The following kashrus and Passover alert is from the OU on August 28, 2013 with additional information from the Chief Rabbi of Finland.
Moses Vodka from Global Drinks Finland bears an unauthorized OU-P. The Orthodox Union does not certify this product for Passover or year round use. Corrective actions have been implemented.
Ed. note: Global Drinks Finland decided to drop the OU. They are now certified by Chief Rabbi Simon Livson and Chug Chatam Sofer.
Kosher Certificate from Rabbi Livson is here.
THE ALERTS THAT ARE BELOW THIS ARE FROM 2013. SOME OF THESE PRODUCTS MIGHT BE AROUND DUE TO A LONG SHELF LIFE OR THE PROBLEMS INVOLVED ARE STILL RELEVENT.
The following kashrus and Passover alert is from the Kosherquest.org on March 27, 2013 and confirmed by the OU.
Aicha Product: White Truffles Champignons Terfess Company: Les Conserves de Meknes Issue: Mislabeling Consumers of this OU-P product should verify that the letters "DA" and "RDSL" are part of the ink-jet code that appears on the top of the can. If the letters "DA" and "RDSL" are not included in the code, the product is not certified by the Orthodox Union.
The following information is from the Star-K on March 24, 2013.
Please be aware that in response to comsumer reports of very high rates of infestation in Chasalat Alei Katif Whole Head Romaine Lettuce, we checked and confirmed that at least one batch of Chasalt with only Chasalat Alei Katif Whole Head Romai Hebrew on the bag and no domestic hechsherim is infested similar to market purchased lettuce and we advised checking like regular lettuce.
Please note: the directions on the bag require the leaves to be separated from the head and soaked for 3 minutes in soapy water then throughly rinsed under running water.
We are in possession of a letter from Rav Goldmintzer of New Square Kosher, one of the certifying agencies of this product who recommends additional checking of the lettuce for the presence of thrips .
We have checked subsequent other batches and have found inconsistent results; some meeting the standards advertised and others not meeting those standards. In Baltimore's Seven Mile Market we checked and passed the batch currently being sold we have no information about product in other locations
The following information is from the KAJ on March 21, 2013.
This is to confirm that vegetables and herbs marketed under the brand name "Chaslat - Alei-Katif" are under our hashgocho and supervised by our mashgichim in accordance with instructions issued by agricultural expert advisors. This year’s products are the same as those produced and sold in prior years.
Our Hashgocho is responsible for ascertaining that there is no infestation in the product of the type which would not be removed by washing and rinsing. Accordingly, the consumer should meticulously follow the instructions printed on the bag.
It should be noted that I, myself, will be using this product this Pesach, after following the instructions printed on the bag.
Under no circumstances should one purchase Romaine lettuce which doekashrut.coms not have a reliable hashgocho. It is almost impossible for Romaine lettuce not to have infestation of the type that does not come off with rinsing and washing.
Copy of letter from the KAJ is here.
The following insect infestation alert is from the Star-K on March 20, 2013.
Due to numerous consumer inquiries , we have tested “Chasalat Alei Katif” Romaine Lettuce from Israel and have found thrips to be present similar to regular Romaine Lettuce heads purchased in the marketplace.
Therefore, it is recommended that this product be washed and checked like any Romaine Lettuce. (instructions below)
Consumers who wish to check romaine lettuces at home are advised to follow the procedures listed below
(Please see www.checkforinsects.com for more detailed instructions and pictorial and video tutorials)
Wash the produce you wish to use in cold water (it is recommend to use a liquid detergent solution).
After you wash the lettuce, check it using one of the following two methods:
Leaf by leaf on a light box.
Prepare a white basin with a cold soapy solution ( electric dishwasher soap works best because there are no bubbles). Agitate the lettuce in the water. Place the basin on top of a light box and check the water for insects.
If no insects are found, the lettuce may be used without further inspection. Please ensure that you wash off any residual detergent.
If any insects are found, one should repeat steps one through three above.
The following Mexican kashrus alert from KMD Mexico posted on March 24, 2013.
LA GELATINA BLANCA ELABORADA POR LA PASTELERIA SOPHIE
NO CUENTA CON CERTIFICADO KOSHER LEPESAJ AUN CON EL SELLO KMD KASHER LEPESAJ
EN EL EMPAQUE.
Translation: Pasteleria Sophie´s ready-to-eat white gelatin is not Kosher for Passover, even when having the KMD Passover sticker on the label.
The following Mexican kashrus alert from KMD Mexico posted on March 24, 2013.
Por un error del proveedor se vendieron el dia 20 de Marzo en la tienda del Centro Comunitario Sopes de la marca Ochoa sin el sello KMD Kasher Lepesaj, verifique que traiga el sello de Pesaj pegado en el empaque, de lo contrario, favor de traerlo y se realizara un cambio en la tienda.
Translation: The Pesach store located at Centro Comunitario Maguen David, Mexico City, sold by mistake sopes of the Ochoa brand without a Kosher Lepesach sticker. Those products are not Kosher for Passover unless they have the KMD Passover sticker. Ed note: This product is contains kitniot and is usable only for Sephardim.
The following Mexican kashrus alert from KMD Mexico posted on March 23, 2013.
Quien haya comprado Whip de la marca Unger´s y lo quiera usar para Pesaj, favor de verificar que tenga el logo Star-K-P en el envase. Por error del proveedor se vendieron algunas unidades sin la letra "P"dicho producto es Mehadrin Parve, pero no apto para Pesaj.
Translation: Some stores in Mexico City, sold by mistake some whipped topping cream of the Ungar´s brand that do not have the Star-K-P as Kosher for Passover. This product is not Kosher for Passsover unless it has the Star-K-P symbol.
The following Passover information is from the OK on March 21, 2013.
Please be advised that Chocolate Almonds and Chocolate Raisins (kosher for Passover) produced by KLEIN’S NATURALS, Brooklyn, NY mistakenly list “soy lecithin” in the ingredient list. These products are made with cocoa butter and contain no lecithin. They are kosher for Passover, and contain no kitniyot, when bearing the OK-P symbol on the label.
If you have any further questions, please contact OK Kosher at 718-756-7500
or Klein’s Naturals at info@kleinsnaturals.com.
White or Green Tea may contain Chometz: Do not use any Green Tea or White Tea for Pesach this
year without it bearing a highly respected hashgacha and a "Kosher For Passover"
designation. Based upon research
by the Tea Council of Canada and the Vaad Harabonim of
Massachusetts (the “KVH”), 50% of the Green and White Teas being sold are contaminated with (a very small amount of) gluten, leading us to believe that chometz is being used as an anti-caking agent or the tea is processed on common equipment with a chometz product.
The following chometz after Passover alert is is from the Chicago Rabbincal Council on March 18, 2013.
The cRc has verified that the only store in Ben Gurion Airport that does not buy or sell any chometz over Pesach and is properly selling their chometz for 2013 is the James Richardson Store at Gate D7.Some varieties of Science Diet Dry Cat Foods have been reformulated and now cont
