The following news is from the Perishable News and Supermarket News on November 4, 2014.
Grocers Supply, a wholesale distribution and supply business in Houston Texas has sold its business to C&S Wholesale Grocers. Grocers Supply serves 900 independent grocery stores and is the biggest wholesaler in Texas. Grocers Supply did not sell their retail stores.
The following news is from the Supermarket News and Heraldonline.com on October 30, 2014.
C&S Wholesale Grocers, Keene NH was the high bidder and was approved to purchase Associated Wholesalers, AWI. N.H.-based wholesaler will gain control of AWI’s independent distribution business based in Robsonia, Pa., as well as its New Jersey-based White Rose wholesale business, serving Northeast chains including Fairway Market and Met Foods. AWI has been operating under Chapter 11 bankrupcy protection.
The following news is from the FDA Guidance Document and FDA Learning Nodule posted on October 30, 2014.
The FDA has issued two documents that are related to seafood labeling and processing:
- The FDA has issued a new list of acceptable names. The FDA is also now using DNA to test the fish that are most likey to be mislabeled. The FDA has found that the fish were correctly labeled 85% of the time.
- The FDA has also produced a learning module for seafood processors.
The following news is from the Jewish Press on October 26, 2014.
The Jewish Press reported that Hareidim in Israel buy fruits and vegetables from Arabs to avoid Shmitta issues. These "Shemittah-free “Mehadrin” vegetables and fruits can easily cost two or three times more than standard “Heter Mechira” fruits and vegetables." "The Arabs vegetable network was buying both Heter Mechira vegetables from the open market, as well as vegetables from unknown sources, without any health or agricultural supervision or certification." "The Arab network was stamping their products with fake Israeli Rabbinate certificates and selling them as Mehadrin to restaurants and stores who wanted or required Mehadrin Shemittah-free vegetables." Therefore, "the Hareidim have been eating “Heter Mechira”. At worse, they’ve been eating vegetables grown using unpurified sewer water or pesticides from unknown and unsupervised Arabs fields."
Information on Shmitta at http://www.kashrut.com/consumer/vegetables/#SCHMITTA
The following news is from the ProcessingMagazine.com on October 27, 2014.
The Kiryas Joel Poultry Processing Plant, Inc. and Kiryas Joel Meat Market Corporation have has admitted disposing of chicken parts and other waste in storm drains and sewers. They settled a civil lawsuit and will pay a civil penalty of $330,000. "They also agreed to conduct ongoing monitoring and recording of pretreatment operations and to submit to the EPA an emergency operation plan and a corrective plan of action to prevent future violations of the Clean Water Act."
The following news is from the juedische-allgemeine.de and JewishPress posted on October 21, 2014.
A glatt butcher in Frankfurt Germany is on trial for selling 88,000 pounds of non-kosher meat as kosher. He bought beef and lamb from Metro, a giant discount supermarket, and made it appear kosher by removing veins and washing it in saltwater. His customers included individual Jews, a Jewish school and a senior home.
The following news is from the CPSC on October 15, 2104.
Michael's Stores, Irving, Texas is recalling folding tables due to a fall hazard. The folding tables can collapse under excessive weight, posing an impact or falling hazard.
The Ashland Summer Living Vintage Wood Folding Table has a 14-inch round tabletop made of red medium density fiberboard. The table legs are brown metal, and the table stands about 22.5 inches high. A latch on the underside of the tabletop secures the table in an upright position when the table legs are separated forming an “X” position. When the table leg is released from this latch, the legs fold together and the tabletop folds down against the legs in a flat position. SKU 309950 and UPC 886946388804 are printed on a hangtag on the tables. Phase MDF and 01276 are printed on a black and white label under the table.
Michaels at (800) 642-4235 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT Saturday, or online at www.michaels.com and click on "Contact Us."
There have been four reports of consumers sitting on the tabletop and falling when the tables collapsed, resulting in injuries to the back, leg or hip.
Remedy
Consumers should immediately stop using the tables and return them to any Michaels store for a full refund.
These were sold exclusively at Michaels Stores nationwide from April 2014 to May 2014 for about $30.
The following news is from the PreparedFoods.com on October 20, 2104.
Worldwide, the olive oil harvest in 2014 was significantly smaller than previous years. The harvest of 2.56 tons was less than lst year's consumption of 3 million tons. There is an on-going concern about fraud in olive oil. Consumers should be wary of prices that are too good to be true and look for quality certifications.
The following news is from the Foodnavigator.com on October 9, 2104.
Over half of the food inspections in mainland China have failed in the first two thirds of this year according to a Chinese food inspection company Asianinspection (AFI). New laws in China are requiring companies to prove that their products are safe.
The following information for travelers on Sukkot to the US is from the TSA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the MK posted on September 16, 2013 and re-posted on October 6, 2014.
"TSA’s screening procedures do not prohibit the carrying of the four plants used during Sukkot - a palm branch, myrtle twigs, willow twigs, and a citron - in airports, through or security checkpoints, or on airplanes. These plants or agricultural items are not on TSA’s Prohibited Items List. However, all persons and property will undergo security screening at the checkpoint." (TSA)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection service has stated the following:
"Items carried by observant Jewish travelers entering the United States during the Sukkot holiday are regulated to prevent the introduction of invasive pests and diseases; however, these items might be allowed into the United States after inspection by CBP Agriculture Specialists. These items include ethrogs, palm fronds, twigs of willow and myrtle.
The following guidance is provided for travelers:
- Ethrogs: Personal shipments of ethrogs are allowed entry through North Atlantic and Northern Pacific ports of entry after inspection by CBP agriculture specialists. North Atlantic ports are defined as Atlantic ports north of and including Baltimore; ports on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway; Canadian Border ports east of and including North Dakota; Andrews Air Force Base and Washington, D.C. (including Dulles) for air shipments. Northern Pacific ports are defined as Pacific ports north of California including Alaska, Canadian Border ports west of and including Montana, excluding Hawaii.
Travelers will be asked to open the container with the ethrog and unwrap it. The agriculture specialist will inspect the ethrog. If either insect stings or pests are found, the ethrog will be prohibited from entering the United States. If neither is found, the traveler will be allowed to rewrap and re-box the ethrog for entry into the United States. - Palm Fronds: Single palm fronds, for religious purposes, will be inspected by agriculture specialists and released if no pests or symptoms of disease are found.
- Twigs of Willow: If the twigs of willow are from Europe, they will be prohibited from entering the United States. If they are from other than Europe, they will be inspected by agriculture specialists and released if no pests or symptoms of disease are found.
Also, if the twigs of willow are green in color, have soft tissue present, or have buds that sprouted, then they are capable of being grown and are prohibited from entering the United States. - Twigs of Myrtle: Twigs of myrtle will be inspected by agriculture specialists and released if no pests or symptoms of disease are found.
If travelers have any concerns resulting from the inspection of their religious items at a port of entry, a CBP supervisor is always available to answer questions and address their concerns."
The MK has reported that extra inspectors will be at the Champlain Border (Lacolle) and at the Montreal International Airport.