K A S H R U T . C O M©

The Premier Kosher Information Source on the Internet


HOME | ALERTS | CONSUMER | COMMERCIAL | PASSOVER | TRAVEL | ZEMANIM | LINKS | ARTICLES | RECIPES | HUMOR | E-MAIL LIST
x
Kashrut.com uses cookies. By using kashrut.com, you consent to the practices described in our Privacy Policy. That's Fine.

Subscribe to get e-mail when this site is updated
for: from:
to
 
Shop Artscroll and support Kashrut.com
 

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

Overseas Companies Renew Israel Shipping After Virus Orders Eased

May 10, 2020 - from Hamodia:

"The e-commerce giant Amazon announced that it has relaunched its shipping services to Israel after deliveries had been halted following the coronavirus outbreak."

"Israeli consumers, however, might be left disappointed since the free shipping option – normally offered by Amazon on purchases over $49 – has not been renewed and it appears the company only offers express shipping at a much higher price."

"The company stopped shipping to Israel on March 22, saying it would focus on deliveries of essential goods within the U.S. and few other selected countries."

"Amazon in the past offered a cheaper shipping option with a longer waiting period, along with express shipping via companies such as DHL and UPS – which now is the only shipping option for Israeli customers, mostly due to the limited traffic of commercial flights during the pandemic."

"Amazon was not the only online retailer to resume shipments to Israel: British retailer Next also started to take orders from Israel after their website was closed for a few weeks. The clothing giant said that to ensure the safety of warehouse staff, it will only take a limited number of orders each day, then slowly start rolling out full service."

"According to Globes, the local retail industry estimates that Next makes hundreds of millions of shekels worth of sales in Israel every year, helped in part by its policy of free delivery on orders of over NIS 100 (approximately $28)."

"The resumption of deliveries to Israel by Amazon and Next comes as Israel has begun easing restrictions to contain the coronavirus after six weeks of closures."


COVID-19 Suspends Postal Service from US to Israel

May 14, 2020 USPS International service disruptions: Service to Israel no longer suspended.
From a reader: Israel was taken off the list on May 7, and they are accepting packages and mail for Israel.

COVID-19 Suspends Postal Service from US to Israel

April 27, 2020 - from Jewish Press:

"The USPS is suspending the international mail for certain destinations (not just Israel, by the way) due to service impacts related to the pandemic — including Israel — under the category of "Suspension Due to Unavailability of Transportation."

A service alert at the USPS International site page reads:

"Israel Postal Service: Can’t Promise 'Standards' On the Israel side of the ocean, the following applies:

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1020

Horsemeat seized in Europe as experts predict rise in food fraud caused by coronavirus

May 7, 2020 - from The Grocer UK:

"Two fraudulent horsemeat shipments were seized in Europe last week, marking the start of an expected surge in food fraud."

"The seizures have reinforced concerns among food safety experts that criminals will target food supply chains disrupted by the pandemic."

"The horsemeat samples were held in the Netherlands and Denmark."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1029

Fully Popped Recalls Poppin’ Cobs 10 Pack Microwave Popcorn Due to Fire and Burn Hazards; Sold Exclusively at Uncommon Good Stores

May 7, 2020 - from CPSC :

Poppin’ Cobs 10 Pack Microwave Popcorn have been recalled bucause the popcorn’s paper bag can catch fire in the microwave, posing fire and burn hazards.

This recall involves Poppin’ Cobs 10 pack of microwave popcorn on the cob. The popcorn is packaged in a brown box with a black top with 10 Poppin' Cobs individually wrapped and 10 brown bags for popping. “Poppin’ Cobs” is printed on the front of the box. Only boxes with date codes 042121 on the back of the box are included in the recall.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Poppin’ Cobs 10 Pack Microwave Popcorn and contact the firm to receive free replacement bags. Consumers can order the replacement bags online at Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Poppin’ Cobs 10 Pack Microwave Popcorn and contact the firm to receive free replacement bags. Consumers can order the replacement bags online at https://www.poppincobs.com/products/replacement-bags .

Poppin’ Cobs has received five reports of the popcorn brown paper bags catching on fire in the microwave. No injuries or property damage have been reported.

Consumer Contact: Contact Fully Popped toll-free at 866-767-2627 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, email orders@poppincobs.com or online at www.poppincobs.com and click on “Recall” at the bottom of the page or at https://www.poppincobs.com/products/replacement-bagsConsumers should immediately stop using the recalled Poppin’ Cobs 10 Pack Microwave Popcorn and contact the firm to receive free replacement bags. Consumers can order the replacement bags online at www.poppincobs.com/products/replacement-bags for more information.

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1028

New York WIC Program Expands Kosher Options

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1027

USDA fights to purge food stamps recipients despite pandemic

March 18, 2020 - Food Safety News:

"The Agriculture Department said Wednesday that it would appeal a judge’s ruling that it would be 'arbitrary and capricious' to move forward during a global health crisis with food stamp changes that could force hundreds of thousands from the program."

"Federal Judge Beryl Howell, in a ruling late last week, stopped a set of changes that would have taken effect on April 1. On Wednesday, an Agriculture Department spokesperson responded to an Associated Press query with a terse email saying only that “USDA disagrees with the court’s reasoning and will appeal its decision.”

"Under the current rules, able-bodied adults without dependents must show they’ve worked at least 80 hours per month for more than three months in a 36-month period to stay in the SNAP or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — commonly known as food stamps."

"However, individual states have had the ability to waive that work requirement and time limit for areas of the state that have high unemployment rates. The changes, championed by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, would have taken that waiver ability from the states, starting on April 1. Estimates from the Agriculture Department set the number of people who would be removed from the program at approximately 700,000."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1026

Israel’s food safety inspections found equivalent to USA for poultry exports

May 7, 2020 - Food Safety News:

"Israel exports ready-to-eat fully cooked and not shelf-stable poultry products to the United States. And those exports may continue, according to a report by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service."

"That’s because Israel has passed its latest foreign equivalency audit by the United States. The audit did not turn up any deficiencies that might represent an immediate threat to public health."

"The FSIS auditor did turn up some issues that Israeli authorities promised to work on during the exit interview, according to the May 1 report."

"The report details the outcome of the onsite equivalence verification audit conducted by FSIS in Israel from Nov. 3-20, 2019."

"'The purpose of the audit was to determine whether Israel’s food safety inspection system governing poultry products remains equivalent to that of the United States, with the ability to export products that are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and correctly labeled and packaged. Israel currently exports ready-to-eat (RTE), fully cooked not shelf-stable poultry products to the United States,' says the report."

"The findings by the FSIS auditor included the following:

"The FSIS auditor visited two poultry slaughter and processing establishments, two laboratories, and regional and national inspection authorities during the audit."

"FSIS will evaluate the adequacy of the CCA’s documentation of proposed corrective actions and base future equivalence verification activities on the information provided."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1025

Blue Bell fined $19.25M for 2015 listeria outbreak; former CEO faces criminal charge

May 4, 2020 from Foodt Dive:

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1024

Jewish Communities are providing kosher food under the new US Federal food programs

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1023

Enforcement of N.Y.’s Plastic Bag Ban Delayed to June 15

May 3, 2020 - from the Hamodia:

"Enforcement of New York’s plastic bag ban has once again been delayed, as the state continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic."

"The state banned single-use plastic bags on March 1, with enforcement set to start in April and was then pushed off until May 15. But on Thursday, a state Supreme Court order directed the state Department of Environmental Conservation to enforce the ban only after June 15."

"'This does not affect the local laws in New York City, Suffolk County and Tompkins County requiring that the 5-cent paper carryout bag reduction fee must be charged on paper carryout bags,' the DEC said."

"The ban has been slammed during the coronavirus pandemic as it has been shown that reusable bags may help spread the deadly disease."

"Once enforcement does begin, the state will enforce the ban by issuing a warning to retailers who violate the law for the first time. Retailers could eventually face a $250 fine for a subsequent violation, and a $500 fine for violations in the same calendar year."


State officials say fines under New York’s bag ban won’t start for another month

February 28, 2020 - from the New York Post:

"New York statewide plastic bag ban begins this Sunday — but actual enforcement won’t start for a month, officials said Friday."

"State authorities agreed Thursday to delay penalizing stores violating New York’s ban of single-use plastic bags until April 1 after grocers filed a last-minute lawsuit to try and block the law."

"Officials announced the deal after a closed-door preliminary Supreme Court hearing in Albany."

"A new law passed by state lawmakers Albany last March bans plastic bags at most stores and allows retailers to charge a 5-cent fee for each paper bag. The policy takes effect March 1, but the state will wait a month before dishing out fines."

"The legislation aims to reduce litter and help protect wildlife in the Empire State, where more than 23 billion plastic bags are used a year, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation."

"All shops that collect sales tax, including grocery stores, bodegas and retailers across Empire State."

"Once enforcement begins in April, stores caught in violation of the ban will first be issued a verbal warning. The penalty for a second violation is $100 and the penalty for a third or subsequent violation is $500."

"Plastic bags can still be doled out for uncooked meat, bulk items, takeout at restaurants and prescription drugs."

"Bring your own reusable bag made from cotton, recycled polypropylene or other materials. You can also buy one at some stores, or pay the extra 5-cent fee for a paper sack. That’s if one is available — retailers are predicting a shortage when the ban hits."

"Two cents is given to local government and 3 cents goes to the state’s Environmental Protection Fund."

New Yorkers rankled on first day of statewide plastic-bag ban

March 1, 2020 - from the New York Post:

"New Yorkers were forced to begin grappling with a new shopping reality Sunday as the state’s ban on plastic shopping bags kicked in — and not many people were happy about it."

"About half the shoppers seen by The Post on the first day of the bag ban, including Kimmel, were compensating by bringing their own bags from home, while another quarter opted to just go bagless rather than pay the 5-cent paper-bag fee allowed under the law, and the remaining 25 percent coughed up the nickel charge per bag."

"The law, passed by state lawmakers last year, bars single-use plastic bags at any retailer — from supermarkets to bodegas — that collects sales tax at their store."

"It allows shoppers to bring bags from home, buy a reusable bag at the store, or pay the 5-cent fee for paper bags."

"Smaller retailers, including the Food Bazaar Supermarket in Woodside, opted to ease into the new world of plastic-less retail by pushing their remaining supply before tapping new stacks of brown paper bags."

"At the Bay Ridge Stop & Shop in Brooklyn, some shoppers were so ticked off that they blindly lashed out Mayor Bill de Blasio, who supports the ban but in reality did not pass it — the state did."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1002

Israel's High Court Rejects Rabbinate’s Request, Allows Chametz in Hospitals on Pesach

January 10, 2021 - from Hamodia:

"High Court President Justice Esther Hayut on Sunday rejected the Chief Rabbinate’s request to determine that the state can enforce not bringing chametz into hospitals during Pesach. This came after a request for a further hearing, following an order issued by High Court judges last April, which determined that hospitals have the authority to prohibit those entering their gates from bringing in chametz during Pesach."

"In a request for a further hearing, the Chief Rabbinate argued that the decision that the ruling would harm the kashrus of the food provided by the hospital.'But as it has been ruled,” Judge Hayut responded, “this concern does not constitute a source of authority for a substantial violation of the fundamental freedoms we have upheld, especially since the prohibition is explicitly based on religious considerations and involves sensitive issues of religion and state, without the legislature giving [its] opinion. '"

"Hayut added that 'it is to be hoped that the Rabbinate and the Health Ministry will find an appropriate solution that will preserve the rights of all patients as soon as this coming Pesach, so that those who wish to bring in chametz will be able to do so.'"

"Shas leader Minister Rabbi Aryeh Deri said that “it is inconceivable that in a Jewish state, hospitals will be required to allow chametz on Pesach.

"'Immediately after the election, the Shas faction in the Knesset will demand the promotion of the Patient Rights Bill as I instructed MK Moshe Arbel to submit in the 23rd Knesset, which seeks to maintain the status quo and authorize hospital administrators in this matter. After all, a hospital that serves a Jewish population is not similar to a hospital that serves minority populations,' said Rabbi Deri.

"MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni said in response to the High Court ruling: 'The impudent High Court judges take advantage of the period between one Knesset and another, that the amendment to my law cannot be raised in this matter, and do not consider Jews who do keep kosher who may need to go to the hospital on Pesach. We will strongly demand the Override Clause in order to stop and put order in the unlimited power of the High Court.'"


Israel’s Supreme Court Approves Chametz on Passover in Hospitals

April 30, 2020 - from Jewish Press:

"Israel’s Supreme Court on Thursday ruled against the long-standing state ban on chametz in hospitals across the Jewish State on Passover in a 2-1 decision handed down in response to petitions submitted by the Adalah organization and The Secular Forum, both funded by the New Israel Fund (NIF)."

"Justice Neil Hendel was the dissenting opinion in the case."

"Writing for the panel, Justice Uzi Fogelman wrote in his ruling, “I find that the ban on bringing food items to hospitals during Passover that prevents patients from consuming food of their choice in the personal space at their disposal, violates the right to dignity, autonomy, and religious freedom."

"'The powers granted by hospital administrations do not include certification to restrict introduction of food into the hospital for kashrut reasons. In addition, using hospital security guards – in any form – for the purpose of enforcing the ban on introducing food into hospitals on Passover exceeds the restrictions set by the Public Security Law,' the justice wrote."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1022
Older news

The information posted is from secondary sources. We cannot take responsibility for the accuracy of the information.
Comments to webmaster@kashrut.com 
© Copyright 2024 Scharf Associates
Phone: (781)784-6890 
E-mail: ajms@kashrut.com
URL: "http://www.kashrut.com/"
 
Arlene J. Mathes-Scharf  
Food Scientist - Kosher Food Specialist
 
Scharf Associates
P.O. Box 50
Sharon, MA 02067