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.
August 1, 2026 from Montreal GazetteJNS:
"Nöam, a kosher restaurant in Montreal, was destroyed by a fire on Friday night in an incident that is being investigated as a possible hate crime, the Montreal Gazette reported, citing Raphaël Bergeron, a spokesman for the Montreal police, SPVM.
"Video shows blaze was set by one person who appeared to be a man in his 20s, says garage owner.
"Firefighters were called around 3:15 a.m. Saturday to a blaze on Décarie Blvd. between Plamondon Ave. and Vézina St., according to police spokesperson Raphaël Bergeron.
"The building, which houses the kosher restaurant Nöam as well as a garage, sustained major damage before firefighters brought the blaze under control.
'Nöam, which opened in August 2024, serves Mediterranean, Italian and international dishes.
"The restaurant said it was “proudly kosher and deeply rooted in Montreal’s Jewish community,” while its doors have always been open to people from every background."
July 30, 2026 from the CPSC :
Mangohood Direct Kids Kitchen Standing Towers, Model LT003 can collapse or tip over while in use, and a child’s torso can fit through the openings on the front and back sides, posing a risk of serious injury and death due to tip over, fall and entrapment hazards.
This recall involves Mangohood Direct-branded children’s tower stools, model LT003. The tower stools were sold in natural bamboo, gray, and white, and measure about 35 inches tall by 16 inches wide and 18 inches deep.
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled tower stools immediately and store them away from children until repaired. Contact Hangzhou Xinyanchuangxin for repair parts, which include stabilizing feet and installation instructions. The firm will mail the repair parts directly to consumers free of charge.
Sold Online At: Amazon.com from July 2025 through March 2026 for between $57 and $67.
July 30, 2026 from the CPSC :
This recall involves Fantastic Four Invisible Woman and Human Torch Drinking Cups and Captain America Popcorn Helmet Containers with LED lights. The products are souvenirs sold at movie theaters for the Fantastic Four and Captain America movie productions. The Fantastic Four Invisible Woman cups are blue and the Human Torch cups are red in color. The Captain America helmet containers are navy blue and silver and about 85 ounces with an opening at the top to store popcorn.
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the Fantastic Four Cups and Captain America Popcorn Helmet Containers immediately and contact Golden Link for a refund of the purchase price of the product. Consumers will be asked to dispose of the product and send a photo showing proof of disposal to productrecall@goldenlinkinc.com to receive a refund.
Note: Button cell batteries are hazardous. Batteries should be disposed of or recycled by following local hazardous waste procedures.
Sold At: The Fantastic Four Cups were sold at AMC movie theaters nationwide from March 2025 through April 2025 for about $15. The Captain America Popcorn Helmet Containers were sold at AMC Theaters, Cobb Theaters, Drive in Group, El Capitan EVO Cinemas, Goldenlink, GQT Movies, Harkins, Independent Theatre, Maya Cinemas, Reading, West Wind, Escape and Zurich Group nationwide from February through August 2025 for about $30.
Consumer Contact: Golden Link online at https://goldenlinknorthamerica.com and click “Product Recall Notice” at the top of the page for more information or by email at productrecall@goldenlinkinc.com. WebsiteE-mail
July 30, 2026 from the CPSC :
Woodure Toddler Kitchen Step Stools have been recalled because the recalled tower stools can collapse or tip over while in use, and a child’s torso can fit through the openings on the front and back sides, posing a risk of serious injury and death due to tip over, fall and entrapment hazards.
Consumer Contact: Shenzhen Muqiqu Creative Development at 844-687-1918 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday or by email at woodure-service@hotmail.com, online at https://www.wwoodure.com/recall or https:///www.wwoodure.com click on “Safety Recall” at the top of the page for more information.
Description: This recall involves Woodure-branded children’s tower kitchen step stools, models WD1764, WD1357, and WD1720. The tower stools were sold in plywood and measure 18 inches deep by 16.9 inches wide by 34.6 inches tall. The model number is engraved on the underside of the bottom step. Remedy:
Consumers should stop using the recalled tower stools immediately and store them away from children. Contact Shenzhen Muqiqu Creative Development for a repair kit, which includes protective nets, stabilizing feet and installation instructions. The firm will mail the free repair kit directly to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: Woodure has received 22 reports of instability or tip-overs, including 15 reported injuries with scrapes, cuts and bruises.
Sold Online At: Amazon.com from July 2024 through June 2026 for between $60 and $100.
July 30, 2026 from the CPSC:
Nordi Foldable Toddler Tower Stools have been recalled because the recalled tower stools can collapse or tip over while in use, and a child’s torso can fit through the openings on the front and back sides, posing a risk of serious injury and death due to tip over, fall and entrapment hazards.
Consumer Contact: HARPPA toll-free at 833-471-9321 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday, email at recall@harppababy.com, or https://harppababy.com/recall or https://harppababy.com/ and click on “Safety Recall” at the top of the page for more information.
Description: This recall involves HARPPA’s Nordi foldable toddler towers. The tower stools are white, black and blue with natural wood color on the stool’s step, platform and safety bars. The tower stools measure about 18 inches deep, 18 inches wide and 38.6 inches tall. “MODEL No.: HANS0002” is printed on a label on the underside of the stool’s platform.
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled stools immediately and store them away from children. Contact HARPPA for a free repair kit, including shipping. The repair kit consists of protective nets, stabilizing feet and installation instructions.
Incidents/Injuries: HARPPA has received three reports of tower stools collapsing or tipping over, resulting in two injuries including scrapes, cuts and bruises.
Sold Online At: Harppababy.com and Amazon.com from September 2023 through June 2026 for about $130.
July 30, 2026 from the CPSC :
Galanz Retro Refrigerators have been recalled because the recalled refrigerators’ internal electrical components can short circuit and ignite, posing a risk of serious injury or death from fire and burn hazards.
Consumer Contact: Galanz Americas at 888-462-0579 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, email at customerservice@galanzamericas.com, or online at GalanzRetroFridgeRecall.expertinquiry.com or www.galanz.com/us/ and click on “PRODUCT RECALLS” at the top of the page for more information.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Galanz Americas Limited Company (Galanz Americas) are announcing the recall of Galanz Retro Refrigerators, manufactured by Zhongshan Galanz, of China, and imported by Home Depot and Galanz Americas.
CPSC is aware of 34 reports of fire involving the refrigerators, one of which resulted in a fatality according to the local fire department report.
About 121,680 refrigerators were sold at Home Depot stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com for between $330 and $520.
The Galanz retro-style refrigerators were sold in black, blue, red and white, and measure about 58 inches high, 24 inches deep and 21 inches wide. The 7.6 cu. ft. capacity refrigerators have either left-hand opening or right-hand opening doors with handles, three adjustable glass shelves and one drawer. The top freezer has a separate door, one drawer and “Galanz” printed on front. Only refrigerators with date codes ranging from December 2018 through December 2020 and with one of the following model numbers are included in this recall: BCD-215V-62H, GLR76TRDER, GLR76TBKER, GLR76TBEER or GLR76TWEER. “Galanz,” the model number and the date code, in YYYYMM format, are printed on a white label on the upper left-hand corner on the back of the unit.
Remedy: Consumers should unplug and stop using the recalled refrigerators immediately until repaired and contact Galanz to schedule free in-home repair by a qualified technician.
July 30, 2026: from the World Israel News
"The Netherlands will prohibit trade in goods produced in Israeli communities in Judea, Samaria, and the Golan Heights beginning September 22, adopting one of Europe’s most extensive national restrictions on commerce connected to the areas in question.
"The temporary sanctions decree bans goods produced wholly or partly in Israeli communities included on a European Union postal-code list used to distinguish those areas from pre-1967 Israeli territory. It prohibits bringing the products into the Netherlands, purchasing or selling them directly or indirectly, arranging transactions involving them and attempting to circumvent the restrictions.
"The measure was signed by King Willem-Alexander on July 13 and published in the Dutch official gazette on July 21. It is scheduled to enter force two months after publication and will expire after three years unless extended by legislation.
"Although frequently described as an import ban, the decree reaches considerably further. It covers products containing materials or components obtained from the targeted communities and prevents Dutch citizens and companies from buying the goods elsewhere in the EU. It also applies to brokers arranging transactions even when the products are destined for another EU country.
"Dutch authorities said the combination of import, purchase and sales restrictions was intended to close loopholes created by the EU’s open internal borders, which could otherwise allow goods to enter through another member state before being sold in the Netherlands.
"Transit shipments that merely pass through Dutch territory without entering the Dutch market will not be prohibited. The restrictions also do not constitute a general ban on products from Israel, and trade in goods produced within Israel’s internationally recognized pre-1967 boundaries will remain legal.
"The decree applies to Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, including east Jerusalem, as well as the Golan Heights. Israel extended its sovereignty over east Jerusalem and the Golan, but the Netherlands and the European Union do not recognize those moves.
"Intentional violations will be treated as criminal economic offenses carrying a maximum sentence of six years in prison, community service or a fine of up to €103,000. Unintentional violations can be punished by up to one year’s detention or a smaller fine.
"Dutch officials indicated, however, that enforcement will concentrate primarily on systematic and deliberate violations rather than isolated purchases by individual consumers. Customs authorities and the Dutch Fiscal Information and Investigation Service will be responsible for enforcing the measure.
"Prime Minister Rob Jetten said when the cabinet approved the restrictions in May that the measure was intended to increase pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
"The government also cited the situation on the Golan Heights and Israeli declarations favoring a permanent presence in additional Syrian territory captured following the fall of Bashar Assad’s government.
"Ireland, Belgium and Spain have also advanced or enacted restrictions on products from Israeli communities beyond the Green Line. Ireland narrowed its legislation to goods after its government concluded that extending it to services would not be “implementable” or “viable.” Irish officials estimated that the goods affected there were worth only about €200,000 annually.
"The Netherlands’ measure is broader than the Irish proposal because it includes purchases, domestic sales, transaction-related services and products associated with the Golan Heights. Dutch companies will also be required to verify the origin of Israeli goods and declare that imported merchandise did not originate in one of the communities covered by the decree.
"The Dutch government acknowledged that the immediate economic effect is likely to be limited. Its explanatory statement said the targeted goods would generally account for only a very small portion of a typical supermarket’s sales."
July 30, 2026: from the cbs2iowa
"The community of Postville is beginning the long recovery process after a massive fire destroyed much of the Agri Star Meat & Poultry processing plant Tuesday.
"Agri Star said it is still evaluating its short-term plans and will provide verified updates as more information becomes available.
"The fire could also have impacts beyond northeast Iowa.
"According to OU Kosher, the organization that certifies the plant's kosher operations, the facility processes a significant share of the kosher beef and chicken sold in the United States. The loss of production could tighten an already limited summer supply ahead of the Jewish High Holidays, including Rosh Hashanah in September.
"As we monitor the situation in Postville, the safety of the employees and firefighters is our first concern,' said Rabbi Moshe Elefant, CEO of OU Kosher. 'The damaged facility means a significant portion of kosher beef and chicken slaughtered and sold in the U.S. will not enter the kosher supply chain.'
"The organization says it is working with Agri Star and other suppliers to increase production at other facilities to help reduce potential shortages."
July 28, 2026: from the VinNews
"A major fire broke out early Tuesday at the Agri Star Meat & Poultry plant, one of the world’s largest kosher meatpacking facilities, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky and prompting a multi-agency response across northeast Iowa.
"The blaze was reported shortly after 4 a.m. at the sprawling processing plant on North West Street. Multiple fire departments from the region responded as heavy smoke billowed from the facility, visible for miles and drifting into neighboring Fayette County.
"Agri Star confirmed the fire in a Facebook post around 9 a.m., stating that emergency crews had been on scene since early morning and were actively working to contain the flames.
"Officials indicated disruptions to distribution are expected.
"Agri Star is Allamakee County’s largest employer and a major supplier of kosher beef and poultry. The plant, formerly known as Agriprocessors, was founded by the Rubashkin family and acquired in 2009 by interests associated with Canadian businessman Hershey Friedman. It has faced previous incidents, including a smaller boiler-room fire in May and an explosion in 2021 that injured two workers."
July 29, 2026: from the OU on "x"
July 27, 2026: from the ABC NY 7
"Your bag of takeout in New Jersey is about to get a little lighter -- and lot more environmentally friendly.
That's because New Jersey restaurants and other food businesses will no longer include plastic utensils, napkins or condiments automatically with your order. Beginning Aug. 1, you'll have to request them in line with the state's "Skip the Stuff" law.
"The law, enacted in January 2026, aims to reduce "unnecessary plastic waste" by "restricting food service businesses from automatically distributing single-use plastic utensils and condiments.
"Mobile ordering will automatically leave a box for utensils, napkins and condiments unchecked. Your order will not include these items unless you check the box or request when ordering in person or on the phone.
"The law also requires full-service dine-in restaurants-with seating for 10 or more customers-have to provide reusable utensils for dine-in meals. Self-serve dispensers can still be used if they dispense individual items, not bundled utensil packs.
"Exceptions have been made for public and private schools, correctional facilities, healthcare facilities, and food court vendors. There are also exceptions for pre-packaged food items that have utensils or condiments attached during manufacturing and single-use sauce cups when dining in.
"In an effort to get businesses to comply, New Jersey will issue violations and fines to those who don't comply. The first violation is a warning, the second violation carries a $100 fine, and third and following violations are $250 within a 12-month period."
July 22, 2026 from the CPSC :
Lakkzoom immersion water heaters have been recalled because the heaters can quickly ignite within minutes when they are partially or completely out of water, posing a risk of serious injury and death due to fire.
Consumer Action: Consumers should stop using the immersion water heaters immediately and dispose of them.
Description: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to stop using Lakkzoom immersion water heaters immediately because the heaters can quickly ignite within minutes when they are partially or completely out of water, posing a risk of serious injury and death due to fire.
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a complaint in federal court against the manufacturer, Cixi Miaojie Electrical Appliance Co. Ltd., of China, and the retailer and importer, Changsha Jiayi Tianzhuo Trading Co. Ltd., of China, alleging that these products present an imminent hazard and seeking a mandatory recall of these products. Read more about their complaint here.
The products were manufactured in China.
Consumers should stop using the immersion water heaters immediately and dispose of them.
The immersion water heaters consist of metal tubes with circular or heart-shaped holes and plastic endcaps in black, yellow, or pink. The brand name "Lakkzoom" and model numbers 1500W, 2000W, HT1500W (also identified as MJ-R13), or HT2000W may appear on the purchase receipt.
Incidents/Injuries: CPSC is aware of 235 reports of fires involving these immersion water heaters.
Sold At: Amazon.com and eBay.com from September 2022 through July 2026.
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