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Food News


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.

Newer news

Shalom, Slurpee: Israel gets its first 7-Eleven in convenience store chain’s planned wave

January 12, 2023 - from JTA

"7-Eleven is the largest convenience store chain in the United States, with nearly 10,000 locations. But it is in some of its overseas markets where the chain really stands out — especially in Japan, where the more than 20,000 7-Elevens serve up everything from banking services to clothing essentials to high-end fresh and prepared foods. There, they can function as a person’s primary shopping destination.

"With the store opening this week, Israel became the 19th country to welcome the megachain, and the first in the Middle East, after Electra Consumer Products inked a franchise deal in 2021. Thirty more stores are slated to open by the beginning of 2024; the company says several hundred will follow.

"The new stores will join more than 10,000 convenience stores already operating in Israel. In some big cities, including Tel Aviv, convenience stores that resemble New York’s bodegas can be found on every street corner, many of them open around the clock offering anything from cigarettes to diapers.

"But the standard convenience stores known as makolets don’t serve coffee and hot food and are intended, like their American counterparts, for buying items in between larger shops at regular supermarkets. The a.m./p.m. chain of small-scale grocery stores gives off a 7-Eleven aesthetic but also does not serve fresh coffee or food. The closest things currently to a 7-Eleven in Israel are gas station stores that offer coffee and a range of sandwiches, salads and pastries, in addition to basic groceries.

"At the new 7-Eleven, customers serve themselves Slurpees, Big Gulps and soft-serve ice cream (called American ice cream in Israel) as well as coffee from touchscreen machines that offer oat and soy milk alternatives at the same price. At 9 NIS ($2.60), the price is competitive locally but is still more than other 7-Elevens around the world, including the United States — reflecting Israel’s notoriously high cost of living.

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1348

US Safety Agency to Consider Ban on Gas Stoves Amid Health Fears

January 9, 2023 - from Bloomberg

"A federal agency says a ban on gas stoves is on the table amid rising concern about harmful indoor air pollutants emitted by the appliances.

"The US Consumer Product Safety Commission plans to take action to address the pollution, which can cause health and respiratory problems.

"Natural gas stoves, which are used in about 40% of homes in the US, emit air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter at levels the EPA and World Health Organization have said are unsafe and linked to respiratory illness, cardiovascular problems, cancer, and other health conditions, according to reports by groups such as the Institute for Policy Integrity and the American Chemical Society. Consumer Reports, in October, urged consumers planning to buy a new range to consider going electric after tests conducted by the group found high levels of nitrogen oxide gases from gas stoves.

"New peer-reviewed research published last month in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that more than 12% of current childhood asthma cases in the US can be attributed to gas stove use.

"The Bethesda, Maryland-based Consumer Product Safety Commission, which has a staff of roughly 500, plans to open public comment on hazards posed by gas stoves later this winter. Besides barring the manufacture or import of gas stoves, options include setting standards on emissions from the appliances.

"Lawmakers have weighed in, asking the commission to consider requiring warning labels, range hoods and performance standards.

"Parallel efforts by state and local policymakers are targeting the use of natural gas in buildings more broadly, in a push to reduce climate-warming emissions (such as from methane) that exacerbate climate change. Nearly 100 cities and counties have adopted policies that require or encourage a move away from fossil fuel powered buildings. The New York City Council voted in 2021 to ban natural gas hookups in new buildings smaller than seven stories by the end of this year.

"Consumers who want to switch from gas to electric ranges could get some help from the massive climate spending bill signed into law in August. The Inflation Reduction Act includes rebates of up to $840 for the purchase of new electric ranges as part of some $4.5 billion in funding to help low- and moderate-income households electrify their homes.

"The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, which represents gas range manufacturers such as Whirlpool Corp., says that cooking produces emissions and harmful byproducts no matter what kind of stove is used.

"Natural gas distributors, whose business is threatened by the growing push to electrify homes, argue that a ban on natural gas stoves would drive up costs for homeowners and restaurants with little environmental gain."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1347

Single-use plastic cutlery and plates to be banned in England

January 9, 2023 - from BBC News

"Single-use items like plastic cutlery, plates and polystyrene trays will be banned in England, the government has confirmed.

"It is not clear when the ban will come into effect but it follows similar moves by Scotland and Wales.

"Government figures suggest that 1.1 billion single-use plates and more than four billion pieces of plastic cutlery are used in England every year.

"Plastic waste often does not decompose and can last in landfill for many years.

"Although it might be useful in terms of food hygiene, it can also end up as litter, in turn polluting soil and water.

"Each person in England uses an average of 18 single-use plastic plates and 37 items of plastic cutlery every year, according to Defra, while just 10% of those are recycled.

"

"Ms Coffey is set to ban a range of single-use plastic items mainly relating to takeaway food and drink.

"This latest measure does not, however, cover items found in supermarkets or shops. The government said it would address those by other means."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1346

Israel A World Leader In Plastic Waste — And Of Course They Blame Chareidim

January 8, 2023 - from Matzav.com

"A parliamentary report from late 2021 found that charedi families, often from low-income communities, use three times more plasticware than the rest of the population. The tax was introduced from one day to the next, without any education or information, she points out.

"The higher prices on disposable plastic products hit the pockets of many Israelis, causing a 50 percent drop in the use of such plastic, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

"Plastic waste is the biggest pollution problem on Israel’s beaches. Between 70 to 90 percent of the waste found in the sea and sand is disposable plastic. And the beaches of Israel, those in and around Tel Aviv in particular, are among the most polluted by plastic in the whole Mediterranean region.

"The environmental organization Plastic Free Israel is behind many small and large beach cleanups that occur on a regular basis, and they noticed a significant difference. According to Evelyn Anca, one of the co-directors, last year’s taxes produced a reduction of 18 percent of plastic waste on the beaches."


Smotrich Cancels Tax on Disposables, Sweet Drinks

January 1, 2023 - from Jewish Press

"Newly-installed Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has cancelled Israel’s recent tax on disposable plastics and sweet drinks.

"The tax, implemented by the Bennett-Lapid government last year, has been the bane of large families, particularly in the Orthodox Jewish sector which is largely reliant on the utensils.

"Smotrich instructed the ministry on Sunday to cancel the tax as soon as possible.

"Upon taking office, Smotrich said he believes in free-market policies, and would continue to a large extent the steps already taken by his predecessor, Yisrael Beytenu chair MK Avigdor Liberman.

"The tax on plastic disposables and sweet drinks was taken by the previous government in a nod towards the need to preserve the ecology and children’s health, but has been seen by those who particularly rely on such products (the Haredi community) as selective and extreme."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1344

About Those Egg Prices: Cal-Maine Foods Reports Record Results

December 28, 2022 - from Food Processing

"Cal-Maine Foods, the country’s largest producer and distributor of fresh shell eggs, today (Dec. 28) reported record results for the second quarter of fiscal 2023, driven by record egg prices at retail.

"For the second quarter of its fiscal 2023 (ended Nov. 28), the company reported sales of $802 million, a 110% increase compared with the same quarter last year. Net income in the period was nearly $199 million, compared to a scant $1.2 million a year earlier. That’s $4.07 per share. All those figures are company records.

"Sales and profit were driven by pricing, although volume was up 5%. Which begs the question: Where is the shortage of supply?

"The company noted the averages selling price of conventional eggs in the quarter was $2.88 per dozen, compared with $1.15 a year earlier. Miller noted that, as of Dec. 28."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1345

FASTER Act Adds Requirements to Manage Sesame as Food Allergen. What to Know for 2023

December 22, 2022 - from Food Quality and Safety

"On Friday, April 23, 2021, President Biden signed the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act of 2021 into law. The law contains two main components. First, sesame is added as a major food allergen, marking the first official change to the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA) since its passage. Second, the FASTER act requires reports on selected food allergy topics to be delivered to Congress, including those on how to establish and implement criteria for future updates to the list of major food allergens.

"The FASTER Act amends Section 201(qq) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321 (qq)) to read:

"(qq) The term “major food allergen” means any of the following:

"(1) Milk, egg, fish (e.g., bass, flounder, or cod), Crustacean shellfish (e.g., crab, lobster, or shrimp), tree nuts (e.g., almonds, pecans, or walnuts), wheat, peanuts, soybeans, and sesame.

"The amendment to include sesame as a major food allergen is effective as of January 1, 2023. With this change, sesame and sesame-derived ingredients will need to follow all FALCPA labeling requirements. Specifically, all sesame and sesame-derived ingredients must be declared as sesame either in the ingredients list or in a “Contains” statement. If a “Contains” statement is used, all major allergen ingredients must be included. As noted above, one common sesame-derived ingredient used in foods is sesame oil. While FALCPA does exempt highly refined oils derived from allergenic foods from labeling, much of the sesame oil used in food production is not highly refined and is therefore not exempt from labeling. FALCPA does not provide a specific definition of highly refined oils, but industry best practice would indicate that processing should include refining, bleaching, and deodorizing. Sesame-derived ingredients must also be declared by their common or usual name; tahini may still be used on the ingredient list, but sesame must appear either parenthetically or in a “Contains” statement."


New Label Law Has Unintended Effect: Sesame in More Foods

December 22, 2022 - from Yeshiva World and AP News

"A new federal law requiring that sesame be listed as an allergen on food labels is having unintended consequences — increasing the number of products with the ingredient.

"Food industry experts said the requirements are so stringent that many manufacturers, especially bakers, find it simpler and less expensive to add sesame to a product — and to label it — than to try to keep it away from other foods or equipment with sesame.

"As a result, several companies — including national restaurant chains like Olive Garden, Wendy’s and Chick-fil-A and bread makers that stock grocery shelves and serve schools — are adding sesame to products that didn’t have it before. While the practice is legal, consumers and advocates say it violates the spirit of the law aimed at making foods safer for people with allergies.

"The new law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, requires that all foods made and sold in the U.S. must be labeled if they contain sesame, which is now the nation’s ninth major allergen. Sesame can be found in obvious places, like sesame seeds on hamburger buns. But it is also an ingredient in many foods from protein bars to ice cream, added to sauces, dips and salad dressings and hidden in spices and flavorings.

"Advocates for families coping with allergies lobbied for years to have sesame added to the list of major allergens. Congress in 2004 created labeling requirements for eight: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans.

"More than 1.6 million people in the U.S. are allergic to sesame, some so severe that they need injections of epinephrine, a drug used to treat life-threatening reactions. Cases of sesame allergy have been rising in recent years along with a growing number of foods that contain the ingredient, said Dr. Ruchi Gupta, a pediatrician and director of the Center for Food Allergy & Asthma Research at Northwestern University.

"Under the new law, enforced by the Food and Drug Administration, companies must now explicitly label sesame as an ingredient or separately note that a product contains sesame. In the U.S., ingredients are listed on product packaging in order of amount. Sesame labeling has been required for years in other places, including Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

"If the ingredients don’t include sesame, companies must take steps to prevent the foods from coming in contact with any sesame, known as cross-contamination."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1339

New religious services minister delays kashrut reform as coalition looks to nix it

December 29, 2022 from the Times of Israel:

"In one of the first acts of the incoming coalition, newly installed Religious Services Minister Michael Malkieli on Thursday delayed the implementation of a kashrut reform that was due to go into effect next week.

"The reform, which was passed last October, would have enabled private organizations that provide supervision services to declare businesses “kosher” — something that currently only Chief Rabbinate-approved rabbis can do — starting on January 1, 2023.

"Over the years, the Rabbinate monopoly over kashrut has been blamed for widespread graft, cronyism, and dishonest business practices in the food industry. The previous government’s reform was aimed at addressing this by opening the field up to competition, so that if one kashrut supervisor, or mashgiach, was behaving unscrupulously, a restaurant could change to a different outfit, instead of being stuck with the same one.

"Reversing the reform, which would have eaten into the Chief Rabbinate’s monopoly on kosher certification, has been a major goal of Haredi politicians, some of whom are closely linked with the Rabbinate’s supervision agencies.

"Cancelling the kashrut reform, one of the main legislations advanced by former religious services minister Matan Kahana, was included in the incoming government’s coalition deals, though it is not yet clear what exactly will replace it.

"In order to prevent the reform from going into place, Malkieli on Thursday night used a postponement mechanism that was built into the law, giving the religious services minister the ability to delay implementation by six months, if they determine that one or more municipalities are not prepared for it to go into effect. This can be repeated for up to five years, giving the coalition ample time to pass new legislation.

"Malkieli signed the order postponing the reform, which he claimed was the first signature issued by a minister of the incoming government, in the presence of Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, the unofficial spiritual leader of Malkieli’s ultra-Orthodox Shas party.

"In the meantime, however, other aspects of the reform will still remain in effect. Any municipal rabbi can certify a business as kosher even if it’s located outside his jurisdiction, which is meant to increase competition and help break up the monopoly that had previously been in place.

"Malkieli’s postponement drew ire from two of the organizations that were most poised to benefit from the new reform, Hashgacha Pratit and Tzohar, both of which offer kashrut supervision and would have been able to declare businesses officially “kosher” had the rule gone into effect."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1342

Shufersal inks early deal to open local stores for Dutch SPAR chain

December 29, 2022 from the Times of Israel:

"Israel's largest supermarket chain Shufersal has inked an initial deal to set up a chain of stores in the country for the Dutch-owned international supermarket SPAR vowing to compete and bring down rising food prices.

"According to the memorandum of understanding, Shufersal will invest tens of millions of shekels to open at least 10 SPAR stores in Israel over the next three years, as well as sell SPAR products exclusively in its stores. The Dutch-owned chain has 13,600 stores and operates in 48 countries around the world.

"The move comes as Shufersal is facing increasing competition with the entry of French supermarket chain Carrefour and 7-Eleven in Israel in the coming years.

"The top three supermarket chains account for over half of the Israeli food retail market, limiting competition and putting upward pressure on prices.

"Israel’s cost of living is one of the highest among countries in the OECD, which has been generally attributed to a lack of competition among local importers and manufacturers, who are therefore able to raise prices, as well as import restrictions that keep out international firms.

"Israel’s inflation rate accelerated to 5.3 percent in November over the previous 12 months, hitting a new 14-year high, while local food retailers have been hiking food prices, drawing consumer outrage and calls for boycotts.

"Food prices in Israel have risen 50% over the past two decades and are between 25 and 80% above the OECD average, with dairy products, soft drinks, and grain-based products particularly expensive (as of 2017 data, according to the OECD).

"As part of the initial franchise deal, Shufersal will become a shareholder in a joint corporation controlled by Israeli businessman Amit Zeev which will enter into a license agreement with SPAR.

"As part of the initial franchise deal, Shufersal will become a shareholder in a joint corporation controlled by Israeli businessman Amit Zeev which will enter into a license agreement with SPAR.

"The license agreement includes the right to establish SPAR stores in Israel as well as the right to import and market 10,000 products under the private SPAR label. Zeev will serve as the CEO of the joint corporation.The license agreement includes the right to establish SPAR stores in Israel as well as the right to import and market 10,000 products under the private SPAR label. Zeev will serve as the CEO of the joint corporation.

"The agreement is subject to the approval of the global SPAR corporate and the approval of Israel’s Competition Authority."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1343

After Two People Die From Donuts, Israeli Health Ministry Explains How To Eat Them

December 22, 2022 - from VIN News

"Two people lost their lives in Israel while eating donuts this week. A third is in serious condition in the ICU. The Israeli health ministry decided to respond and explain the dangers of eating donuts and how they should be eaten properly.

"o why does this happen and how can we mitigate the danger of asphyxia and make eating donuts safer? The ministry explained that “a donut is soft but from the moment we start eating it, it becomes a sticky dough. It is recommended to take small bites and to remember that a donut needs intensive chewing not less than when chewing a steak.

"'If you have children up to the age of 3, or if you are a senior citizen with false teeth or missing teeth, if you have difficulty chewing hard foods and have a dry mouth or medical conditions which make swallowing difficult – be much more careful. Medical specialists and speech therapists can assist in treating difficulties swallowing. Look after yourselves and happy Chanukah!'

"During the first four days of Chanukah, a 70-year-old resident of Netanya and a 67-year-old resident of Bnei Brak died while attempting to eat donuts. A 65-year-old resident of Ofakim choked on a donut and is still in serious condition in hospital."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1340

Unilever settles dispute with Ben & Jerry’s over Israeli sales

December 15, 2022 - from JNS:

"Unilever plc announced on Thursday that its legal battle with the independent board of its wholly-owned autonomous subsidiary Ben & Jerry’s, over the brand’s sale of ice cream in Israel, has been resolved."


Unilever: Ben & Jerry's has no power to sue over Israeli ice cream sale

December 2, 2022 - from US News:

"Unilever plc asked a U.S. judge to dismiss a lawsuit by Ben & Jerry's over the sale of its Israeli ice cream business, saying the subsidiary's "'nsistence on taking sides' in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict gives its board no authority to stop or even sue over the sale."

"In a filing on Friday afternoon in Manhattan federal court, Unilever said Ben & Jerry's board 'is no ordinary board.'

""The board, it said in the filings, has some responsibility to preserve its 'social mission' and safeguard the brand under the shareholder agreement from 2000, when Unilever bought Ben & Jerry's. But Unilever said that the board cannot sue.

"Unilever also said the board's "recent insistence on taking sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict created an untenable situation" for both sides."


Ben & Jerry’s co-founders say Unilever violated merger agreement

September 20, 2022 - from FoodDive.com:


Ben & Jerry’s Makes Fresh Push to Stop Israel Ice Cream Deal

September 6, 2022 - from Bloomberg:

"Ben & Jerry’s is renewing its effort to unwind a contentious decision by parent company Unilever Plc to sell the ice-cream business in Israel.

"The Vermont-based ice-cream maker will confirm as early as Tuesday that it plans to file a revised complaint in New York federal court in the coming weeks, said two people familiar with the matter. Ben & Jerry’s independent board wants to stop Unilever’s sale of its brand and trademark to local licensee Avi Zinger as the deal allows the ice cream to be sold in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

"The board, which first sued its corporate parent in early July, argues that the sale conflicts with Ben & Jerry’s long-held “core values” and breaches a legal agreement made when Unilever bought the brand in 2000."


Ben & Jerry’s Loses Bid to Halt Sales In West Bank

August 3, 2022 - from the Wall Street Journal

"A US judge on Monday rejected Ben & Jerry’s attempt to stop its parent Unilever Plc from allowing its ice cream to be sold in the West Bank, which Ben & Jerry’s said undermined its values.

"US District Judge Andrew Carter in Manhattan said Ben & Jerry’s did not deserve an injunction to halt ice cream sales and marketing because it did not show it would suffer irreparable harm, or that customers would be confused.

"Ben & Jerry’s sued Unilever on July 5, saying the sale of its Israeli business to local licensee Avi Zinger violated the agreement under which Unilever bought the Burlington, Vermont-based company in 2000.

"The sale came nearly a year after Ben & Jerry’s decided to end sales in the West Bank, saying it was “inconsistent” with the values and social mission it retained the right to promote.

"Unilever countered that Ben & Jerry’s had no power to stop the sale of the Israeli business, and the sale could not be undone because it had closed in late June.

"The unusual dispute has shone a spotlight on Unilever‘s goal of giving its more than 400 brands social missions and purpose.

"Carter rejected as “too speculative” the idea that customers would be confused if Zinger offered new products conveying a message that might conflict with Ben & Jerry’s own.

"The judge noted that products sold in the West Bank would use Hebrew and Arabic trademarks, not English language trademarks."


Ben & Jerry’s Escalates Dispute With Unilever Over Israel Business

August 3, 2022 - from the Wall Street Journal

"Ben & Jerry’s ratcheted up its war of words with Unilever PLC, UL 0.52%▲ saying it had sued its parent company because it feared that left unchecked, the consumer-goods giant would undermine the ice-cream brand’s reputation and business.

"Ben & Jerry’s filed a complaint with the U.S. District Court in Manhattan in July, seeking to block Unilever’s sale of the ice-cream maker’s Israeli business to a licensee. Unilever’s move followed a rift over Ben & Jerry’s decision last year to end sales of its products in Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and contested East Jerusalem.

"On Wednesday, Ben & Jerry’s said its grievance with Unilever was about more than just the Israel issue, in a statement explaining its rationale for the lawsuit.

"Ben & Jerry’s said in its statement that Unilever had frozen the board’s compensation as a “pressure tactic” before a recent mediation between the two sides. Those talks ended unsuccessfully last week. A hearing on Ben & Jerry’s request for a temporary injunction to block Unilever’s sale of the brand’s Israel business is scheduled for Monday."


Ben & Jerry’s Sues Unilever Over Sale of Ice Cream Business in Israel

June 30, 2022 - from the Wall Street Journal

"Ben & Jerry’s is suing parent company Unilever to block the sale of its Israeli business to a licensee, the latest twist in a rift over the ice cream maker’s decision to end sales in Israeli-occupied West Bank and contested East Jerusalem.

"In a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan on Tuesday, Ben & Jerry’s said Unilever’s decision to sell the business in Israel last week was done without the approval of Ben & Jerry’s independent board of directors.

"The board held a special meeting on Friday in response to Unilever’s decision and voted 5-2 to file a lawsuit against its parent company, according to the complaint. Two Unilever appointees on the board were the dissenting votes, the lawsuit said."


Ben & Jerry’s Israel, Unilever reach deal to end settlement boycott

June 29, 2022 - from Times of Israel

"The Foreign and Economy ministries issue a joint statement welcoming an agreement reached between Ben & Jerry’s Israel and its parent company Unilever under which the former will be able to sell its ice cream in the West Bank.

"The agreement is the result of a settlement reached in a federal US lawsuit filed on behalf of Ben & Jerry’s Israel owner Avi Zinger by the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law.

"As a result of the deal, Unilever has sold all of its business interests in Israel to Zinger, who will now be allowed to sell the ice cream on both sides of the Green Line, though no longer under the auspices of Unilever and the original Ben & Jerry’s, which made the decision to boycott.

"The Israeli branch will also sell its ice cream using Hebrew and Arabic labeling, as it no longer will be allowed to use Ben & Jerry’s original English branding."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1286
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