K A S H R U T . C O M_©

In a first, EU invites Jews and Muslims to stand up for kosher and halal slaughter amid local bans

October 21, 2022 - from JTA

"European Union officials in Brussels invited Jewish and Muslim community leaders to discuss meat production, in what some of the guests characterized as progress toward ensuring religious freedom.

"The event, which was convened by the EU’s point person for fighting antisemitism, Katharina von Schnurbein, included Jews and Muslims concerned about a two-pronged attack on their traditional methods for slaughtering animals for food that has resulted in bans in some countries. About 30 EU officials and about 20 community leaders were present, according to people who were there.

"Animal rights activists say shechitah and zabiha, the Muslim method for slaughtering animals for food, are cruel because both methods preclude stunning before the animal’s necks are cut. Advocates of the customs say they result in no greater suffering to animals than mechanized slaughter methods with higher malfunction rates and less attention to individual animals.

"n recent years, opposition to shechitah and zabiha has widened as right-wing parties began adopting this stance as part of their commitment to reducing the presence in society of Islam, and in some cases also Judaism.

"When Jewish community leaders challenged recent bans in two of Belgium’s three states at the Court of the European Union, the court dealt them a major defeat when it upheld the bans in a 2021 ruling that Israel’s ambassador to Belgium called “catastrophic and a blow to Jewish life in Europe.”

"The ruling added Belgium to a number of EU countries where ritual slaughter is illegal, including Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Slovenia. In 2011, the Netherlands briefly joined the list, but the Dutch Senate reversed the ban in 2012, citing freedom of worship. Poland also outlawed ritual slaughter in 2013 but has since scaled back the ban to include only meat for export.

"The office of von Schnurbein, who in 2015 became the first European Commission coordinator on combatting antisemitism, had stayed out of the debate on shechitah for most of her tenure. But she has become increasingly outspoken on the issue since the bans in Belgium, which were initiated by a right-wing party and advanced by a socialist party. In January, she said during an EU meeting that the bans risk painting Jews and Muslim minorities as 'medieval.'

"Shimon Cohen, the director of the British-Jewish advocacy group Shechitah UK, also referenced the connection between antisemitism and bans on religious slaughter during his speech at the event Thursday. Cohen noted that the first ban on shechitah in Europe occurred in Switzerland in the 19th century to make the country less hospitable to Jews fleeing pogroms in Russia.

"The Nazis, too, enacted a ban on kosher slaughter early on, Deborah Lipstadt, the U.S. special envoy charged with monitoring antisemitism abroad, said in her speech at the conference. She said the United States recognizes the importance of allowing ritual slaughter and urged European lawmakers to include exemptions for religious groups in any legislation about meat production.

"In his comments at the conference, Cohen argued that existing laws about religious freedom are not enough to ensure that shechitah remains legal.

"'Freedom of religion was designed for people who believe stuff, not for people who do stuff,' Cohen said. 'And shechitah is a positive practical action as part of our faith. So too, would kneeling be for Christians, and the idea of banning kneeling would be impossible. I would hope that this meeting can be the first step towards ensuring there should be no provision allowed within European Union law to ban shechitah.'"

Newair Recalls Magic Chef Air Fryers Due to Fire and Burn Hazards

October 13, 2022 from the CPSC

Magic Chef Air Fryers have been recalled because the air fryer can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards.

Consumer Contact: Newair toll-free at 833-715-1021 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday https://www.newair.com/pages/newair-magic-chef-digital-air-fryer-recall or https://www.newair.com/pages/recall-registration for online registration.

This recall involves the Magic Chef Air Fryer Digital Air Fryer oven with model numbers MCAF56DB (black) and MCAF56DW (white). Magic Chef is printed on the top of the fryers and the rating label on the bottom has the brand name Magic Chef along with the model number. The air fryers measure about 13 inches by 15 inches by 14 inches.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled air fryers and provide a picture of the rating label to the firm to receive instructions to disable the air fryer and receive a refund in the form of a newair.com credit. The credit amount will be $50 or the amount on the purchase receipt if higher. No receipt is needed to get the $50 credit. Consumers can also register to participate in the recall at https://www.newair.com/pages/recall-registration.

Sold At: Online at Newair.com, Walmart.com, Wayfair.com, Amazon.com, and Target.com from July 2018 through September 2020 for between $115 to $138.

Salon Technologies, Inc. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Antica Ocean Citron Hand Sanitizer ( Alcohol ) Gel 65% Due to the Presence of Benzene

September 17, 2022 - from the FDA:

Salon Technologies International. Inc. is voluntarily recalling one lot of Antica Ocean Citron Hand Sanitizer (alcohol) Gel 65%, Lot 1166A. Expiration 6/18/2023 to the consumer level. Firm lab testing has found the product to contain benzene.

512 bottles of Antica Ocean Citron Hand Sanitizer (alcohol) Gel 65%, Lot 1166A, Expiration 6/18/2023 was distributed in the Seattle, Washington area.

Salon Technologies International. Inc. has notified its distributors by email and is arranging for return of all recalled products. Consumers that have product which is being recalled should stop using and return unused product to where it was obtained.

Consumers with questions regarding this recall can contact Salon Technologies International. Inc. by phone number ( 407-248-2948 ) or e-mail address salontechnologiesint@gmail.com , Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm , EST.

Israeli Elite Chocolate Brand To Make Comeback To Shelves After Salmonella Scandal

September 19, 2022 - from the i24:

"Israel’s largest chocolate manufacturer, Strauss Group, announced on Monday that its plant in northern Israel resumed operations five months after traces of salmonella were found there, triggering the largest-ever recall in the country’s history, Ynet reports.

"The company said that its plant in Nof HaGalil is already back manufacturing its Parra chocolate bars and Mekupelet candy bar, and will gradually reintroduce more products of its Elite chocolate brand under the supervision of the Health Ministry."

Israeli factory to resume production after salmonella outbreak

August 28, 2022 - from the i24:

"Israel’s Health Ministry announced on Sunday that the Strauss Group Elite factory was authorized to gradually resume its activities after a salmonella outbreak.

The decision was made after a health and technological audit had been carried out. The ministry said audits would continue until the factory is cleared to fully resume operations."

Strauss feels the impact of Salmonella related to chocolate recall and site shutdown

August 19, 2022 - from the Food Safety News:

"Strauss Group’s profit has been heavily dented by a chocolate recall because of Salmonella and the related closure of a production plant in Israel.

"The company showed growth in some areas but this was offset by a decline in sales in the confectionery division and the Sabra hummus business, both of which operated on a partial scale in the half-year. The firm also reported a decline in operating profit.

"The company is preparing to gradually resume operations at the confectionery production site in Nof Hagalil, Israel. It has performed cleaning and invested in infrastructure to ensure improved quality and food safety standards.

"Permission for a restart is still pending from the Israeli Ministry of Health. The agency suspended the plant’s approval for three months after an inspection in April. Investigators were trying to clarify whether 21 patients of various ages were linked to the contamination.

"From 300 samples, about 30 positives were found. Salmonella was detected on a production line and in the liquid chocolate used to make finished products."

Drought Drives Up Commodity Prices for Corn, Wheat, and Beef

September 12, 2022 - from FoodProcessing.com

"Corn, wheat and beef markets are all suffering from droughts that will impact productivity, according to the latest report from Rabobank.

"The quarterly Rabobank Agribusiness Review notes that in late July, some 54% of the U.S. cattle herd was under from drought conditions. As a result, cow slaughter is on pace to reach 13.5% this year – the highest culling rate on record. Even with the extra slaughtered beef coming on the market, prices for fed cattle are up 20% so far, in recognition of the fact that fall slaughter is likely to be smaller.

"Corn crop conditions are the worst they’ve been since a widespread drought in 2012. The corn yield is projected to be below 170 bushels per acre, which would bring the total yield below 1 billion bushels, the second-lowest on record.

"The wheat market is being affected by drought and the war in Ukraine. A recent agreement to allow grain shipments through Ukraine’s ports will ease some of the pressure, but high temperatures and low rainfall will continue to depress the U.S wheat crop.

"'Without significant rainfall in the next 30 days, the 2023 U.S. hard red winter wheat crop will be planted in dust,' the report says. 'A recipe for another tough crop production year and a strong support for prices.'"