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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

Israeli Groceries Rank Sixth Most Expensive In Countries Surveyed

February 22, 2022 - from VinNews:

"The cost of Israeli groceries outranks the majority of 36 countries surveyed for a new report published last week by the United Kingdom’s Money website.

"Israel ranked No. 6 in the list of “most expensive countries for groceries,” after Switzerland, South Korea, Norway, Iceland and France.

"Money’s personal finance experts analyzed the average cost of a weekly grocery shopping in 26 countries and also compared how these costs compare against earnings in each country.

"The United States ranked directly under Israel, followed by Denmark, Canada and Australia.

"The cheapest country for groceries was Turkey, according to the report, followed by Colombia and Poland."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1252

Istanbul International Airport now offering kosher food

February 20, 2022 - from Jerusalem Post:

"More than a million people fly Turkish Airlines from Israel every year and many kosher-keeping Jews pass through the Istanbul airport.

"Istanbul International Airport now has kosher food: sandwiches, cakes and pastries sold in vending machines and even hot meals served at the business lounges.

"More than a million people fly Turkish Airlines from Israel every year, and naturally, many kosher-keeping Jews pass through the Istanbul Airport.

"The Jewish community in Turkey together with the OK Kashrut company and Rabbi Mendy Chitrik of the Ashkenazi community in Istanbul started providing kosher food to thousands of travelers in the airport.

"A second option will be offered to travelers who have access to the business lounges.

"The lounge will have hot food wrapped in two layers [for Kashrut reasons], therefore can be heated in an oven."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1251

Kosher Food at the United Center, Chicago

February 20, 2022 - from cRc Twitter Feed:

cRc-kosher certified food is back at the United Center

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1250

Shoham chief rabbi starts approving kosher supervisions outside his city

February 16, 2022 - from the Jerusalem Post:

"Rabbi David Stav, who is both the chief rabbi of Shoham and the chair of Tzohar has begun acting in that role, becoming the first municipal rabbi to publicly do so in the context of the new reforms.

"Municipal rabbis are now able to provide supervision to businesses and establishments outside of the city in which they serve, part of the first phase of the recently approved reforms on Israeli kosher supervision advanced by Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana.

"Rabbi David Stav, who is both the chief rabbi of Shoham and chairman of the national-religious Tzohar organization, has begun acting in that role, becoming the first municipal rabbi to publicly do so within the context of the new reforms."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1249

Viking Range Recalls Freestanding Gas Ranges Due to Risk of Gas Leak and Fire Hazard

February 16, 2022 - from CPSC

Viking 5 Series Freestanding Gas Ranges have been recalled because the rigid gas tubing can separate at the joint to the bake, broil and griddle burners, posing a risk of a gas leak and fire hazard when these burners are in operation.

Consumer Contact: Viking Range toll-free at 888-566-2512 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, at www.vikingrange.com/rangetubingrecall.com, or at www.vikingrange.com and click on “Safety Recall Information” under “UTILITIES” at the bottom of the page, then click on “Freestanding Gas Range Tubing Recall” for more information.

Description: This recall involves Viking Range Freestanding 5 Series Gas Ranges (models VGR and VGIC) manufactured between August 10, 2021 and December 1, 2021 and sold in stainless steel, white, and 14 other contemporary colors, which can be found at www.vikingincolor.com/the-contemporary-colors. The ranges were sold in various surface configurations including all burners or burners with griddle and/or grill.

Units with model numbers and the following prefixes and serial numbers beginning with the following date codes are included in this recall:

Model Numbers

Serial Number Date Codes

VGR5304B

From 081021 to 120121

VGR5366B

From 081021 to 120121

VGR5364G

From 081021 to 120121

VGR5488B

From 081021 to 120121

VGR5486G

From 081021 to 120121

VGR5606GQ

From 090221 to 120121

VGIC53024B

From 081021 to 120121

VGIC53626B

From 081021 to 120121


The model number for each unit is followed by a two-letter abbreviation that indicates the color of the unit. All colors, burner configurations, and gas types designated at the end of the model number are included. For example, base model VGIC53024B may include white units set for propane which would be VGIC53024BWHLP.

The first six numeric characters in the serial number represent the manufacturing date. For example, a range with serial number 082421C10019872 was produced August 24, 2021.

The model and serial numbers can be found on a label in one of three locations: On the left side panel under the left front grate support/burner bowl, on the front of the oven cavity face frame below the control panel, or on the bottom of the control panel above the door. Consumers should not search for the model and serial number when the range is hot.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the bake, broil and griddle functions to avoid a risk of gas leak and contact Viking Range to arrange for a free repair by an Authorized Service Provider. Consumers can continue to use only the top surface burners of the range. Surface burners are those covered by the cooking grates on the top surface of the range. The griddle and ovens should not be operated.

Sold At: ABT, Ferguson, Best Buy, Pacific Sales, PC Richard & Son and other stores nationwide from August 2021 through December 2021 for between $5,220 and $19,300.

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1248

Israeli Army Kitchens To Go Dairy

February 8, 2022 - from Matzav.com:

"Decades ago, Rabbi Shlomo Goren, chief rabbi of the IDF at the time, banned dairy from army kitchens to prevent the mixing of milk and meat.

"Military rabbonim are concerned that the army is considering waiving the ban even though it has only half the mashgichim necessary to maintain the proper separation of milk and dairy.

"The army says it is considering the change as part of a move to improve the quality of army food, and that all kashrus requirements will be examined in conformation with the demands of the Army Rabbinate."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1247

Israel Bans Cages for Egg Laying Hens

February 14, 2022 - from Jewish Press:

"Israel’s Agriculture Ministry on Monday published for public comments the draft of its revised animal welfare regulations regarding raising chickens for eggs in agricultural settings. The regulations adopt for the first time advanced Western standards and constitute the first stage of a reform in the egg-laying industry. Among other things, the new rules include a ban on the use of cage coops, a definition of minimum living space for egg-laying hens, a ban on forced molting, and advanced technological requirements."

"Forced molting is the practice by poultry growers of artificially provoking a flock to molt simultaneously, typically by withdrawing food and sometimes water for an extended period when egg production is naturally decreasing toward the end of the first egg-laying phase.

"Under the new regulations, any new coop will be without cages. And as of June 1, 2029, all cage coops will be banned. The transition period is intended to allow the industry to prepare and upgrade in accordance with the required changes, since in Israel today, about 93% of the laying hens’ coops are cages of various types.

"But even during seven-year the transition period, a minimum living space has been set for the egg-laying hens in the existing coops, ranging from 600 square centimeters (93 square inches) to 750 square centimeters (116 square inches), depending on the size of the coop.

"Also, within a year, debeaking – beak trimming of the egg-laying hens after they leave the hatchery will be banned. Debeaking will only be permitted while the chicks are in the hatchery, and it must be performed most beneficially, to prevent them from injuring each other.

"In addition, the new regulations require medical attention or euthanasia to prevent the suffering of hens who have been injured by a poultry worker and stipulate the grower’s obligation to consult a veterinarian or a poultry breeding guide in any case of an abnormal event. An abnormal event is defined as a case in which mortality in a coop exceeds 0.25% per day or a drop in egg laying in excess of 10% per day or 5% within three days."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1246

Report: Trampling Of Kashrus Continues? Kahana To Close Fraud Unit

February 6, 2022: from the YeshivaWorld:

"Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana told kashrus supervisors in private conversations that he will be closing down the Rabbanut’s kashrus fraud department as part of his reforms, Yisrael Hayom reported.

"Kahana claims that the new body that will be established in its place will have broader authoritative powers but at this point, it is unclear who will be responsible for the new department.

"Sources in the Rabbanut and kashrus organizations fear that minimizing the Rabbanut’s power to enforce fraud violations will dramatically increase incidents of fraud, saying that any governmental organization will be subject to political and financial pressures.

"The Koshrot organization, which is leading the fight against Kahana’s reforms, stated: 'Replacing a professional appointment with a political appointment is exactly what we’ve warned of all along. We warned that competition in kashrus will raise prices and lower reliability. A reality in which there is no professional body in Israel responsible for kashrus fraud is a reward for kashrus violators.'"

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1245

Israel to Pass Anti-Boycott Regulations Following Ben & Jerry’s, Amnesty Controversies

February 6, 2022: from the Algemeiner:

"Israel’s justice minister approved regulations late on Saturday to sanction companies such as Ben & Jerry’s and its parent Unilever over their decision to boycott Israel by preventing them from taking part in state tenders and limiting other benefits.

"The move comes after Avi Zinger, CEO of Ben & Jerry’s Israel, urged the Israeli government last week to apply a 2011 anti-boycott law against Unilever, the parent company of Ben & Jerry’s, over the ice cream maker’s July decision to cease selling its products in eastern Jerusalem and the West Bank.

"Zinger lamented that while many US states have in recent months applied their laws against the Palestinian-led boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaign, and as a result have divested or ceased to invest funds in Unilever, in Israel 'not a single step has been taken to tackle a corporate giant that has decided to initiate a boycott of the State of Israel.'"

"The regulations, which still await approval by the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, will apply to companies that have called for boycotting Israel, or anyone participating in such a boycott. They were drafted by Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman before being presented to Sa’ar.

"Following the approval and passage of the legislation, Lieberman seeks to examine recent actions by Amnesty International and use the mechanisms proposed in the regulations in order to impose on the organization the restrictions set forth in the law.

"NGO Monitor remarked that Amnesty’s intention is to 'use sanctions, boycotts, arrests of Israeli officials to attack Israel’s existence as a Jewish state.'"

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1244

2022 Olympic Games Ask Chabad Beijing to Certify Kosher Meals

February 7, 2022 - from CoLive:

"he Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games invited Chabad Shliach Rabbi Shimon Freundlich to organize kosher food and supervision for the Jewish athletes, coaches, and journalists who are participating in the Olympics.

"The food is being prepared by the Beijing Xinhua Airport Catering Company under the direction of Executive Chef Zhang Chunjie at a commercial kitchen certified kosher near the Beijing Capital International Airport.

"Some 1500 meals including breakfast, lunch and dinner were prepared in compliance with and adherence to the highest Kosher standards as well as local and international requirements for food safety. Meals include the finest salmon to imported Glatt Kosher South American beef.

"One of the people already seen enjoying the kosher meals is Hailey Kops, a Modern Orthodox Jewish athlete from West Orange, New Jersey, who is competing for Israel at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

"Chabad of Beijing is also coordinating other Jewish services for those who request them."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1243
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