K A S H R U T . C O M_©

April 7, 2025 from the OU:

Issue: How is Kedem Light grape juice made and is there a question of “boser” (unripe grapes)?

Kedem lite grape juice has become indispensable for many seeking to lower sugar intake while partaking of Kiddush and the Arba Kosos. The secret to low-sugar grape juice is to use lower-sugar grapes. Kedem Light Grape Juice uses early harvest Concord grapes which are picked at about 11-13 Brix. (end-harvest concord grapes will reach 18 Brix). Some have questioned whether these grapes are "boser" (unripe grapes).

The beracha on boser is Ha'odama (not Ha'Eitz) and Sharei Teshuva writes that the beracha on juice made from boser grapes is Shehakol (not Ha'Gafen). However, the grapes in question are full sized and purple. They look the same as other ripened Concord grapes and taste less sweet and more tart than regular grapes. The Mishnah Berurah writes that once grapes have the appearance of ripened grapes, they are no longer boser. Furthermore, the Levush writes that boser refers to grapes that cannot be made into wine. This does not apply to these grapes, since they can be made into a wine albeit with lower alcohol level (about a 5-6%). To lower the sugar more, Kedem Light Grape juice is also diluted with about 33% water. Therefore, the Beracha on Light Grape Juice is Borei Pri Ha’Gafen. It is not recommended to add additional water to Lite grape juice.

April 4, 2025 from Star-K:

Jars of Jasmine Gourmet Roasted Eggplants, produced in Greece and distributed by A TO Z of Brooklyn, New York, bear an unauthorized STAR-K symbol.

NOTE: Product also bears another agency's certification for Passover, but that certification informed STAR-K that they have no knowledge of the production. Consumers are therefore advised not to use this product year-round or on Passover.

April 3, 2025 from the cRc:

Please be advised that some packages of Kasia's Potato Pancakes, sold in grocery stores in the greater Chicago area, have been mislabeled as cRc-Dairy. However, the product remains cRc-Pareve as previously labeled (and is not Kosher for Pesach). Other products sold by Kasia are appropriately labeled (some of which are Dairy or not labeled as Kosher). 

June 20, 2024 from the Chasam Sofer certification, Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu – Safed

The following items have been recalled due to a failure in proper supervision and certification by those responsible of these foods:

• From Spain: Any wine bearing the Chatam Sofer BB symbol. Including the popular Cava wine. .
• From France: All the following items when bearing the Chatam Sofer BB symbol:
  • All champagne
  • All milk powder
  • All butter
  • All surimi

None of these products should be consumed.

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Clarification letter from Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Pevzner in Hebrew is here:

Translated by Rabbi Nissan Zibell: In response to many inquiries, I would like to clarify that all Israeli dairy products and cheeses produced by the Makabi company (Kesh Service) in France are made under my strict supervision and in the presence of experienced and G-d-fearing mashgichim (who have been working with us for many years and are not affiliated with any other Kashrus agency). Our trained mashgichim meticulously supervise from the beginning of milking or production, until the end of the packaging (not relying on the concept of Yotzeh Venichnas- a mashgiach going in and out). This is based on the the tradition I received from my father of Rabbi Hillel Pevzner A”H, Rabbi of the Lubavitcher Congregation in France, who gave his life to establish Kashrus in the country of France and beyond. He was the the first to introduce Cholov Yisroel milk into France. We strive to adhere to all instructions that he gave us, to strengthen and elevate Kashrus standards, especially in the matter of Cholov Yisrael, which it is known that Chabad Chassidim gave their lives for Cholov Yisrael and to keep Kashrus to the strictest standard.

This includes all our products, both those sold in France and other countries, as well as those imported to Israel (the "Chug Chatam Sofer B"B stamp on the products is only for import into Israel.)

Cargill Kitchen Solutions Recalls Liquid Egg Products Due to an Unapproved Substance

March 28, 2025 from the FSIS:

Cargill Kitchen Solutions, a Lake Odessa, Michigan establishment, is recalling approximately 212,268 pounds of liquid egg products that may contain a cleaning solution with sodium hypochlorite, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The liquid egg items were produced on March 12 and 13, 2025. The following products are subject to recall [view labels]:

• 32-oz. (2-lb.) carton containing “egg beaters ORIGINAL LIQUID EGG SUBSTITUTE” and USE BY AUG 10 2025.
• 32-oz. (2-lb.) carton containing “egg beaters CAGE-FREE ORIGINAL LIQUID EGG SUBSTITUTE” and USE BY AUG 09 2025.
• 2-oz. (2-lb.) carton containing “egg beaters CAGE-FREE ORIGINAL FROZEN EGG SUBSTITUTE” and “egg beaters NO ENJAULADAS ORIGINAL SUSTITUTO DE HUEVO CONGELADO” and USE BY MAR 07 2026.
• 32-oz. (2-lb.) carton containing “Bob Evans Better’n Eggs Made with Real Egg Whites” and USE BY AUG 10 2025.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “G1804” ink-jetted on the carton. These items were shipped to distributor locations in Ohio and Texas and for foodservice use in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois and Iowa. There is a possibility that the products were distributed nationwide.
The problem was discovered when FSIS received a tip about the potential contamination of these products. After conducting an investigation and thorough assessment of the contents of the cleaning solution, FSIS scientists concluded that use of this product should not cause adverse health consequences, or the risk is negligible, resulting in a Class III recall.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ or foodservice refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them and foodservice locations are urged not to serve them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Consumers and members of the media with questions about the recall can contact Chuck Miller, Cargill Kitchen Solutions, at 1-844-419-1574 or media@cargill.com.