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.
November 9, 2023 - from the EuroNews:
"Criminals across the Mediterranean region are stealing olives and branches and even cutting down trees to lay their hands on the fruit that has tripled in price since 2019. Some of the trees have stood for more than a hundred years.
"A global surge in olive oil prices – which have tripled since 2019 to set records – has presented criminals across the Mediterranean with an opportunity.
"Warehouse break-ins, accounting scams and oil tampering are on the rise in the olive growing heartlands of Greece, Spain and Italy. And with growing frequency, gangs use chainsaws to hack off branches and cut down entire trees at unguarded groves.
"The crimes are compounding distress among growers already battling high production costs and the impact of climate change: warm winters, major floods, and more intense forest fires.
"fter decades of growth, the global olive oil market has been disrupted by a near two-year drought in southern Spain, a country that typically covers 40% of the world's supply.
"According to European Union estimates, the Spanish slump will help push global production down to 2.5 million metric tons in the 2022-23 crop year, from 3.4 million in the previous annual cycle.
"With global demand remaining high, international importers are often willing to offer prices above domestic rates. Year-on-year exports from Greece more than doubled in the first five months of 2023, while Turkey in August suspended exports to protect its domestic market.
"In late 2019, wholesale prices dropped below 3 euros per kilogram. By last September, they had reached 9 euros per kilo."
November 6, 2023 - from the Food Beverage Insider:
"Many Israeli food science and nutraceutical companies were unable to attend SupplySide West/Food ingredients North America 2023 due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. They were affected by employees being called up for military service, challenges in personnel and a focus on shortening international supply chains in preparation for future disruptions.
"There was a noticeable absence on the show floor at SupplySide West 2023. Israeli food science and nutraceutical companies, which often showcase some of the most forward-thinking innovations in their booths, were largely absent this year.
"This tiny country sits firmly on the vanguard of food industry sustainability, meat substitutes and environmentally friendly packaging, among a range of other crucial areas. Flights in and out of Israel are few and far between at the moment, however, due to the Israel-Hamas War that broke out in early October. And employees of Israeli companies are currently feeling the impact of the war both personally and professionally.
"A recurring theme among the companies contacted was that the largest current impact on their operations came from employees being called up to serve in the Israeli military.
T"he online magazine Israel 21c estimated on Oct. 30, 2023, that more than 23,000 Thai workers already went “home in fear,” while many Palestinian workers are no longer allowed to enter Israel. “Half the agricultural workforce vanished overnight, leaving crops to rot in the fields and livestock to fend for themselves,” reporter Jon Jeffay wrote.
"Without the usual labor force in place, thousands of Israeli volunteers have stepped in to help, doing everything from guarding farms to picking celery.
"The spirit of collaboration and support extends far beyond Israel’s borders, as companies have seen their colleagues step up to support them however needed.
"This groundswell makes Dana optimistic about the Israeli agriculture and food industry’s future, despite its current challenges."
November 3, 2023 - from the NYSED:
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYS AGM) and the New York State Department of Education (NYSED) today reiterated their actions and outreach to support New York’s dairy industry and schools during the nationwide shortage of packaging paperboard. The supply chain disruption has created a challenge for school milk packaging across the US as well as other institutions.
SFAs are allowed to serve and claim meals during the emergency period by:
The Department also advised that juice cannot be offered in place of the milk component. SFAs must still adhere to the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program meal requirement that no more than half of the fruit or vegetable offerings may be in the form of juice.
November 3, 2023 - from the Packaging Dive:
"A gable-top carton supply chain snag has milk suppliers scrambling for alternative carton sources. If it continues, the shortage could result in suppliers dumping milk, higher consumer dairy prices and schools that struggle to meet federal nutrition requirements.
"Customers report difficulty in procuring 8-ounce, or half-pint, cartons as well as 4-ounce cartons. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service acknowledged in an Oct. 25 memo that some schools were having trouble getting their supplies of milk due to supply chain issues, highlighting that it is a packaging issue and not a milk issue.
"The problem could become more widespread and affect grocery store supplies; anecdotal reports indicate some areas already are experiencing this.
In grocery stores, you can still get the plastic bottles and different sizes.
"n recent weeks, news of the milk carton trouble initially trickled in from schools, dairies and others on the East Coast, and the International Dairy Foods Association said via a Nov. 3 email that “supply challenges are very localized.” However, the California Department of Education also issued a notice about the situation, and some national media reports already are calling this a nationwide problem.
"Some point to packaging manufacturer Pactiv Evergreen as the problem’s source, but dairy producers say they can’t get answers about exactly what’s going on or when business will return to normal. Pactiv Evergreen did not respond to requests for comment prior to publication.
November 6, 2023 - from the Food Dive:
"While the prospect of eating insects sounds unacceptable to many consumers, industry leaders see significant promise in their ability to help meet the need for a more sustainable supply chain and more protein.
"Alexandra Kazaks, PhD, RD, a member of the nutrition division at the Institute of Food Technologists, said the entry of Tyson Foods into the insect space lends it legitimacy. Last month, the meat giant announced a strategic investment with startup Protix to boost insect ingredients for use in the food supply chain, specifically for use in animal feed.
"Despite Tyson not investing in insects for use in human food, Kazaks said it comes as industry players are taking the prospect of implementing bugs into the food system seriously, and scaling up production can help it meet that demand. Insect farming, she said, currently lacks the infrastructure for widespread adoption. The space can help solve costly issues, she said, including feedstock availability, disease management and environmental sustainability.
"s food and beverage companies work to overhaul their supply chains to reduce their carbon footprint over the next decade, implementing insect protein into their operations could drive down their use of resources. 8 square meters of land are needed to grow a pound of crickets, compared to 115 square meters needed for a pound of beef, producer Cricket Powder said.
"According to the IFT expert, companies starting with using insects as animal feed could provide fewer barriers for entry into the space with lower costs.
"Adventurous eaters looking for new protein sources are the most likely consumers to try new products made with insects. Future insect-based products could include dietary supplements, flavor enhancers, powders, bars and burger patties."
October 30, 2023 - from the Food & Beverage Insider:
"Israeli food company, food tech startups, chefs unite to provide meals for soldiers, displaced families
"The Israel-Hamas war commenced on Oct. 7, 2023, and has since claimed more than 1,400 Israeli lives. On Oct. 8, Omer Tal, head chef and culinary consultant for plant-based meat company Redefine Meat Ltd., began an effort to aid soldiers, personnel and displaced families affected by the devastating event. Tal contacted Dor Datner, owner of 12 eateries in Tel Aviv, to partner to help create nearly 6,000 vegan meals in one week, with the help of a collaborative of other Israeli food tech startups, vegan food producers, and 100 volunteers and private chefs. Several food tech startups provided their plant-based innovations as raw materials; Redefine Meat Ltd. donated three tons of its plant-based meat alternatives, including alt-beef and alt-lamb; vegan food producers Green Butcher and More Foods provided their alt-beef products; YoEgg! Foods contributed its plant-based eggs; Creative Pea offered its pea-based chicken and fish solutions; vegan food companies Plenty 4u, Mama Q and Utopi E.y.m. provided nondairy products like cheeses; and Israeli Tofu donated tofu products, including plant-based schnitzel. Vegan iterations of spaghetti and meatballs Bolognese, chicken skewers, fish patties, poached eggs in tomato sauce, cheese pastries and other products were created and used to create fully balanced meal kits, each featuring a protein, carbohydrates, vegetables and a dessert. The meals sustained approximately 400,000 individuals. Though the weeklong effort came to an end, Tal said he is currently working with several smaller private kitchens and restaurants to continue to provide raw materials for 50 meals each day for Israeli soldiers, evacuated families and injured survivors."
November 1, 2023 - from the Food Dive:
"The country has been a hotbed for the tech sector, especially for food, but the Israel-Hamas war has put employee engagement and product development initiatives on hold.
"Between an increasingly difficult funding environment and key industry executives taken away from their everyday duties to join the IDF and support military personnel, it’s unclear if, and when, the category will recover from such upheaval.
"Some food tech startups have delayed media announcements and launch dates, and FoodTech IL, an international conference held in Tel Aviv each fall to showcase Israeli food innovation, was postponed indefinitely. The conference was originally slated to start on Nov. 7th.
"Imagindairy — an Israeli food tech startup focusing on producing dairy products without the cow — recently had to delay a major announcement due to the situation unfolding at home.
"Though 2022 brought challenges to the space in the form of failures in global food supply, macroeconomic declines and geopolitical tensions, according to Nir Goldstein, CEO of GFI Israel, the tragic events that have unfolded in recent weeks may pose an even greater threat.
"The Israeli region cultivates an environment suitable for funding as many executives in the space are familiar with each other, but this small population of executives means that an entire industry is affected when conflict erupts.
"'That six degrees of separation that exists elsewhere is much smaller in Israel, probably one or two degrees,' said Morris. Where these two degrees of separation may be advantageous in the investing arena, it has put a burden on the industry in recent weeks.
"The Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner firm has an Israeli base, and 15 minutes prior to Food Dive’s interview with Morris, he received a call from one of his colleagues there. He was calling from a bomb shelter.
"Relying on resilience, companies are determined to keep business running smoothly, he said.
"It may be these two degrees of separation that can keep businesses, such as Future Meat Technologies and Aleph Farms, afloat over the course of the conflicts as there have been glimmers of hope from those in the sector. "
October 30, 2023 - from the Jewish Press:
"A number of businesses have taken upon themselves the role of the iconic “Jewish Mother” and are feeding Israeli soldiers, daily, despite facing mounting bills and dwindling income due to the “Swords of Iron War” we have been forced to fight.
"In the central Negev city of Be’er Sheva, all the kosher branches of McDonald’s are taking the lead, preparing more than a thousand meals per day, gratis, for IDF units and bases who call the stores with “orders” for their troops.
"Chaim Assa, manager of the McDonald’s branch at Be’er Sheva’s Azrieli Negev Mall, told JewishPress.com that the entire chain nationwide offers soldiers in uniform an across-the-board 50 percent discount at the cash register, in addition to the thousands of kosher meals prepared daily for the troops at no charge.
"But as any good Jewish mother knows, one really needs a sweet note with which to end any meal — and that’s where the Mehadrin-kosher Pinat Ha’Ofeh bakery chain, with branches in the Azrieli Negev Mall and in Arad — helps out. Since the start of the war, the bakery has been providing thousands of borekas, breads, sandwiches, water bottles, soft drinks and sweet baked goods for soldiers in the south.
"Some of those items are picked up by soldiers from the various units, but bakery co-owner Michael Schneider has arranged for the goods to be delivered. Sometimes he delivers the goods himself to make sure the soldiers are properly fueled for the fight ahead.
"There are countless such stories of selfless good deeds taking place for the war effort: the unparalleled ‘Ahavat Israel’ that sets Israelis apart from the barbarians who launched their unprovoked war on the Jewish State."
November 2, 2023 from the CPSC :
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to immediately stop using Mollys Products’ sodium hydroxide products because they do not comply with the child resistant packaging requirements under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA).
The packaging of the products is not child resistant so children can easily access the substance, posing a risk of chemical burns and irritation to the skin and eyes. In addition, the label on the product violates the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA).
The seller listed on Walmart.com, Burgess Jackson, Inc. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has not agreed to recall the Mollys Products’ sodium hydroxide or offer a remedy to consumers. The Mollys Products’ sodium hydroxide products were sold online exclusively at www.walmart.com from March 2018 through March 2023 for about $15 for the 2-pound (32 ounces) bottle. CPSC evaluated the 2-pound (32 ounces) bottles and is aware Mollys Products also sold 5-pound (80 ounces) bottles. The white label on the products displays the brand name, bottle size, “NaOH,” “Sodium Hydroxide” and a warning to wear gloves. The 32-ounce bottles have “Food Grade 99%” on the label.
CPSC urges consumers to stop using the bottles immediately and dispose of the product in accordance with local disposal laws..
Due to sodium hydroxide being corrosive and reactive with water, consumers should not pour it down the drain or dispose of it in the trash as sodium hydroxide can cause bodily harm or property damage. Consumers should bring the sodium hydroxide to their local hazardous waste disposal site. Check the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Hazardous Waste Programs and U.S. State Environmental Agencies page to find a disposal site. Prior to disposal, consumers should store the product out of the sight and reach of children. Report any related incidents to the agency at www.SaferProducts.gov.
October 26, 2023 from the CPSC in conjunction with Government of Canada:
Insignia pressure cookers have been recalled because the pressure cooker has incorrect volume markings on the inner pot. This can cause consumers to overfill the pot and hot food and liquids to be ejected when the pressure cooker is vented using the quick release method or opened while its contents are pressurized, posing a burn hazard to consumers.
Consumer Contact: Best Buy toll-free at 888-359‐4485 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or online at https://www.recallrtr.com/pc or www.bestbuy.com by clicking on “Pressure Cooker Recall” in the Home Page banner or by clicking on “Product Recalls” at the bottom of the home page under “Orders & Purchases.”
This recall involves Insignia Multi-Function Pressure Cookers with model numbers NS-MC60SS8, NS-MC60SS9, or NS-MC80SS9, and inner cooker pots with model numbers NS-MCRP6NS9 and NS-MCRP6SS9, sold separately as replacements. The electric pressure cookers and inner cooker pots are six- and eight-quart capacity. The brand name INSIGNIA appears on the front of each unit and on its permanent on-product label. The model number of the recalled pressure cookers is also printed on the permanent on-product label on the side of the cooker. The inner cooker pots are black with a non-stick coating and embossed markings indicating cup and liter measurements.
Consumers should always check that the inner pot is not filled beyond two-thirds capacity when pressure cooking, that the lid is fully locked before pressure cooking is started, and that the floating locking valve has dropped before attempting to open the lid when pressure cooking.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled pressure cookers and contact Best Buy for a free replacement of the inner pot and floating locking valve for signaling pressure.
Incidents/Injuries: Best Buy has received 31 reports of incidents in which the contents were expelled under pressure, including 17 reports of burn injuries, some of which involved reports of second-degree and severe burns.
Sold At: Best Buy stores nationwide and online at www.bestbuy.com and www.amazon.com from October 2017 through June 2023 for between $50 and $120.
October 11, 2023 from the Food-Safety.com:
"With California Assembly Bill 899 recently being signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom (D), any baby food products sold or made in the state will require testing for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury, beginning January 1, 2024. The new legislation will also require test results to be posted on the manufacturer's website, beginning January 1, 2025. Specifically, the bill requires manufacturers of baby food for sale or distribution in California to test a representative sample of each production aggregate of the manufacturer’s final baby food product, at a proficient laboratory meeting certain criteria, for toxic heavy metals at least once per month. Test results must be provided to any authorized agent of the State Department of Public Health upon its request, as specified. Finally, after January 1, 2025, manufacturers of a final baby food product that is sold, manufactured, delivered, held, or offered for sale in the state must provide specified information disclosures to consumers, including making publicly available on a website the name and level of each toxic element present in each production aggregate of the final baby food product.
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