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.
March 2, 2026 from FrumNews.com:
"The proposed bill, which passed its first reading in the United Kingdom’s House of Commons on Tuesday, is raising alarm that it is the first step toward banning shechita in the UK by forcing stunning during shechita, which is against Halacha (and, lehvdil, against Halal laws)."The bill didn’t originate from the left, rather right-wing Tory MP Esther McVey of Tatton — who controversially used a Holocaust poem to oppose a proposed smoking ban — and was backed by MPs from both sides, who claim that a lack of stunning causes “severe pain” for animals.. Read more at: https://frumnews.com/why-is-the-uk-going-after-shechita/
"Among the backers is independent MP Rupert Lowe, formerly of Reform, who has repeatedly said he would like to see the religious slaughter process outlawed.
"'All kosher meat and products containing kosher meat are already clearly labelled. I think it is fair to say that Jews invented the concept of food labelling a very long time ago,' Shimon Cohen of Shechita UK said in a letter questioning why the bill focused solely on kosher and halal meat. 'That you are only calling for the ‘labelling (of halal) and kosher meat’ leads me to think that you are not seeking to provide Jews (and Muslims) with information, but you are seeking to provide information beyond audiences of consumers who choose to buy kosher or halal products.'
"'This isn’t about animal welfare,' Labour MP David Pinto-Duschinsky of Hendon, which has a large Jewish community, slammed McVey’s bill on X. 'It’s about dog whistles that brand minorities & their religious practices as cruel. I expected this of Rupert Lowe, who sponsored a Westminster Hall debate on this a few months ago—but am shocked that senior Tories are following his lead.'.
"According to The London Standard, MPs rejected a 2014 move proposed by then Tory MP Philip Davies, who is now married to MP McVey, to compel the labelling of halal and kosher meat.
"A 2020 report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) clearly lays this out, reporting that in Europe, 'These laws force individuals to abandon deeply held religious doctrine and imply a message of exclusion to all those who seek to follow their religion’s dietary requirements.' Adding a quote from the former U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, Elan Carr, who called such restrictions 'disgraceful.'
"Animal “rights” groups, such as The British Veterinary Association, the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals, have long been slandering shechita in a bad light by writing letters to newspapers and journals, running inflammatory advertisements, and backing efforts to ban it — even with peer-reviewed studies which demonstrate shechita is the most humane way to slaughter."
March 11, 2026 from Jerusalem Post:
"Tzohar petitioned the High Court of Justice earlier this week for the fourth time in its long-running fight with the Chief Rabbinate, asking the court to order that it be recognized without further delay as a licensed body authorized to issue official kashrut certification. The new petition argues that, even after a ruling in November ordering the Rabbinate to decide whether Tzohar qualifies and, if so, to issue a license, the state still has not acted.
"In the petition, Tzohar Food Supervision asks that the Rabbinate be directed to explain why it should not already be regarded as a licensed certifier, why enforcement should not be halted against restaurants and factories under its supervision, and why the Rabbinate should not be ordered to grant it a license immediately.
"The filing says Tzohar has now come to court “for the fourth time” in an effort to realize what it describes as its constitutional right to provide food supervision and kashrut services.
"The case sits at the intersection of a years-long religion-and-state struggle over a 2021 kashrut reform advanced by then religious services minister Matan Kahana. That reform was designed to move Israel away from the Rabbinate’s exclusive operational monopoly by allowing private bodies to issue kashrut certificates, while leaving the Chief Rabbinate in a supervisory and regulatory role.
"Government and Knesset materials from the time framed the move as one meant to create competition, widen choice, and separate regulation from service provision. This amendment took effect in January 2023. Since then, however, implementation has been bogged down in legal and political trench warfare. In March 2023, Tzohar applied for a license as a national certifying body; the application was ignored, prompting a second petition."
March 10, 2026 from Matzav.com:
"A major change in the production of kugel under the supervision of Badatz Eidah Hachareidis has stirred discussion in the chareidi community after the kashrus committee announced that following Pesach it will no longer grant certification for kugel prepared in reusable aluminum pots. The decision comes amid concerns that the pots circulate without supervision. Rabbonim have given manufacturers time to prepare for the transition and have pointed to a producer who has already developed a suitable disposable pot solution.
"For many years, members of the kashrus committee of Badatz Eidah Hachareidis have grappled with the issue of the well-known kugel pots used to prepare Yerushalmi kugel served at kiddushim and simchos throughout the community.
"These pots are regularly delivered to kiddushim and events on weekends and later returned to the manufacturer. However, the pots often circulate widely before being retrieved, raising concern that they may be used in kitchens that are not under proper supervision. Such use, rabbonim warned, could create serious kashrus concerns.
"In recent months, the kashrus committee of Eidah Hachareidis announced an end to the use of aluminum pots. A kugel manufacturer has since developed a new solution in the form of specially designed disposable pots intended for kugel production.
"Kugel producers have welcomed the move, as it eliminates the logistical challenge of collecting pots from shuls and removes the need to employ workers to wash them. The main technical difficulty that had to be overcome was ensuring that heat reaches the upper portion of the pot. If the top of the kugel does not cook properly, it can spoil, raising the question of whether a disposable pot could provide adequate heat distribution."
February 26, 2026 from the CPSC :
Metal Wire Bristle Grill Brushes has been recaled because Small metal wire bristles can detach from the brushes, stick to the grill or food, posing an ingestion hazard and risk of serious internal injuries that could require surgery.
Consumer Contact: Weber toll-free at 877-597-9588 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at https://weberbrushrecall.expertinquiry.com/ or https://www.weber.com and click on “Recall Notice” on the bottom of the page for more information.
Description: This recall involves the metal wire bristle grill brushes with plastic or wood handles measuring between 12 and 21 inches long, as described here. The following model numbers are included in this recall and can be found on the product packaging: 6277, 6278, 6463, 6464, 6493, and 6494. Only the model numbers listed below are part of this recall.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled grill brushes and contact Weber for a cold cleaning nylon bristle grill brush replacement. Consumers will be asked to discard the recalled grill brushes.
Sold At: The recalled grill brushes were sold online and in stores at Lowe's, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, and Target, and online at Amazon and Weber.com from 2011 through 2026 for between $10 and $17. The products have also been found on resale sites, such as eBay.com.
February 24, 2026 from the CPSC :
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to immediately stop using Gourmia Pressure Cookers because they pose a risk of serious injury due to burn hazards. The lid on the pressure cooker can open while it is still pressurized, causing hot contents to spray out, resulting in severe second degree burn injuries to consumers. Most of these pressure cookers were sold at Best Buy.
In addition, the pressure cooker’s float valve, which is designed to raise when there is pressure in the product, and drop when there is no pressure, is located inside the handle, and is difficult to see. Consumers may not see that the float valve is still raised and may reasonably think it is safe to open the lid when the pressure cooker is under pressure.
The pressure cooker also 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.
The importer, the Steelstone Group, LLC doing business as Gourmia, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and the retailer, Best Buy Co., Inc. of Richfield, MN, which sold most of the products, have refused to agree to an acceptable recall to address this hazard.
CPSC has received five reports of incidents in which hot contents were expelled under pressure; in four cases, severe burn injuries were reported. There have been at least two lawsuits filed by consumers alleging burn injuries.
About 43,500 pressure cookers were sold between 2017 and 2020 at Best Buy, other retailers, and e-commerce platforms for between $50 and $80.
The pressure cookers are digital pressure cookers, with a cooking chamber capacity of six quarts, stainless steel and black plastic finishes, a pressure lid, a digital temperature and function display, and button controls. The model number is GPC625.
February 24, 2026 from Yeshiva World:
"srael’s Chief Rabbinate has issued a public warning over multiple imported food products found to carry misleading or unauthorized kosher certifications, raising concerns about kashrus and consumer transparency.
"n a special update, the Kashrut Fraud Division of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel detailed deficiencies involving dairy, fish, and meat products sold in major food chains.
"One case involves long-life whole milk produced in Belgium by Solarec and imported by Euro Dairies Europe (Gold Frost) Ltd. of Yavne. The cartons claimed supervision by Badatz Beit Yosef and approval from the Chief Rabbinate, presenting the product as chalav Yisrael.
"However, inspectors from the Rabbinate’s Import Department found that the milk was never authorized. As a result, officials ordered the product to be removed from shelves and returned to the importer.
"The Rabbinate also cited serious problems with “100% smoked cod liver in fish oil,” imported by G. Willifood International Ltd.. Although the packaging displayed kosher approval and supervision by the Orthodox Union, the Import Department had rejected approval requests for production batches beginning in January 2025.
"According to the Rabbinate, the rejection stemmed from missing documentation regarding parasite treatment and uncertainty over compliance with bishul Yisrael requirements.
"n the meat sector, inspectors identified misleading labeling on frozen beef shank imported from Argentina and marketed by Tnuva. An on-site inspection found that outer packaging described the meat as kosher-chalak, while the stamp on the meat itself indicated only standard kosher certification.
"The Rabbinate said the discrepancy could mislead consumers who rely on stricter kashrut standards.
"The Kosharot organization urged shoppers and supervisors to closely examine certification notices."
February 23, 2026 from Israel National News:
"The Knesset’s Health Committee has raised serious concerns over agricultural produce entering Israel from the Palestinian Authority. According to the latest data, nearly half of cucumbers and tomatoes tested contain banned pesticides linked to serious illnesses, including cancer and Parkinson’s disease.
"The committee, chaired by MK Limor Sohn Har-Melech, reported that roughly 15,000 tons of Palestinian agricultural produce cross into Israel each year. Between 2015 and 2022, 27%-40% of samples were found to exceed safety limits, with contamination levels steadily rising.
"Dr. Ziva Hamma of the Ministry of Health presented detailed findings: 50% of cucumber samples, 49% of tomato samples, and 66% of hot pepper samples were contaminated. Alarmingly, 14% of samples contained neurotoxic organic phosphorus, which can harm fetal and infant development and increase the risk of Parkinson’s. Another 13% contained a mix of more than five different pesticides in a single vegetable, posing risks to the liver, kidneys, and nervous system.
"Despite regulations requiring produce to be held until lab results are received, contaminated goods were often sold immediately. Amos Zuarets, Health Coordinator for the West Bank, admitted that the Civil Administration prioritized shelf life and the Palestinian economy over public health-an approach that changed only after the October 7 events. In eight months, all produce will be held until safe test results are confirmed.
"The Ministry of Health and Civil Administration plan several measures, including a computerized list of approved farmers, field inspections before produce enters Israel, increased sampling at crossings, and heavy fines for violators.
"Sohn Har-Melech concluded with a warning to the public: 'Nearly half of imported produce is contaminated with substances that threaten health, yet some prioritize profit over the safety of Israeli citizens. Check carefully where your fruits and vegetables come from and choose supervised Israeli produce.'"
February 19, 2026 from Matzav.com:
"Amid rising tensions with Iran and the ongoing month of Ramadan, concerns are mounting that several basic food items could quickly become scarce in Israeli supermarkets. According to a report in Maariv, the combination of heightened security concerns and a significant flow of food supplies into Gaza may lead to shortages of key staples in the coming weeks.
"Among the primary products at risk are fresh chicken and poultry cuts. Israel’s poultry industry relies heavily on Muslim workers — both Israeli citizens and Palestinians — particularly in slaughterhouses. Any security incident that restricts movement along the Jerusalem–Hebron corridor or at entrances to communities in Judea and Samaria can directly disrupt the supply chain, reducing the amount of fresh chicken reaching store shelves each morning.
"Eggs are also considered vulnerable. Israel has previously struggled to maintain sufficient production and imports during periods of heightened demand. Each year between January and April, emergency import quotas are typically opened to prevent sharp price increases. This year, with demand reportedly higher due to Ramadan and increased regional pressures, the risk of shortages is seen as more pronounced.
"Fresh fruits and vegetables present another area of concern. Unlike dry goods, these items cannot be frozen or stored for extended periods. The war has already exposed structural weaknesses in the agricultural sector, including a reduced number of foreign laborers, restrictions on Palestinian workers, and the halt of agricultural imports from several countries that previously supplied produce to Israel.
"Basic pantry staples such as flour, rice, oil, and sugar may also be affected. While Israel maintains what officials describe as a “living” reserve of wheat, the supply is not unlimited. The country remains highly dependent on grain and vegetable oil imports from Ukraine, other Black Sea nations, and South America. An escalation that disrupts maritime shipping routes — even if limited in scope — would not necessarily cause immediate shortages, but could result in a reduced variety of brands and gradual price increases within three to four weeks.
"Industry analysts caution that while panic buying is not currently evident, the combination of geopolitical tension, seasonal demand, and supply chain vulnerabilities creates a fragile situation for essential food products."
February 16, 20265 from VINnews:
"Following the introduction of new food products to the Israeli market, including ingredients produced using advanced technologies and containing milk protein not derived from animals, Israel’s Ministry of Health clarified that labeling a product as “parev” or “vegan” does not indicate the absence of allergens, including milk allergens.
"The Ministry of Health stated: 'Recently, a protein known as BLG (β-Lactoglobulin) was approved for use in food and is being added to products not made from animal sources. For individuals with a milk allergy, this is a milk allergen that may cause a severe, even life-threatening allergic reaction just like regular milk.'
"Products containing this ingredient may be labeled 'parev' or 'vegan,' but they are not suitable for individuals with a milk allergy and must include milk allergen labeling in the ingredients list. The Ministry of Health emphasized that the only reliable way to verify the presence of allergens is by reading the ingredient list on the product label.
"The Israeli Association of Allergy and Clinical Immunology responded: “The association warned the Ministry of Health several months ago about the risks of marketing food products labeled as ‘parev’ or ‘vegan’ while containing milk protein.”
"The association added: 'Patients with milk allergies are advised to avoid parve products due to the possibility of milk traces. Despite this, many rely on the "parev" label as an indication of safety. Therefore, the use of the term ‘parev’ may be misleading and dangerous. Moreover, such products may not only be consumed directly but also used in baking and cooking, including in kosher meat restaurants.'"
February 5, 2026 from the Nutraceuticals World:
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that products without petroleum-based colors will be allowed to claim ‘no artificial colors.’ In the past, companies were generally only allowed to make the ‘no artificial colors’ claim if they had no added color whatsoever.
"The agency first announced this in a letter to the industry signaling their intent to exercise enforcement discretion on the matter. The move, officials say, will further incentivize companies that choose to use naturally-derived colors.
"The agency also approved beetroot red as a new color option, and approved a petition for the expanded use of spirulina extract. The administration has now approved six new food color options."
Ed. note: This change in pollicy is not good for consumers, since we will no longer know what colors have been added to foods.
Ed. note: Carmine and Coccineal extract are natural non-kosher insect-derived colors. They need be declared by their specific names, because of allergic reactions. Grape derived colors can be now added without informing the conssumer
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