow’s milk doesn’t contain vitamin D naturally, so it is always added.)
"Specifically, 76% of the oat-based milks, 69% of the soy-based products, and 66% of almond-milk alternatives were fortified with both calcium and vitamin D, according to the study.
"Cow’s milk is naturally a bit sweet due to a naturally occurring sugar called lactose. Oat milk is similar, in that enzymes break down starches and other complex sugars into maltose, a natural form of sugar. Other plant milks may not be naturally sweet, and Johnson found a few brands used added sugars to compensate.
"Next, the team analyzed protein levels. Only 38 of the 223 milk alternatives had a protein level greater than or equal to the 8 grams of protein typically found in every 8-ounce glass of dairy milk, the study found. "
July 19, 2023 from the Yeshiva World:
"Prices on kosher meat products are expected to skyrocket next week due to a “drastic” price hike by a large wholesaler.
In a message sent to stores, Springfield Wholesale Meat Distributor wrote: 'Regretably, we have been informed by Solomon’s of a drastic price increase on domestic beef that will be implemented beginning this week.'
"This will result in significantly higher prices on meats with shipping dates on and beyond Monday, July 24th.
The email included a list of meats and their respective wholesale price increases, which can be seen here
July 3, 2023 from the CNN:
"Good news for your Fourth of July cookout — it’s more affordable than last year. Families can expect to pay $67.73 for a party of 10, down 3% from last year’s record high, according to a survey from the American Farm Bureau Federation.
"he cost of beef was up 4% this year to $11.54 for 2 pounds due to the cost of feed for cattle and decreased herd size."
June 20, 2023 from the CPSC:
CUPKIN Double-Walled Stainless Steel Children’s Cups have been recalled> The stainless-steel cups contain levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.
Consumer Contact: Soojimus toll-free at 888-721-0096 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT, email at CPSC@Cupkin.com, or online at https://www.cupkin.com and click on “Voluntary Recall of our Kids Cups” at the top of the page for more information or https://www.cupkin.com/pages/recall and click on https://www.cupkin.com/pages/recall-refund to fill out the Recall Refund Request form and click “Submit Form” at the bottom of page when you have completed the form.
Description: This recall involves improperly manufactured 8 oz. and 12 oz. models of CUPKIN Double-Walled Stainless Steel Children’s Cups sold in pairs. Both sizes of the recalled cups were sold in 12 different color combinations including a matching straw: blue and green, pink and purple, blue and gray, peach and teal, black and white, coral and yellow, green and pink, polignac and potpourri, brown and peach, rust and salmon, aqua and periwinkle, and cobalt and mint. "Cupkin" is printed on the front bottom of the cups.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the cups away from children and stop using them. Contact Soojimus for a full refund. Soojimus and Amazon are contacting all known purchasers directly.
Sold At: Online at Amazon.com and Cupkin.com from January 2018 through March 2023 for about $20.
July 12, 2023 - from the Nosh.com:
"Perfect Day has laid off roughly 15% of its workforce as it moves to exit its consumer-facing business, The Urgent Company (TUC), in order to focus solely on its B2B ingredient sales and nth bio “consulting” precision fermentation business.
"The TUC division houses four brands: Modern Kitchen (cream cheese), Brave Robot (ice cream), California Performance Company (whey protein) and Coolhaus (ice cream and frozen novelties).
"When asked why the company chose to shutter the consumer business rather than just sell it to begin with, the spokesperson said that the company had explored that option, but, rather than continue to support a large team, the company decided to stop devoting resources to the business. Some of the impetus to do so may have also come from investor pressure.
"Parallel to TUC’s development, Perfect Day was focused on two B2B efforts: serving as an ingredient partner to brands such as Nestlé and Graeters, and helping external companies across categories develop products utilizing precision fermentation via its nth Bio arm. The spokesperson attributed the company’s success with ingredients as another reason for TUC’s closure, noting some larger CPG organizations didn’t want a Perfect Day-owned company creating competing products."
June 30, 2023 - from the Yeshiva World:
"Nearly all Rabbonim in Chicago have issued a message to its Community, to only engage in and purchase food from, home businesses with reputable kosher supervision.
"This proclamation follows the lead of an earlier Kol Koreh signed by the leading Poskim in North America outlying similar guidelines. What is unique about the Chicago Kol Koreh is the willingness to work with any home business owner to financially help with guidelines that a Rav Hamachshir might require to meet his standards.
"One common example is to help build a separate area or entrance where proper supervision can be conducted.
"The Chicago Rabbonim have also committed to not allow any products that are being sold without proper hashgacha into their Shuls. It their hope that other Communities will follow this initiative, and in doing so, will increase the level of kashrus standards worldwide."
July 2, 2023 - from the YNet:
"Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich temporarily removed the import tax on milk on Sunday following a market-wide shortage in Israel.
"'To handle the shortage, the minister offers to remove the import tax for a three-month period until October,' The minister’s office said in a statement."
Article in Hebrew from Israel HaYom is here.
"According to sources in the Treasury and the Tax Authority, the expectation is that the milk will be imported from European countries, among others from Poland, and it is about importing kosher - Chalav Yisrel."(Translation by Google Translate).
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