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.
May 29, 2026 from Glatt Mart facebook page
Kings Highway Glatt Mart, Brooklyn NY had a fire and is currently closed.
August 14, 2025 from Food Processing
'A growing recognition of ‘healthy’ fats and the new Dietary Guidelines are tempting many processors to change their oil.
"Teddy’s Tallow Chips is riding a wave of popularity for beef tallow, powered by a growing understanding that traditional animal fats may not deserve the bad reputation they have long held.
"Add to that the increasing popularity of avocado oil in food processing, and manufacturers suddenly have two more options to consider when developing – or revising – product formulations.
August 14, 2025 from FoodDive
"More food companies are starting to promote a shift away from seed oils as the “Make America Healthy Again” movement positions the controversial ingredients as unhealthy.
"In one of the largest scale announcements so far, Real Good Foods, a maker of better-for-you frozen meals, said it would begin to transition its entire portfolio away from seed oils and instead adopt beef tallow. The company launched a new line of seed oil-free breaded chicken and will begin the process of converting the rest of its products.
"While restaurants, such as Steak N’ Shake and Sweetgreen, have received considerable attention for their commitment to phase out seed oils, Real Good Foods is among a burgeoning group of smaller food companies that are following suit.
"Seed oils are vegetable oils derived from plants including canola, sunflower or soybean seeds. Commonly found in processed or fried products, these oils have become under tighter scrutiny as consumers and regulators alike begin to crack down on ultra-processed foods.
"Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has decried seed oils as 'one of the most unhealthy ingredients that we have in foods,' with critics saying they can break down during the cooking process into compounds that cause inflammation and weaken the immune system.
"Kennedy and others have promoted beef tallow or other oils with higher saturated fat content that remain stable at high heat.
"Nutritionists and health experts have largely debunked the idea that seed oils are less healthy, with decades of research showing the unsaturated fats in seed oils are linked to a lower risk of heart disease. Still, that hasn’t stopped companies from jumping on the seed oil-free bandwagon.
"Scaling use of beef tallow in the U.S. would be a complex endeavor, especially as an ongoing cattle shortage could limit supply of the ingredient. Real Good Foods said the change has had ripple effects throughout its supply chain, impacting the manufacturing process, sourcing strategy and more."
June 3, 2026 from Jerusalem Post:
"The Knesset passed in the first reading a bill to cancel the 2021 kashrut reform on Tuesday evening, shortly before the Knesset is expected to dissolve, in a move that could prevent Israel’s official kashrut certification market from opening to broader competition.
"The vote passed 49-34.
"The bill targets a reform approved in 2021 but largely stuck in limbo since. The reform was designed to move Israel’s kashrut system away from one controlled almost entirely by the Chief Rabbinate and local rabbinates, and toward a regulated market in which private kashrut bodies could also issue official certificates.
"That broader market never fully materialized.
"According to the Competition Authority, because the reform has not been fully implemented, official kashrut certification for food businesses remains controlled by local rabbinates. A business seeking basic kashrut certification must generally receive it from the local rabbinate in the city or area where it operates.
"The authority noted that even businesses seeking stricter certification, such as Badatz, are still required to receive certification from the local rabbinate.
"The authority noted that even businesses seeking stricter certification, such as Badatz, are still required to receive certification from the local rabbinate.
"The reform sought to address the problem by having licensed kashrut corporations employ the supervisors, rather than the supervised businesses. It was also meant to apply to imported products, allowing private kashrut bodies to certify imports and potentially reduce kashrut costs in import channels.
"One part of the reform did take effect: local religious councils were allowed to issue kashrut certification outside their own municipal areas. That was meant to create immediate competition between local rabbinates and give businesses alternatives to their own local rabbinate, particularly where local kashrut monopolies were viewed as especially problematic.
"But shortly after Religious Services Minister Michael Malchieli of Shas entered office in December 2022, he moved to delay the reform’s broader implementation.
"In practice, that left the reform largely dormant: local rabbinates were legally able to certify businesses outside their own areas, but the option was not widely used, and the core mechanism of licensing private national kashrut bodies did not materialize.
"The timing of the first-reading vote carries procedural significance. A bill that has passed first reading may be eligible for continuity in the next Knesset, allowing the next parliament to resume the legislative process from that stage rather than beginning again from scratch."
June 1, 2026 from JNS:
"Israeli-born chef Raz Shabtai learned that his restaurant Mutra, in North Miami, had become the world’s first kosher eatery to earn a Michelin star during a livestreamed ceremony on May 28.
"Mutra is the first restaurant under strict kosher supervision to earn a Michelin star, and it is the only restaurant in Miami to receive a new star. It also has a Hebrew sign at its entrance stating, 'you are blessed when you arrive, and you are blessed when you leave.'
"The ruling on the restaurant shows that the guide is 'extremely true to the food, how you execute your dishes,' the chef told JNS.
"The restaurant’s menu changes every three to four months and features dishes rooted in Middle Eastern and Israeli culinary traditions made with contemporary techniques.
"Shabtai said that the team tried to operate at a Michelin-star level from its earliest days, despite not knowing if inspectors had ever visited."
May 28, 2026 from Times of Israel
"The UJA-Federation of New York, a leading Jewish organization in New York City, is buying 20,000 bags of Bamba snacks in response to an anti-Israel boycott at a prominent Brooklyn food co-op.
"The federation will distribute the snacks at the annual Israel parade in New York City, taking place on Sunday."
May 27, 2026 from VinNews
"More than 1,000 members of a Brooklyn food cooperative are expected to stop shopping or resign after the store voted to remove Israeli-made products, according to reports published by the New York Post.
"The controversy centers on the Park Slope Food Coop, where members approved a measure targeting Israeli goods during a contentious online meeting attended by thousands of people.
"According to the report, Israeli-made products wBrooklyn Food Coop Faces Legal Challenge After Members Approve Israel-Related Boycere removed from shelves shortly after the vote passed. Critics of the decision warned the move could deepen tensions inside the member-run grocery store and lead to significant membership losses.
"Several longtime members told the publication they planned to stop shopping at the coop following the vote, arguing the campaign unfairly singled out Israel while ignoring products tied to other countries accused of human rights violations.
"The dispute has fueled growing divisions inside the cooperative, where debates over Israel and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement have intensified in recent months. Some Jewish members said the atmosphere inside the coop had become increasingly hostile and uncomfortable."
May 27, 2026 from VinNews:
"A Brooklyn food cooperative is facing a discrimination complaint after members voted to remove Israeli-made products from store shelves.
"Jeffrey Lax, a law professor at the City University of New York and founder of SAFE Campus, announced he filed a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights challenging the decision by the Park Slope Food Coop.
"Lax argued the policy unfairly targets Israel while the cooperative continues selling goods connected to other countries accused of human rights abuses. He said the action may violate New York anti-discrimination laws involving national origin.
"The cooperative’s membership approved the measure during a virtual meeting this week after a heated debate among members. Supporters described the vote as part of a broader political campaign involving Israel, while critics said the move unfairly isolates Jewish and Israeli businesses.
"The controversy has also drawn scrutiny from the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law. Chairman Kenneth Marcus criticized the boycott effort and said the group is examining possible legal responses."
May 26, 2026 from Matzav.com:
"Israeli consumers are beginning to feel a new wave of price hikes on basic dairy products, as supermarket chains across the country raise prices on milk, butter, cheese, and other staples — in some cases by even more than the increases announced by the dairy manufacturers themselves.
"Following Shavuos, retail chains started passing the higher costs directly onto shoppers after regulated dairy products already went up in price and new increases from major producers including Tnuva, Tara, Strauss Group, and Gad Dairies began taking effect.
"According to a report published by Ynet, Tnuva had announced before Yom Tov that it would increase prices on several products, although some retail chains initially resisted approving the hikes. Now, however, most major chains have already adjusted prices upward on at least some items — and in certain cases consumers are paying increases significantly steeper than those announced by the dairy companies.
"The new increases follow months of announcements by dairy manufacturers regarding updated pricing on both regulated and non-regulated products. Consumers across Israel are now beginning to see the impact directly on store shelves, including on everyday household staples used by nearly every family."
May 27, 2026 from JTA:
"A huge fire broke out Wednesday morning at the Kosher Kingdom supermarket in Golders Green, London’s heavily Orthodox Jewish neighborhood. Firefighters were still working to put out the blaze six hours later.
"Metropolitan Police said Wednesday afternoon the fire was not being treated as suspicious and was 'believed to have been caused by an electrical fault.' But the incident shook Jewish residents who have been on edge for months amid a string of antisemitic attacks.
"The news that Kosher Kingdom did not appear to be deliberately targeted comes as a relief to Jewish residents. The blaze broke out in the same area where four Hatzola ambulances were torched in March, two Jewish men were stabbed in April and a Jewish man said he was attacked for speaking Hebrew this month.
"Prior to the updates from the fire department and police, speculation spread on social media that the fire was electrical, potentially caused by faulty freezers. London has seen an unprecedented heatwave over the last several days, with temperatures soaring over 90 degrees."
May 21, 2026 from the CPSC :
Description: This recall involves WSDZ-branded LED shot glasses. The recalled plastic glasses are clear and have three button cell batteries in a compartment that power LED lights when the push button on the underside of the glass is pushed. The glasses were sold individually and in packs of 24 glasses. “ITEM NO: LP-024 (122)” and “Importer: ABC Trading, Inc” are printed on a label on the underside of the glasses.
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled glasses immediately, place them in an area where children cannot access them and properly dispose of the batteries. Contact ABC Trading for a full refund. Consumers will be asked to dispose of the glass and send a photo of the product in the trash and email to recallabc@gmail.com.
Note: Button cell batteries are hazardous. Batteries should be disposed of or recycled by following local hazardous waste procedures.
Sold At: Starzzone and Igiftsinc and other gift stores nationwide from March 2024 through October 2025 for between $6 and $10.
Consumer Contact: ABC Trading toll-free at 323-581-3688 from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, email at recallabc@gmail.com, or online at https://www.abctradinginc.com/recall-2 or www.abctradinginc.com/ and click “Recall Information” at the top of the page for more information. Website
February 12, 2026 from the CPSC and May 21, 2026 from the CPSC :
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to immediately stop using PandaEar children’s portable hook-on chairs. The portable hook-on chairs violate the mandatory safety standard for portable hook-on chairs because the crotch restraint can be removed, posing a risk of serious injury or death from a fall.
CPSC issued a Notice of Violation to the seller, PandaEar of Lake Dallas, Texas. CPSC has requested that PandaEar recall the hook-on chairs and provide a remedy to consumers, but PandaEar has not agreed to an acceptable recall.
About 8,950 portable hook-on chairs were sold online at Amazon.com from February 2022 through November 2025 for about $25. The product was also sold on pandaear.com and by various third-party sellers and on other websites.
PandaEar portable hook-on chairs are used to seat young children at the table. The chairs have a black or gray metal frame covered with black or gray polyester and cotton material. There are two metal arms that anchor to a dining table and the child is suspended from the table. “PandaEar” and “Model BTC-51” can be found on the packaging. There is no labelling information on the product.
CPSC urges consumers to stop using the portable hook-on chairs immediately and dispose of them. Do not sell or give away these hazardous products.
Sold At: About 8,950 portable hook-on chairs were sold online at Amazon.com from February 2022 through November 2025 for about $25. The product was also sold on pandaear.com and by various third-party sellers and on other websites.
May 22, 2026 from the Government of Canada:
This recall involves Secura air fryers with model number SAF-53 (TXG-DS16) only with date codes 1903 and 1904. They are a black colour with silver accent. The brand name Secura is on the top of each unit. The model number and four-digit date code are printed on the silver labels located at the bottom of each unit. The air fryers measure about 30 cm (12 inches) high, 28 cm (11 inches) deep and 30 cm (12 inches) wide.
Issue: A wire connection in the air fryer can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards.
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled product and contact Secura Inc. for an Amazon.ca gift card code. To receive a credit or replacement product, consumers must provide their contact information and submit photos of the recalled unit with the power cord cut off and include information of the product’s date code located at the bottom of the product.
For more information, consumers can contact Secura Inc. by telephone toll-free at 888-792-2360, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday, by email at customercare@thesecura.com or visit the company website or at www.thesecura.com and click on “Recalls” at the bottom of the page for more information.
These products were recalled on September 28, 2023 by the CPSC.
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