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.
The following safety alert from the CPSC on May 17, 2012.
Circulon 13-Piece Cookware Set recalled by Meyer Corporation, Vallejo, CA due to laceration hazard from glass lid. The glass lid used with the 5-quart covered sauté pan can crack, break or shatter, posing a laceration hazard to consumers. The defective lid is 11 inches in diameter with a rubber and stainless steel handle and a metal rim. The code “IMCP1108” is stamped on the outside of the metal rim. The lid is part of the 13-Piece Circulon Premier Professional cookware set. The cookware is aluminum and stainless steel with rubber and stainless steel handles. In addition to the covered sauté pan, the sets include: 1-quart and 3-quart saucepans, a 4-quart saucepot, an 8-quart stockpot, 8.5-, 10- and 12-inch French skillets and four additional glass lids. Sold Exclusively at: Costco retail stores and Costco.com from about October 2011 through March 2012 for about $200 for the complete set. Consumers should stop using the 11-inch glass lid and contact Circulon customer service at (800) 326-3933, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT, or visit the firm’s website at www.circulon.com to receive a replacement lid.
The following story is from the Bloomberg on May 10, 2012 and Koshertoday.com on May 14, 2012.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (Manhattan)ruled in Commack Self-Service Kosher Meats v. Hooker, 11-3517 that the the New York law regulating the marketing and labeling of kosher food doesn't violate the U.S. Constitution. “The Kosher Act merely requires food products marketed as kosher to be labeled as kosher,” U.S. Circuit Judge Christopher Droney wrote. “The Kosher Act does not entangle the state with religion because it does not require the state to enforce laws based on religious doctrine or to inquire into the religious content or religious nature of the products sold.”
The court also rejected a challenge to the law as unconstitutionally vague.
However, Koshertoday.com has pointed out that the New York State inspectors that insurered that this law is followed were fired in the waning days of the Paterson administration and have not been rehired.
The following safety alert from the CPSC on April 26, 2012.
Target recalls Target Home Bunny Sippy Cup because the ear on the bunny sippy cup can poke a child in the eye area while using the cup for drinking, posing an injury hazard. Target has received six reports of incidents where the plastic ear poked children during routine use of the product. Cuts and bruises were reported in three of these reports.
The recall involves two styles of Target Home Bunny Sippy Cups. The cups come with handles on both sides in pink and blue, female and male. Each contains a corresponding white bunny head screw-on lid and one bent ear and one straight ear. The cups can be identified by imprints on the bottom: "TARGET 200020683" for pink and "TARGET 200020884" for the blue.
This product was sold exclusively at: Target stores nationwide from February 2012 through April 5, 2012 for $3. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled sippy cups and return them to any Target store for a full refund.
For additional information, contact Target at (800) 440-0680 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.target.com
The following safety alert from the FDA on April 9, 2012.
Enesco, LLC announced today that it is voluntarily recalling the ONIM “Any Wine Will Do” ceramic wine goblets, SKU # 4026171. Enesco is recalling the “Any Wine Will Do” wine goblets because, through its internal compliance and independent laboratory product testing program, it became aware that the wine goblets may exceed the Food and Drug Administration’s (“FDA”) guidance levels for leachable lead and cadmium. Enesco sold approximately 300 of the “Any Wine Will Do” wine goblets to retail stores in AR, CA, CO, FL, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, MI, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, SD, TX, VA, VT, WA and WI. No illness related to this product has been reported. The recall only applies to this item and no other ONIM products are affected.
Specifically the product that is subject to this recall is the ONIM "Any Wine Will Do" wine goblet pictured below. The wine goblet is a white ceramic goblet with the word "wine" painted on the exterior and interior in multiple colors. The phrases "Any Wine Will Do" and “I Would Like To Apologize In Advance For My Behavior Tonight” appear on the front and back in a yellow circle surrounded by black and white checks. The wine goblet is usually on display at retailers, but it is delivered to retailers in a white box with a label that contains: a picture of the front of the wine goblet, the Our Name Is Mud® logo, a product description of "Any Wine Goblet," the SKU # 4026171 and Enesco LLC’s name.
Consumers who purchased the wine goblet should return them to the place of purchase for a full refund or contact Enesco at (800) 4 ENESCO, ext. 5720 or consumeraffairs@enesco.com for more details on the recall.
The following safety alert from the CPSC on March 5, 2012.
Carlisle FoodService Products, of Oklahoma City, OK is recalling melamine mugs due to burn hazard. The nine models of Carlisle cups and mugs were sold in a variety of sizes from 7 to 16 oz., and in the following colors: white, green, red, brown, black, ocean blue, sand, honey yellow, bone and sunset orange. They are approximately 2 to 3 inches tall and are made of melamine. The name "Carlisle OKC, OK" and model number are imprinted on the bottom, along with "Made in China" and "NSF." Some may also include the model name and size, ex. "Durus 7 oz cup." Cups and mugs included in this recall are:
| Name | Size | Model Number |
|---|---|---|
| Sierrus" Mug | 7.8 oz | Model # 33056 |
| Durus® Challenge Cup | 7.8 oz | Model # 43056 |
| Dallas Ware® Stacking Cup | 7 oz | Model # 43546 |
| Dayton™ Stacking Cup | 7 oz | Model # 43870 |
| Kingline™ Ovide Cup | 7 oz | Model # KL300 |
| Kingline™ Stacking Cup | 7 oz | Model # KL111 |
| Melamine Stackable Mug | 8 oz | Model # 4510 |
| Cappuccino Mug | 12 oz | Model # 4812 |
| Cappuccino Mug | 16 oz | Model # 4816 |
Sold at:nationally through distributor outlets and online, including food service companies, broadliners and equipment supply distributors. The mugs were sold between January 2011 and January 2012 for between $4 and $10 each.Consumers should stop using the mugs immediately and return them to Carlisle for credit toward a future purchase of Carlisle FoodService Products merchandise. Carlisle will provide instructions for free return shipping.
For additional information, contact Carlisle FoodService Products at (800) 217-8859 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.carlislefsp.com/productsafety
The following safety alert from the CPSC on March 5, 2012.
Greenlee Textron Inc., Rockford, IL recalls Folding Pocket Utility Knifes due to laceration hazard. The blade locking mechanism can fail, allowing the blade to fold inward toward the handle, posing a laceration hazard.
This recall involves Greenlee Hawk Bill folding pocket utility knives with model numbers 0652-27 and UT652-27. The models are identical. Each has a single curved 2.6-inch stainless steel blade and a 4-inch green and black plastic handle. The Greenlee name and logo are printed on the blade. Model numbers are printed in the upper right corner of the boxes in which the knives are packaged.
Sold by distributors of professional tools and products nationwide from September 2011 through November 2011 for about $20.
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled knife and return it to the distributor for a full refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Greenlee toll-free at (800) 435-0786 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT or visit the firm's website at www.greenlee.com
The following safety alert from the CPSC on February 16, 2012.
Ganz recalls Dancing Teapots due to burn hazard. The teapot's handle can get extremely hot when there is hot water in the teapot, posing a burn hazard to consumers. This recall involves Ganz ceramic teapots that are tilted to appear as if they are dancing. Only 32-ounce teapots that measure about 10 inches tall and 8 inches wide are included in this recall. Recalled teapots have SKU number "ER19252" and UPC "661371626062" printed on a sticker on the bottom of the teapot. They were sold in the following colors: blue, yellow, green, orange, pink and black. They were sold at Tea and coffee specialty stores, gift stores, drug stores, kitchen supply stores, hospital gift shops and other retailers nationwide from December 2011 through January 2012 for about $30.
Consumers should stop using the recalled teapots immediately and contact Ganz for instructions on returning the teapot for a full refund.
For additional information, contact Ganz at (800) 724-5902 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday, and between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET on Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.ganz.com.
The following information from the New York Times diner's jounal blog originally from Journal of Parasitology posted on February 15, 2012.
DNA barcoding was used to determine that the parasitic species found in fish products is a anasakis species that does not inhabit the intestines of the fish hosts.
The following safety alert from the CPSC on February 9, 2012.
Tassimo Espresso T Discs recalled by Kraft Foods due to burn hazard. The recalled espresso T Discs can become clogged and spray hot liquid and coffee grounds onto consumers and bystanders during or after brewing, posing a burn hazard.
This recall involves Gevalia, Maxwell House and Nabob brand espresso T Discs. The T Discs are plastic discs filled with coffee that are inserted into Tassimo coffee makers to brew single cups of hot espresso drinks. They were sold in packages of eight or 16 espresso T Discs. T Discs with codes ending with 11213 through 12020 are included in this recall. The code is printed on the T Disc’s foil lid and on the side of the package.
The list of recalled T Discs can be found at www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12107.html.
Ed. note: The T Disks are not certified as kosher. Discuss with your rabbi as to how to handle plain coffee.
The following safety alert from the CPSC on February 9, 2012.
Tassimo Single-Cup Coffee Makers recalled by BSH Home Appliances due to burn hazard. The plastic disc, or T Disc, that holds the coffee or tea can burst and spray hot liquid and coffee grounds or tea leaves onto consumers using the brewer and onto bystanders, posing a burn hazard. There have been 140 reports of incidents with the brewers spraying hot liquid, coffee grounds or tea leaves onto consumers, including 37 reports of second-degree burn injuries. This recall involves Tassimo brewers with the Bosch brand name and Tassimo Professional brewers. The brewers use plastic T Discs that are filled with coffee or tea to brew hot drinks. "BOSCH” and “TASSIMO" are printed on the front of the brewers. “TASSIMO PROFESSIONAL” is printed on the front of the professional model. The Bosch-brand brewers were sold in black, white, anthracite, gray, silver, red, titanium and white/gray colors. The Tassimo Professional brewers were only sold in black. The following model numbers and date codes are included in this recall. The model number and date code are located on the bottom of the brewer. No other Tassimo brewer is included in this recall.
| Brand | Model Numbers That Begin With: | Date Codes Beginning with FD and Within the Range of: |
|---|---|---|
| Bosch® | TAS100 | FD 8806 through 9109 |
| TAS200 | ||
| TAS451 | ||
| TAS46 | ||
| TAS651 | ||
| Tassimo Professional | TAS6512CUL | FD 8905 through 9109 |
| The information posted is from secondary sources. We cannot take responsibility for the accuracy of the information. |
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