K A S H R U T . C O M_©

EFSA Finds Titanium Dioxide is Not Safe for Food

May 6, 2021 from National Law Review:

• "On May 6, 2021, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) updated its 2016 safety assessment of the food additive titanium dioxide (TiO2, E 171) and concluded that it can no longer be considered safe as a food additive despite EFSA’s findings in 2016 that E 171 did not raise a genotoxic concern. Currently, TiO2 is authorized as a food additive in the European Union according to Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008."
• "EFSA’s expert panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (Panel) stated that it reached this conclusion because of the food additive’s genotoxicity concerns when it is absorbed by the body. The Panel concluded that, although the absorption of TiO2 particles is low, it has the potential to accumulate in the body, as the food additive contains at most 50% of particles in the nano range (i.e., less than 100 nanometers) to which consumers may be exposed. EFSA noted that although the evidence for general toxic effects was not conclusive, the new data and strengthened methods did not allow the Agency to rule out a concern for genotoxicity. By way of background, French authorities suspended the marketing of foods containing TiO2 in 2019, as there were gaps and uncertainties in the food additive’s safety data."
• "Based on EFSA’s opinion, the European Commission and the EU member states will meet to consider phasing out TiO2 from the EU legislation on food. This action will likely prohibit the use of TiO2 in applications such as medicines, toothpaste, food contact materials, pet foods, and other consumer goods. This potential EU decision will be notified to the World Trade Organization, which will then be considered by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. It remains to be seen whether there will be ripple effects in other countries."

Poland: Agriculture Min. promises 'no impediment' to kosher meat

May 3, 2021 - from Arutz 7 :

"Poland’s Agriculture Minister Grzegorz Puda offered much needed words of re-assurance to Jewish leaders on Wednesday that his Ministry currently does not carry out work aimed at changing the rules of slaughter in order to limit the supply of kosher meat exports to religious communities across the continent."

"The Minister held meeting with the Chairman of the European Jewish Association (EJA) and Rabbinical Center of Europe, Rabbi Menachem Margolin; Dutch Chief Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs; and the Board Chairman of the Social and Cultural Association of Jews in Poland (TSKZ)."

"The Minister's meeting with the Jewish leaders took place after months of genuine concern among Jewish communities across the continent over the "five for animals” bill proposed by the Polish government, which initially included a limitation of kosher slaughter to local needs – eliminating de facto kosher meat production in the country." "As the major supplier of kosher meat in Europe, any ban would have been hugely detrimental to traditional European Jewish Communities, particularly smaller ones without the means or network to secure kosher meat. Keeping kosher is a fundamental pillar of traditional Judaism. Jewish leaders also fundamentally reject the premise that the kosher method of slaughter is in any way more cruel than more universal methods. Jewish leaders also underlined that animal welfare is a central tenet of Jewish practice and that kosher slaughter and animal welfare are in no way incompatible."

"ewish leaders across Europe were also concerned that other countries could follow suit, thereby effectively banning the access to kosher meat on the continent."

Sauder Woodworking Recalls Counter Height Bar Stools Due to Fall Hazard

April 28, 2021 - from CPSC :

Sauder and Aliesha-May Counter-height bar stools (two-piece sets) has been recalled because the legs on the stools can become unstable over time, posing a fall hazard.

This recall involves counter-height bar stools sold under the Sauder and Aliesha-May brands. The stools have powder-coated steel legs and cross braces and a backless rectangular oak-finished composite seat. The stools measure 23.5 inches high by 14.5 inches wide and 12.25 inches deep. The stools were manufactured between September 2019 and August 2020. A label with the manufacturing date code in the MM/YYYY format (09/2019 through 08/2020) is located on the bottom surface of the seat. The stools were sold in sets of two.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled bar stools and contact Sauder Woodworking to receive a full refund for each two-piece stool set. Sauder Woodworking is contacting all known purchasers directly.

Consumer Contact: Sauder Woodworking toll-free at 866-218-8312 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at www.sauder.com and click on “About” and then “Public Notices” for more information.

Sold At: Wayfair.com, ZOLA.com, CYMAX.com and other online retailers from January 2020 through February 2021 for between $85 and $95 per set of two bar stools.

Metal Ware Recalls NESCO Coffee Bean Roasters Due to Fire Hazard

April 21, 2021 - from CPSC :

Coffee Bean Roasters have been recalled because the coffee bean roasters can overheat, posing a fire hazard.

The recall involves Model CR-04-13 Coffee Bean Roasters with a date code of 2520 or 3220 printed at the bottom right of the ETL Intertek label on the product and on the box. NESCO is printed in white on the black roasters.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled coffee bean roasters and contact Metal Ware for a full refund or a refund in the form of a store credit. Metal Ware will provide consumers with free return shipping for the roasters. Upon Metal Ware’s receipt of the returned roaster, the consumer can choose between receiving a full refund of $85 or a refund in the form of a store credit in the amount of $100 for use at www.nesco.com.

Consumer Contact: Metal Ware Corporation toll-free at 888-993-9243 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, email at beanroaster@nesco.com, or online at www.nesco.com and click on RECALLS for more information.

The firm has received reports of 20 incidents of the coffee bean roasters overheating causing the plastic to melt, coffee beans to burn, and/or flames and smoke to emanate from the roaster. No injuries have been reported.

Sold At: Blains Supply and Burman Coffee Traders stores nationwide and online at www.bodhileafcoffee.com, www.burmancoffee.com, www.eveythingkitchens.com, www.facebook.com/keystonehousewares, www.farmandfleet.com, www.kohls.com, www.sweetmarias.com, and www.wayfair.com, from August 2020 through December 2020, for about $85.

Dutch shop fined for omitting the word ‘settlement’ from label of Israeli wine from the West Bank

April 15, 2021 - from JTA:

"Dutch government inspectors fined a store for labeling wine made in an Israeli settlement as 'a product from an Israeli village in Judea and Samaria.'"

"The Israel Products Center near Amsterdam received the $2,514 fine last week following its refusal to replace the label with one acceptable to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, which requires such labels read 'Product from the West Bank (Israeli settlement).'"

"The Israel Products Center, a shop and importer run by the pro-Israel group Christians for Israel, has had legal problems over labeling since 2019. The center’s director, Pieter van Oordt, wrote in a statement that he was 'shocked' by the government’s actions, which he said were discriminatory."

"At least four Dutch political parties have accused the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority of singling out Israeli products and ignoring controversial labels on products from other disputed areas, including Western Sahara and Northern Cyprus."

"In 2015, the European Commission adopted regulations barring the labeling of products from areas it considers occupied by Israel as made in Israel, a decision it attributed to the consumer’s right to know the origins of products."