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.
October 21, 2023 from the MedPage Today:
"Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has returned to the Upper Midwest of the United States with a vengeance. After a break from spring through early fall, new case reports are stacking up for commercial flocks.
"Older infant-young child formulas (OIYCFs) are nutritionally incomplete and should not be used as a substitute for prescribed medical formulas, according to new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidance.
"The AAP report aims to clarify 'the uncertainty and misperception' around increasingly popular OIYCFs, which currently do not have uniform national or international criteria dictating the composition or definition of formulas for children older than 12 months. Also, the FDA does not have a distinct category for OIYCFs like it does for standard infant formulas.
"OIYCFs include 'transition formulas,' 'follow-on formulas,' or 'weaning formulas,' for children ages 6 to 24 months, and 'toddler milks or formulas,' 'growing-up milks,' or 'young child milks,' for kids ages 12 to 36 months, according to the clinical report, published in Pediatrics.
"OIYCFs are 'not nutritionally complete,' according to the report, so are not appropriate substitutes for medical nutritional therapy for older infants and young kids with malnutrition, swallowing dysfunction, or feeding aversions or conditions like cerebral palsy. And they are not adequate for those with disease-specific requirements, such as those related to celiac disease.
"OIYCFs are "not nutritionally complete," according to the report, so are not appropriate substitutes for medical nutritional therapy for older infants and young kids with malnutrition, swallowing dysfunction, or feeding aversions or conditions like cerebral palsy. And they are not adequate for those with disease-specific requirements, such as those related to celiac disease.
"Fuchs' group called for OIYCFs to distinguish themselves from standard infant formula in promotional materials. Product names should not be linked to infant formula, and products should not be labeled as formula, but given names such as "drink" or "beverage." Also, products should not be placed in store shelves alongside standard infant formulas."
October 12, 2023 from the CPSC:
Gevi Household Countertop Nugget Ice Makers have been recalled because the metal blades of the auger of the ice maker can break, resulting in small pieces of metal going into the ice basket, posing a laceration hazard.
Consumer Contact: Far Success Trading toll-free at 855-992-2888 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, email at replacement@gevi.com or online at https://household.gevi.com/pages/replace or at https://household.gevi.com/ and click on “Recall Information” located on the home page for more information.
his recall involves Gevi Household Countertop Nugget Ice Makers with model number GIMN-1102 and a date code of before June 1, 2022. The model number and date code are listed on the product label on the back of the unit. The ice makers are stainless steel and with a white, black or blue exterior top and come with an ice basket, ice scooper and a 1/4'' water inlet hose. They measure about 10 inches wide and 17 inches high.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the Countertop Nugget Ice Makers manufactured before June 1, 2022, and contact Far Success Trading Limited to receive a free replacement. The firm will provide instructions to disable your present ice maker, which should then be disposed of. Far Success Trading Limited is notifying all known purchasers directly. Consumers should send a photo of the product label on the back of their present ice maker to the email address or website designated above by Far Success Trading Limited.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 263 reports of incidents of metal blades breaking off the auger and the broken blades then going into the ice basket. No injuries have been reported.
Sold At: Online at Amazon.com from January 2022 through July 2022 for between $300 and $400.
October 15, 2023 from the Times of Israel:
"On a regular day, the Haachim Restaurant on Tel Aviv’s Ibn Gabirol Street is loud and boisterous, full of diners ordering from the upscale steakhouse menu of hummus and meat skewers, labane topped with artichokes and hunks of whole roasted cauliflower.
"This week, it’s become ground central for a massive food supply line, as some 100 restaurants in Tel Aviv have gathered forces, cooking for soldiers, hospitals and the surviving evacuees of the Gaza border communities.
"Over the last five days, this restaurant team alone has turned out some 20,000 meals a day, with the help of around 300 volunteers in an effort started by Haachim owner Yotam Doktor on Saturday night, when he realized the unfolding tragedy would require all kinds of supportive efforts
"Working closely with the Brothers in Arms protest group, which is handling the complicated logistics of figuring out who needs food and where, Doktor’s team, which includes chefs, packers and organizers, are cooking, packing and sending tens of thousands of kosher meals from Haachim around the country, with another 7,000 or so meals from other Tel Aviv restaurants.
"fter one truckload of 2,000 meals was tossed on Monday because it wasn’t kosher enough for its intended recipients, Dok, as he’s known, realized he wanted to be able to supply food to whoever needed it.
"Now Haachim, along with several other usually nonkosher restaurants, received temporary kosher certification from the city’s rabbinate this week, in order to provide kosher food.
"It’s an emergency kosher certification, valid this week through Friday, and then he’ll have to renew it next week, said Doktor."
"n that first day, the OCD kitchen took all dairy products out of their kitchen, and began working with alternative kosher certification organization Tzohar. They quickly realized the army wouldn’t accept food made with Tzohar supervision.
"Elbert dug in, spoke to a rabbinate kosher supervisor in Tel Aviv, brought him to the OCD kitchen to make it kosher, and had an emergency, one-week certification the next day.
"And then, the assigned kosher supervisor had a panic attack, said Elbert.
"Elbert got President Isaac Herzog on the phone, who contacted former chief rabbi Yisrael Lau, who issued a Jewish law decision to allow non-kosher restaurants to have emergency kosher certification for this period.
"Asif, the Tel Aviv culinary center with a popular restaurant on its first floor, is also in the process of getting a temporary kosher certification, said Chico Menashe, the Asif CEO.
"Asif’s kitchen staff is working with Gil Ackerman, a Tel Aviv caterer, who brought another 100 volunteers and with logistics led by Haachim. The restaurant, which usually has three chefs in the kitchen, now has 15 in the open front and another ten in back to prepare some 8,000 meals a day.
"Instead of their usual sophisticated fare, they’re frying schnitzel stuffed into pita and big containers of warm comfort foods for hospital patients.
"The Offaime food logistics operation is mostly based out of their Hansen House location in Jerusalem’s German Colony, with 8,000 meals a day right now and plans to reach 10,000 to 15,000 a day next week.
"Some 90 percent of what Offaime is preparing is going to soldiers and reservists, as well as to hospitals, families who were evacuated from the south, volunteers at Magen David Adom, and 'anyone who asks,' he said, 'even to homeless people, who are being ignored a lot more right now.'"
October 4, 2023 - from the Food Safety News:
"Those reusable grocery shopping bags have made the list of things to avoid at the grocery shore.
"So called one-time grocery plastic bags are now banned in many locations in the country, and in its recent posting of four foods to avoid at the grocery store, the liberal HuffPost Life had added a caution to its list about the food safety danger of the reusable shopping bags that many are now forced to use because of government dictates.
"The HuffPost reports that Kali Kniel, a University of Delaware microbiologist, added to their list by warning about those reusable grocery bags. “One important consideration today is the reusable grocery totes that many people use,” Kniel said. She called for people to clean and wash those reusable grocery bags between shopping trips or, more importantly, between use for other tasks.
"Reusable grocery grocery bags can transport deadly pathogens.
"Her warnings are among the first about how usable grocery bags and their forced use by various states might be a food safety danger.
"For example, don’t place soccer cleats in a bag one day and then fresh produce in it the next day without appropriate cleaning — or just don’t do that at all,” Kniel told HuffPost. 'Cross-contamination is a real thing.'
"Reusable grocery bags are often being used week after week, with many carrying raw chicken one week and fresh produce the next.
"Others on HuffPost’s list of foods to avoid were more traditional and included unpasteurized (raw) milk, raw sprouts, pre-cut produce, and hot food bars."
October 7, 2023 - from CalMatters.com:
"The 'California Food Safety Act would prohibit the sale of food products containing several additives that are outlawed in the European Union and are thought to be harmful to the health of people who eat them.
"The bill made headlines as “the Skittles ban” earlier this year because the original version of it would have prohibited a chemical used to add color to the popular candy. Lawmakers last month amended the bill to allow the sale of products with that chemical, although it still would ban chemicals that are commonly used in other sweets.
"Manufacturers have until Jan. 1, 2027 to reformulate their products and comply with California law. That could lead the companies to remove the additives from their products nationwide because of the size of California’s market.
"The law bans red dye 3, propylparaben, brominated vegetable oil and potassium bromate from all foods meant for human consumption.
"Red dye 3 is a common color additive found in candies and other food products. It was banned from cosmetic use more than 30 years ago by the Food and Drug Administration due to concerns about it being a carcinogen. It is still used in popular candies like Peeps, as well as other foods such as cookies and colored drinks, according to the nonprofit organization Environmental Working Group.
"Propylparaben is a preservative used in baked goods like muffins and cakes, as well as in popular trail mixes.
"Brominated vegetable oil is added to popular citrus drinks to prevent the flavoring oils from floating on top. While many beverage companies stopped using it a while ago, brands like Sun Drop continue to use it in their citrus sodas, according to its parent beverage company Keurig Dr Pepper.
"Potassium bromate is a substance used to strengthen dough and can be found in all kinds of breads, cookies and tortillas. It has been banned in the European Union, United Kingdom, Canada and Brazil.
June 30, 2023 - from SFA:
"On June 28, the California Senate Committee on Health approved the first-in-the-nation bill to ban five harmful chemicals from candy, cereals, and other processed food.
"Assembly Bill 418, which has already passed California’s lower house, is getting close to a vote in the Senate that will put it on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk to be signed into law.
"Here’s what AB 418 does, according to the most recent staff analysis of the bill:
"Therefore, B 418 would end the use of brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, Red Dye No. 3, and titanium dioxide in food products sold in California.
"The European Union has already banned the five substances from use in food, with a narrow exception of Red No. 3 in candied cherries. Given the size of California’s economy, AB 418 would set an important precedent for improving the safety of many processed foods.
"Requires an entity that violates 1) above to be liable, in an action brought by the Attorney General, a city attorney, a county counsel, or a district attorney, for a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for a first violation, and up to $10,000 for each subsequent violation.
"The state Senate Environmental Quality Committee will next hear and vote on the bill and after that, it should see a vote on the Senate floor."
April 11, 2023 - from SFA:
"California may become the first state to ban the sale, manufacture, and distribution of foods that contain chemicals linked to increased cancer risk, reproductive harm, and behavior issues, reports CBS News.
"The five chemicals are as follows: red dye number 3, titanium dioxide, potassium bromate, bromated vegetable oil, and propylparaben. Titanium dioxide is used in many candies, including Skittles, and potassium bromate is used in some breads.
"These chemicals have already been banned in Europe, and potassium bromate has also been banned in China and India. Red dye number 3 has been banned in the U.S. for use in cosmetics." .
September 26, 2023 from the Vinnews.com and on September 21, 2023 on Baltimore Jewish Life:
"To Loyal Dougies Customers, Patrons and Fans: It is difficult and unfortunate to write this, but after 12+ wonderful years in the amazing Baltimore Community we are saddened to announce that, due to circumstances beyond our control, Dougies BBQ and Grill will be closing its doors as 10 PM Thursday 09/21/23."
September 21, 2023 from the Vinnews.com:
"As in past years, Agudath Israel of America’s Washington Office has worked closely with agencies of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help avoid potential problems for travelers carrying arba minim.
"Both the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have notified their respective field personnel about the upcoming Sukkos holiday and the increased level of travel by persons of the Jewish faith, many of whom will be carrying arba minim. The agencies have also made this information available to the public – the TSA notice here and the CBP notice here.
"The notifications, which have been sent out to federal officials at airports and border crossings, emphasize the religious significance of these items and outline the rules and procedures that would help allay possible security and health issues that are of concern to the federal government. Prior to these agency steps, lack of familiarity regarding Sukkos and the arba minim had led to numerous incidents each year of inadvertent mishandling and mistreatment — including denial of entry — of these ritual objects.
"The TSA Notice makes clear that the arba minim carried in airports, through security checkpoints or on aircraft, are not on the “prohibited items list” and provides instructions for travelers needing “special accommodations” in regard to checkpoint screening. The CBP Guidance sets forth detailed information regarding the inspection process for personal sets of arba minim brought into the United States from foreign countries at select ports of entry and points out that the agency is “committed to treating all travelers, including travelers who may be observing Sukkot, with respect and dignity at all U.S. ports of entry.”
"Agudath Israel of America once again produced a one-page handout that travelers can print out – or save to their phones – to familiarize themselves with the rules before traveling.
September 14, 2023 from the Times of Israel:
"The Health Ministry has advised some Israelis to start wearing masks again in reaction to a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations as the Jewish New Year begins. It also promised that COVID booster vaccines effective against the predominant new variants would be available soon.
"With families and friends getting together for Rosh Hashanah meals and large groups gathering in synagogues for prayer beginning Friday, the ministry recommended that the elderly and those with underlying health issues or compromised immune systems mask up, at least in indoor and enclosed spaces. Anyone— regardless of age or medical history — wanting to minimize their chances of catching COVID should consider wearing a mask.
"n an announcement released on Tuesday, the ministry also advised those with signs of illness to remain isolated at home until they are completely symptom-free. If they must go out, they should wear a mask to avoid infecting others. The ministry also recommended that people buy home COVID test kits and use them to determine whether their illness is caused by the SARS‑CoV‑2 virus."
September 14, 2023 from the CPSC:
Foldable Bistro Set Chairs have been recalled because the wooden frame of the chair can break or collapse when a consumer is seated in the chair, posing a fall hazard.
Consumer Contact:
This recall involves wooden folding chairs sold as part of three-piece foldable bistro sets under the Panama Jack and House & Garden brands. The sets consist of one small wooden table and two foldable chairs made with wood frames and black, anthracite, navy blue, beige, olive green, or off-white roping on the seat and back. They have either a Panama Jack or House & Garden hangtag that includes the chair and table dimensions and “Made in Vietnam.” Chair dimensions are 16.53” x 20.47 x 32.28” and the folding table dimensions are 23.62 x 23.62 x 28.74.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled chairs and contact TJX for instructions on how to receive a full refund and dispose of chairs. Consumers can also return the recalled chairs to any HomeGoods, Marshalls, T.J. Maxx, or Homesense store for a full refund.
August 30, 2023 from the Tulane.edu:
"A new study has found that 12% of Americans are responsible for eating half of all beef consumed on a given day, a finding that may help consumer groups and government agencies craft educational messaging around the negative health and environmental impacts of beef consumption.
"Those 12% – most likely to be men or people between the ages of 50 and 65 – eat what researchers called a disproportionate amount of beef on a given day, a distinction based on the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which suggest 4 ounces per day of meat, poultry, and eggs combined for those consuming 2200 calories per day.
"The study, published in the journal Nutrients, analyzed data from the CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which tracked the meals of more than 10,000 adults over a 24-hour period. The global food system emits 17 billion tons of greenhouse gases a year, equivalent to a third of all planet-warming gases produced by human activity. The beef industry contributes heavily to that, producing 8-10 times more emissions than chicken, and over 50 times more than beans.
"The study, published in the journal Nutrients, analyzed data from the CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which tracked the meals of more than 10,000 adults over a 24-hour period. The global food system emits 17 billion tons of greenhouse gases a year, equivalent to a third of all planet-warming gases produced by human activity. The beef industry contributes heavily to that, producing 8-10 times more emissions than chicken, and over 50 times more than beans.
"Of the beef consumed on a given day, almost a third came from cuts of beef such as steak or brisket. But six of the top 10 sources were mixed dishes such as burgers, burritos, tacos, meatloaf or spaghetti with meat sauce. Some of these foods may offer an easy opportunity for disproportionate beef eaters to alter their dietary habits.
"Those below the age of 29 and above the age of 66 were least likely to eat large amounts of beef. Rose said this indicated that the younger generation might be more interested in mitigating the effects of climate change. "
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