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Food News


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.

Newer news

Del Maguey Issues Voluntary Recall of Promotional Ceramicware Cups Called 'Copitas'--- Used for Drinking Mezcal Because of Possible Health Risk

May 1, 2023 from the FDA:

Del Maguey Co., New York, NY is conducting a voluntary recall of certain ceramicware cups called copitas – small artisan cups traditionally used for drinking mezcal – because they may exceed FDA guidance levels for leachable lead.

The copitas were distributed free-of-charge to consumers at retail locations, events and tastings across the United States. Copitas were also included in value-added packs (VAPs) sold by retail stores since October 2022; the VAPs included a 750ml bottle of Del Maguey Vida de Muertos mezcal and 4 copitas. This recall covers all copitas distributed by Del Maguey to date.

The cup is made of red clay, with applied enamel on the surface that holds liquid inside. It holds a maximum of 1 oz, and measures 2.5 inches wide and 1 inch in height. The copitas can be identified by the embossed brand name “Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal” which encircles the word “Mexico” located on the inside of the cup. Images of the copitas and the VAPs sold at retail are pictured below.

No Del Maguey spirit products are part of this recall. In particular, the mezcal included in the VAPs has not been exposed to the copitas, is not covered by this recall, and may be consumed. This recall covers only the copitas.

Consumers should not use and should discard the copitas covered by this recall. Del Maguey is working with a new supplier to resolve this issue and produce new copitas. Consumers who have questions or would like to receive the new copitas may e-mail consumercare@delmaguey.zendesk.com or visit https://delmagueyconsumercare.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new.

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1400

Finance Ministry Tempers Jump In Israeli Dairy Prices

May 1, 2023 - from Vinnews

"The price of government-regulated dairy products in Israel will rise by 9.28% this week after the Finance Ministry stepped in to spread a planned 16% hike over three years.

"Separately, Financed Minister Bezalel Smotrich intervened to cancel a gasoline price hike that was to have taken effect on Monday.

"The moves come as the rising cost of living tops the Israeli public’s list of concerns, according to surveys.
The last-minute agreement reached by Smotrich will see the cost of basic milk and cheese products go up 9.28% with additional 3.1% increases coming each May through 2026.

"Dairy companies will receive compensation for the postponed price rises."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1399

Information and alert: New Kosher Moroccan Restaurant in NYC: Dar Yemma

April 30, 2023 - from YeahThatsKosher

"A new Glatt Kosher authentic Moroccan restaurant has just opened in the heart of midtown, centrally located – not far from Grand Central, Bryant Park, Madison Square Garden / Penn Station, and Times Square. Located in the recently closed location of Colbeh / Paprika‘s Manhattan location,

"Note: there is another'Dar Yemma' restaurant in Queens that is not kosher. It is not related to this location in Manhattan."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1398

New York set to ban gas furnaces, stoves in new buildings

April 28, 2023 - from Politico:

"New York will require new buildings to be zero-emissions starting in 2026 and make a state authority a major player in developing renewables as part of this year’s budget, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced late Thursday.

"The state’s budget will ban fossil fuel combustion in most new buildings under seven stories starting in 2026, with larger buildings covered in 2029. That means no propane heating and no gas furnaces or stoves in most new construction.

"New York would be the first state to take this step through legislative action; California and Washington have done so through building codes.

"The measure will help the state achieve its ambitious mandate to slash emissions by 40 percent from 1990 levels by 2030 and 85 percent by 2050 and was recommended in a plan approved in December by state agency heads and outside experts. Exemptions will be included for commercial kitchens, emergency generators and hospitals.

"But some key details have not yet been finalized. Hochul also indicated she expects the deal to include rebates to consumers as part of a cap-and-trade initiative for emissions, but a detailed agreement hasn’t been reached on that issue.

"There is no measure that eventually bans the replacement of gas furnaces in existing homes included in the budget, which Hochul had proposed and is recommended in the state’s climate plan. Lawmakers rejected that early on in negotiations. And none of the budget proposals included any measure targeting gas stoves in existing buildings.

"The state budget will include a provision to allow for rebates to New York residents under a cap-and-trade program that is expected to be rolled out in 2025 and will raise gas prices at the pump and home heating fuel costs. Some additional details about how the funds could be spent may also be included but details are not finalized, according to the governor’s office."


New York state relights the gas stove wars

March 16, 2023 - from Politico:

"New York lawmakers are on track to enact a statewide ban on gas heating and appliances in new buildings, a major marker in a partisan fight over fossil fuels and consumer choice.

"The state Assembly and Senate, controlled by Democrats, included different versions of a natural gas ban in their budget proposals that are expected to be reconciled, writes POLITICO’s E&E News reporter David Iaconangelo. Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has said she supports a ban if it lands on her desk.

"t would be the first state to enact a full natural gas ban for new building developments — effectively requiring them to use electric heating and stoves.

"New York City, along with Seattle; Berkeley, Calif.; Eugene, Ore.; and Montgomery County, Md., have all passed legislation limiting fossil fuel use in new buildings. Washington state got closest to electrification requirements in 2022, but that included a carve-out for natural gas as a backup.

"On the other hand, 20 states have prohibited municipalities from imposing fossil fuel restrictions on builders.

"On Wednesday, Bay Area regulators in California agreed to phase out sales of gas boilers and water heaters in existing buildings.

"Amy Turner, senior fellow at Columbia University’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, says if New York’s the first domino to fall, expect other states to follow suit.

"'If New York state is able to pass a building electrification requirement at this scale,” she said, “it will show other states around the country that this is not so scary, that it’s politically possible, it’s technically possible.'"

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1385

Meatball from long-extinct mammoth created by food firm

March 28, 2023 from the The Guardian:

"A mammoth meatball has been created by a cultivated meat company, resurrecting the flesh of the long-extinct animals.

"The project aims to demonstrate the potential of meat grown from cells, without the slaughter of animals, and to highlight the link between large-scale livestock production and the destruction of wildlife and the climate crisis.

The mammoth meatball was produced by Vow, an Australian company, which is taking a different approach to cultured meat.

"There are scores of companies working on replacements for conventional meat, such as chicken, pork and beef. But Vow is aiming to mix and match cells from unconventional species to create new kinds of meat.

"The company has already investigated the potential of more than 50 species, including alpaca, buffalo, crocodile, kangaroo, peacocks and different types of fish.

"The first cultivated meat to be sold to diners will be Japanese quail, which the company expects will be in restaurants in Singapore this year.

"In 2018, another company used DNA from an extinct animal to create gummy bears made from gelatine from a mastodon, another elephant-like animal.

"Vow worked with Prof Ernst Wolvetang, at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering at the University of Queensland, to create the mammoth muscle protein. His team took the DNA sequence for mammoth myoglobin, a key muscle protein in giving meat its flavour, and filled in the few gaps using elephant DNA.

"This sequence was placed in myoblast stem cells from a sheep, which replicated to grow to the 20bn cells subsequently used by the company to grow the mammoth meat.

"No one has yet tasted the mammoth meatball. 'We haven’t seen this protein for thousands of years,' said Wolvetang. 'So we have no idea how our immune system would react when we eat it. But if we did it again, we could certainly do it in a way that would make it more palatable to regulatory bodies'"”

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1397

FDA Releases Draft Guidance on Labeling of Plant-Based Milk Alternatives

April 20, 2023 from the FDA:

"Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued, for comment, draft guidance to help ensure appropriate labeling of plant-based products that are marketed and sold as alternatives to milk (plant-based milk alternatives, or PBMA). This draft guidance will provide industry with recommendations that will result in clear labeling to empower consumers with information to help them make more informed purchasing decisions. It also clarifies that the common or usual names of some PBMA have been established by common usage, and these names include “soy milk” and “almond milk.”

"The FDA recommends that PBMA products that are labeled with the term “milk” in their names, such as “soy milk” or “almond milk,” and that have a nutrient composition that is different than milk, include a voluntary nutrient statement that conveys how the product compares with milk based on USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) fluid milk substitutes nutrient criteria. These statements will help consumers make informed dietary choices when it comes to understanding certain nutritional differences between plant-based products that are labeled with “milk” in their names and milk. If a PBMA is not labeled with “milk” as part of its name, but instead is labeled with another term like “beverage” or “drink” and does not make a claim comparing the product to milk, then the voluntary nutrient statement recommendations in the draft guidance do not apply.

"In 2018 the FDA issued notice soliciting comments from the public to gain insight into how consumers use PBMA products and how they understand the term “milk” when included in the names of products made, for example, from soy, peas and nuts. The agency received more than 13,000 comments. After reviewing these comments and conducting focus group studies with consumers, the FDA determined that consumers generally understand that PBMA do not contain milk and choose PBMA because they are not milk. However, many consumers may not be aware of the nutritional differences between milk and PBMA products. For example, almond or oat-based PBMA products may contain some calcium and be consumed as a source of calcium, but their overall nutritional content is not similar to milk and fortified soy beverages and thus they are not included as part of the dairy group in the Dietary Guidelines, 2020-2025. Both the public comments and focus groups helped inform the agency on its recommendations in this draft guidance.

"

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1396

Fifth Circuit lifts block on Louisiana food labeling law

April 12, 2023 from the Courthouse News:

"Louisiana can enforce a state law aimed at keeping companies from deceiving consumers by using meat-like descriptions on packaging for plant-based food products, a three-judge panel at the Fifth Circuit held Wednesday.

"The 3-0 ruling reverses a federal judge's decision to halt enforcement of the law last year in a case brought by Tofurky, the brand name behind the vegan turkey substitute known as tofurkey.

"Senior U.S. Circuit Judge Edith Brown Clement wrote for the panel that the state’s Truth in Labeling of Food Products Act does not mean that Tofurky’s labels using meat terms such as “chik’n” and “burger” in addition to “plant-based” are in danger of facing a penalty under the law because Tofurky is not out to make consumers think its products contain meat.

"The ruling noted that Tofurky’s interpretation of the act used a broader reading to protect itself ahead of a court ruling, even while the state insisted on a narrower interpretation of the law aimed at stopping unscrupulous companies from confusing consumers into believing meatless items contain meat.

"Clement, a George W. Bush appointee, agreed with the state’s narrower interpretation, reversing last year’s ruling from U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson, a Barack Obama appointee who placed a hold on the state’s ability to enforce the law.

"Jaime Athos, president and CEO of Tofurky and the dairy-free company, Moocho, replied to a request for comment Wednesday evening by saying Torfurky is happy with the ruling.

"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has long required that food producers truthfully label the nature and contents of their products using common or usual terms. Tofurky says terms like “veggie burger” accurately inform consumers how plant-based products can be served and what they taste like.

"The Louisiana law is similar to food labeling statutes passed in Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi and other states. A number of those laws are also being challenged by Tofurky, the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Good Food Institute. A judge in Arkansas halted enforcement of that state's law in December 2019, finding it was likely an unconstitutional restriction on Tofurky’s right to free speech.

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1395

New York Bill Would Require Reusable Takeout Boxes

April 19, 2023 from the SFA:

"The recently introduced Choose 2 Reuse bill in New York seeks to improve sustainability in the restaurant industry by requiring certain businesses to provide reusable containers for dine-in, takeout, and delivery, reports The Wall Street Journal. The bill is with the City Council.

"Under the ruling, customers would be asked to return their reusable containers and chopsticks after their meal, either through delivery or in person. The bill does not extend to containers for beverages.

"Proponents believe that customers are willing to sacrifice the convenience that single-use plastic affords for more sustainable alternatives. If consumers don’t want to use reusable packaging, they will still have the option to opt for single-use containers.

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1394

In first, Israeli startup to get permit to produce cow-free milk

April 19, 2023 from the Times of Israel:

"PM says company to get go-ahead in coming days; permit said set to be granted to Remilk, a developer of cultured milk

"Tech12 reported Israel’s Remilk, a developer of cultured milk and dairy, as the permit receiver. The startup will still require approvals from regulatory bodies in Israel.

"Earlier this year, Remilk won regulatory approval to sell its cow-free milk in Singapore and a letter from the US Food and Drug Administration that its animal-free whey protein can be safely used in food products. That’s after the company started sales of its protein in the US last year.

"Founded in 2019, Remilk produces milk proteins via a yeast-based fermentation process that renders them “chemically identical” to those present in cow-produced milk and dairy products. The startup claims that the result is 100 percent similar to “real” milk, but free of lactose, cholesterol, growth hormones and antibiotics."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1393

THE KASHRUS SCANDAL THAT WASN’T: OU, Hisachdus, and Birdsboro Release Statements On Meat Rumors

March 27, 2023 - from Matzav.com:

"The Orthodox Union and the CRC (Hisachdus Harabbonim) have released a joint statement regarding the kashrus of Birdsboro beef.

"The statement follows the spreading of rumors and claims regarding the kosher status of said meat, which is sold, in the Bingo supermarkets in New York and New Jersey.

"The two supervising agencies assure kosher consumers that Birdsboro beef is glatt kosher l’mehadrin and there are no concerns to be had."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1390
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