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.
February 14, 2024 from the Science Daily:
"Changing the color of commonly used agricultural nets lessens insect damage to Kujo Leek fields. Kp>"Red nets are better at keeping away a common agricultural insect pest than typical black or white nets, according to a new study. Researchers experimented with the effect of red, white, black and combination-colored nets on deterring onion thrips from eating Kujo leeks, also called Welsh onions. In both lab and field tests, red nets were significantly better at deterring the insect than other colors. Also, in field tests, onion crops which were either partially or fully covered by red netting required 25-50% less insecticide than was needed for a totally uncovered field. Changing agricultural nets from black or white to red could help reduce pesticide use and the related negative impact it can have on the environment, while supporting more sustainable and effective agricultural practices."
February 15, 2024 from the AgFunderNews.com:
"Less than five months after announcing its first commercial-scale cultivated meat plant in Glenview, Illinois, UPSIDE Foods has hit pause on its Chicagoland plans and is instead focusing on expanding its far smaller ‘EPIC’ site in Emeryville, California.
"According to emails sent to staff by UPSIDE Foods founder and CEO Dr. Uma Valeti that were leaked to tech publication WIRED, UPSIDE has also made “selective role eliminations” and “other changes” as it stops “non-critical” work and conserves capital to extend its runway.
"he startup, which has raised $608 million since 2015, shared publicly as recently as January 4 that it was “building a commercial facility to enable the next level of scale,” but is now holding fire at Glenview until it has “delivered key proof points” at its EPIC facility, according to emails sent by Valeti to staff.
"he fact that a startup is prudently cutting back to extend its runway during a challenging funding environment may not appear to be especially newsworthy in the current climate.
"However, the fact that UPSIDE had only just announced the new plant and is now hitting the pause button could dampen confidence in the firm, the performance of which is fairly or otherwise regarded as a proxy for the wider cultivated meat industry given the vast sums it has raised to date and its status as an industry pioneer.
"Believer Meats, which is building what it claims is the “largest cultivated meat production facility in the world” in Wilson, North Carolina, says its expects to be “fully operational in 2024” although it has not yet secured regulatory approvals to sell cultivated meat products in the US.
"UPSIDE has acknowledged that its whole cut technology (for which it has regulatory approval) is not yet ready for prime time, telling AgFunderNews last June that its chicken fillets were still being made in 2-liter flasks. However it recently shared bullish comments about the performance of its hybrid approach, whereby it grows cell biomass in suspension in 2,000-L bioreactors and then combines it with plant-based meat to create processed products such as nuggets and patties."
"Nick Cooney at foodtech investor Lever VC added: 'To me this doesn’t stand out as a good or bad sign… We’ve seen lots of companies across the cultivated, fermentation, and plant-based space cutting back on staff and planned capital expenses in light of the shift in fundraising environment, so it’s not surprising that UPSIDE would do the same.'"
February 20, 2024 from the Euromeat:
"Starbucks is betting on that unusual combination with a new drink released in China to mark the Lunar New Year. Dubbed the “Abundant Year Savory Latte,” the brand describes it as having an “interesting” flavor.
"The drink combines Dongpo Braised Pork Flavor Sauce with espresso and steamed milk, with extra pork sauce and pork breast meat for garnish, according to Starbucks.
"The drink combines Dongpo Braised Pork Flavor Sauce with espresso and steamed milk, with extra pork sauce and pork breast meat for garnish, according to Starbucks."
February 15, 2024 from the CPSC :
BRS and BULin Liquid Fuel Bottles have been recalled because the portable fuel bottles do not meet the child-resistant requirements for closures under the Children's Gasoline Burn Prevention Act (CGBPA). The closure for the products is not child-resistant, posing a risk of burn and poisoning to children. The 530mL BRS bottle was manufactured after the Portable Fuel Container Safety Act (PFCSA) became effective and lacks a flame mitigation device, posing a flash fire hazard.
Consumer Contact: Email at lyuxia3k@163.com or online at their Amazon seller profile, Amazon.com Seller Profile: WAOLi.
Description: This recall involves WAOLi’s BRS and BULin portable liquid fuel bottles manufactured from February 2023 to July 2023, sold individually and as a pair. The BRS bottle is orange with a black cap and was sold in 500mL, 530mL, and 750mL capacities. The BULin bottle is red with a red cap and was sold in 1500mL capacity. “BRS” or “BULin,” the bottle’s volume, warnings, and/or directions appear in white lettering on the bottles.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled fuel bottles and place them out of reach to children. To receive a full refund, WAOLi is asking consumers to initial and date the bottles, and then submit a photo of them in the trash along with their refund request.
February 15, 2024 from the CPSC in conjunction with Government of Canada:
Frigidaire rear-controlled ranges have been recalled because the control panel (user interface) on the ranges can detach from the unit, posing electrical shock and electrocution hazards.
Consumer Contact: Electrolux Group toll-free at 877-232-6822 from 8:30 a.m. through 8 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, by email at rangeuirecall@electrolux.com, or online at www.rangeuirecall.com or www.frigidaire.com and click on “Recall Information” at the top of the page for more information.
This recall involves select Frigidaire brand rear-controlled ranges produced from October 2023 through November 2023 with electronic control panels and the following model and serial numbers within these ranges here.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Frigidaire rear-controlled ranges and contact Electrolux Group for a free repair/professional installation of a new control panel. Consumers should not use the range while awaiting the service call. Consumers should unplug the unit until repaired by an authorized servicer.
Sold At: Lowe’s and other appliance stores nationwide and online from October 2023 through December 2023 for between $790 and $1,050.
February 15, 2024 from the CPSC in conjunction with Government of Canada:
Digital Electric Smokers have been recalled because the smokers can leak electrical current during use, posing an electric shock hazard.
Consumer Contact: Char-Broil toll-free at 833-206-4647 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, email at recall@charbroil.com, online at www.charbroil.com and click on “Product Recalls” under “Parts & Support” or www.charbroil.com/recalls for more information.
This recall involves Char-Broil digital electric smokers with the following model descriptions: Digital Electric Smoker; Digital Electric Smoker w/Window; Digital Electric Smoker, Black w/Window; Digital Electric Smoker, Medallion; Digital Electric Smoker, Connected; and Digital Electric Smoker, XL. These electric smokers were designed and intended only for outdoor use to cook without charcoal. The smokers were sold in black and stainless-steel finishes. The “Char-Broil” logo plate is on the front of the unit. The product label is located on the outside back of the unit and includes the model and serial numbers and brand information. UPC codes, located on the packaging, are included in this recall with the model description and item numbers here :
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled electric smokers and contact Char-Broil for a free repair kit. The repair kit consists of a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (“GFCI”) plug (also known as a “pigtail”), a clamshell enclosure to secure the GFCI pigtail, and a cable clamp. Instructions for installing each of these repair kit items will also be provided.
Incidents/Injuries: Char-Broil received 79 reports of consumers who experienced a minor electric shock from touching the smokers while in use, including one report of a consumer developing a finger blister after the shock.
Sold At: Lowe’s, Menards, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, Target and other stores nationwide, and online at Amazon.com, HSN.com and Charbroil.com from April 2015 through January 2024 for between $300 and $600.
February 15, 2024 from the Specialty Food News:
"In January, core consumer prices rose at a rate higher than expected: 3.9 percent, reports The Wall Street Journal. Companies continue to hold consumer prices as wages and expenses continue to take a larger share of profits, however, businesses could also be boosting profits as commodity prices decrease.
"The report notes that executives at companies across consumer-facing industries have said in recent earnings calls that they noticed commodity deflation in 2023; however, the only price cuts on the horizon are strategic, and in some cases, businesses are even raising prices.
"'Structural inflationary factors such as higher wage rates, transportation costs, and other overhead items are all still supporting higher product costs,' said Tractor Supply chief financial officer Kurt Barton.
"Although food prices at grocery stores have stabilized, inflation at restaurants was up 5.1 percent year-over-year in January, above the Fed’s two percent inflation target.
"One restaurant chain, Kura Sushi USA, experienced four percent deflation in commodities, but increased prices by nine percent, the company said in early January."
February 13, 2024 from the The Times of Israel:
"The bans in Belgium on the slaughter of animals without stunning neither interfere with freedom of religion nor constitute discrimination, the European Court of Human Rights rules.
"he ruling Tuesday by the tribunal in Strasbourg, France, is on a petition filed by Muslim groups against the bans introduced in 2019 in two out of three Belgian regions. The ruling is final as the Strasbourg court is the highest instance with jurisdiction to review the bans.
"Jewish and Muslim groups in Belgium oppose the bans, which they view as an unreasonable infringement on religious freedoms. The bans cite the widespread view that slaughter without stunning is cruel to animals. Advocates of Jewish slaughter, or shechita, argue that when performed correctly, that technique does not result in excessive suffering for animals. Defenders of the Muslim variant, d’biha, argue the same.
"Many observant Jews and Muslims do not consume meat that isn’t kosher or halal, respectively. For meat to be labeled as such, the animals from which it is produced must be healthy and conscious when their necks are cut.
"Multiple countries in the European Union and beyond have laws limiting or outlawing slaughter without stunning.
"Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, President of the Conference of European Rabbis, calls the ruling 'a black day for Europe,' adding that 'the Jewish and Muslim communities of Europe will continue to fight for religious freedoms and equality,' but “that task is now made all the harder."
February 11, 2024 from the Jerusalem Post:
"Leavened bread will remain banned from IDF bases during Passover as the High Court of Justice rejected a petition on Sunday that sought to limit the restrictions to common dining areas.
"The ruling found that the injury to the rights of those who wished to consume leavened food products was limited in proportion to the needs of the military and those keeping Passover dietary restrictions.
"The petition argued that the military’s orders banning leavened food, or “hametz,” violated Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty by infringing on the constitutional right of autonomy of choosing their food and freedom of religion of soldiers, forcing them to observe facets of the holiday.
"The army will continue to serve kosher food to its soldiers
"The IDF said that the military has no policy for searching soldiers entering bases or their personal belongings for hametz. The IDF also said that it would improve procedures for addressing complaints connected to the matter.
"There is an important public interest in the army’s provision of kosher food for soldiers. It would be difficult for religious soldiers to live in close quarters with others if they were in possession of Hametz, and the tensions that would arise would damage the routine and unit cohesion.
"Steinitz contended that the injury to rights was relatively low in the face of the need for a kosher for Passover base. The dietary restrictions were only in effect for a few days each year, and the number of those affected is small since many soldiers are given holiday leave or leave base at the end of the day.
"The petition was submitted in 2021 by the secular forum, the Hiddush organization for freedom of religion and equality, and parents whose children were serving or were to serve in the IDF."
February 9, 2024 from the JNS:
"Some branches of Israel’s largest hamburger fast-food chains—McDonald’s, Burger Ranch and BurgerIM—will start enforcing the higher kosher standards to support Israel Defense Force soldiers who only eat mehadrin-certified meat, local media reported on Thursday.
"The move, an initiative of the Israel Defense Forces rabbinate in cooperation with global kashrut organizations, seeks to ensure that Jewish soldiers of different religious backgrounds can all enjoy food donated by Israeli civilians who seek to support the war effort.
"Also on Thursday, Domino’s Pizza Israel opened strictly kosher branches in Tel Aviv Port and the nearby suburb of Givatayim. The chain intends to open two additional mehadrin branches in central Israel’s Sharon district."
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