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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

Florida legislature passes cultivated meat ban

March 6, 2024 - from the Alt-Meat:

"Representatives from the Sunshine State today voted 86-27 to approve the first total ban on the commercial manufacture and sale of cultivated meat in an American state.

"In the Wednesday afternoon vote, the House passed SB 1084, a wide-ranging bill that includes a prohibition on the alternative protein, though it will allow scientific research in the burgeoning field.

"Representatives opposing the bill said the ban protects a powerful industry from a non-existent threat.

"The legislation, which passed the Senate last week, will now head to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk. The Republican leader has been full-throated in his support of the legislation and is expected to sign the bill into law."


(Florida) Senate passes ban on sale of cultivated meat

February 29, 2024 - from the Florida Politics:

"The legislation still allows research into the field, but Republicans rejected a 5-year sunset on the ban.

"Senators voted to make Florida the first state to ban the sale of lab-grown meat. But a majority rejected a proposal to put a five-year sunset on that restriction.

"Republicans in the House and Senate did agree to allow scientific research in the burgeoning field. That should allow Florida programs already in place at NASA and multiple state universities to continue.

"Regardless, critics of the bill fear such a ban on commercial cultivation will have a chilling effect on a field still in its infancy.

"Biotech investors in sustainable foods have lobbied legislative leaders and Gov. Ron DeSantis on the matter, saying a ban would have economic consequences and compromise food security.

"But traditional agriculture advocates have urged extreme caution. The Florida Cattlemen’s Association and other organizations representing Florida farmers say lab-grown meats should not be considered meat, and that far more research must be done before consumers should be allowed to eat it.

"Opponents of the bill also say the legislation would hurt research in allied countries like Israel, where the government has already approved cultivated beef products. Meanwhile, it would aid countries like China, which is making a concerted effort right now to expand its own efforts in the field."


Food fight: Cellular agriculture fears Florida’s proposed ban on cultivated meat

January 31, 2024 - from the Florida Politics:

"If Florida bans cultivated meat, it will be the first in the nation to do so. With food scarcity challenging modern agriculture, those behind the development of alternative protein sources fear this will set a dangerous precedent.

"That hasn’t stopped legislation from plowing forward in the House and Senate. Language completely banning the manufacturing, sale or distribution of cultivated meat now appears in larger agriculture bills in the House (HB 1071) and Senate (SB 1084).

"Leaders in the cultivated meat biotech sector, an industry still in its infancy, say the push to regulate lab-grown chicken, seafood and beef out of existence flies in the face of the conservative economic policies normally embraced by Florida lawmakers. More importantly, it could literally leave the nation starved for alternatives to slow-maturing livestock.

"But leaders within Florida agriculture, one of Florida’s largest industries, say government needs to put lab-grown meat under a statutory microscope.

"For his part. Rep. Danny Alvarez, the Hillsborough Republican running the agriculture package, in the House, said he sees a future for cultivated meat. At a committee hearing last week, he suggested it’s simply not ready for public consumption.

"He also said a sign-off from the FDA isn’t enough to give him confidence that assurance has arrived. From cigarettes to saccharin, Alvarez said, the federal agency has approved and even offered public assurance on the safety of products that later turned out to be carcinogenic.

"So far, Republican lawmakers in committee agreed. The House bill cleared its first committee last week on a 9-5 vote, and the mirror in the Senate advanced through a first stop on a 4-1 vote. Only Democrats to date have voted against the bill, though the cultivated meat ban was frequently cited as the reason.

"The agriculture bill as written would block the sale of Israeli lab-made meats in Florida, and it would prohibit any technology developed there to be employed in the Sunshine State.

"ndustry officials say in every state but Florida, the cultivated meat industry has worked in concert with farmers and traditional agriculture, believing the demands to feed a growing world population will grow as the ability to raise livestock on dwindling farmland diminishes."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1498

IDF soldiers sentenced to 20 days in prison for making hot dogs on Shabbat

March 2, 2024 from the Jerusalem Post:

"Two soldiers have been sentenced to 20 days in military prison after being caught warming up hot dogs in a military kitchen on Shabbat, according to a KAN11 report on Friday.

"The pair were caught by a third soldier who entered the kitchen and saw them committing the act.

"They were summoned to trial, where they initially denied the charges but later confessed and were sentenced to at least 20 days in prison.

"The IDF spokesperson stated in response, 'The soldiers were tried for disciplinary action by the deputy commander of the unit in light of the violation of the given instructions for operating the kitchen on Shabbat and the fact that they gave a false report to their commanders when they were questioned on the matter.'"

"'Their actions damaged the kosher food of all the soldiers of the unit. The incident is contrary to the values ​​of the IDF and what is expected of those who serve in it.'"

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1521

Yes, it is cricket: Italy gives go-ahead to insect flour for human use

January 31, 2024 from the The Shelby Report:

"A company that produces flour made from crickets has become the first in Italy to be given the green light to sell food made from insects for human consumption, defying Italian food purists and even a government attempt to curb its use.

"Since 2020, millions of crickets have been raised at the company’s plant in Montecassiano, a town in the central Marche region, where they are heat-treated before being frozen and ground into powder.

"Until now, the company has been permitted to sell the flour only for use in pet food.

"The EU approved the sale of insects – namely crickets, locusts and darkling beetle larvae – for human consumption in early 2023, sparking a flurry of proposed regulations from the Italian government, including one aimed at ensuring insects are kept away from traditional dishes such as pasta and pizza.

"However, by the time the regulations became official at the end of last year, the government had relented, instead imposing strict labelling rules, such as clearly stating the product’s origin and the requirement to use Acheta domesticus, the Latin for house cricket, on packets so as to make it a little less startling to the consumer.

"Nutrinsect’s cricket flour will be distributed to food supply companies and those across the catering chain. The flour can also be bought online for €6 a packet."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1520

Independent Grocers Ask Congress To Oppose SNAP Restrictions

February 28, 2024 from the The Shelby Report:

"The National Grocers Association (NGA), alongside independent grocers across the U.S., sent a letter Feb. 20 to Congress opposing recent efforts within the FY2024 House Agriculture Appropriations bill to restrict SNAP purchases.

"The bill includes two provisions that would undermine SNAP:

"Nearly 2,500 NGA members from across the country, located in every single Congressional district, signed the letter that was sent to Congress on Feb. 20."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1519

FDA, Industry Actions End Sales of PFAS Used in US Food Packaging

February 28, 2024 from the FDA:

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is announcing that grease-proofing materials containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are no longer being sold for use in food packaging in the U.S. This means the major source of dietary exposure to PFAS from food packaging like fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, take-out paperboard containers and pet food bags is being eliminated.

PFAS are a diverse group of thousands of chemicals that resist grease, oil, water and heat. The FDA has authorized certain PFAS for limited use in cookware, food packaging and food processing equipment. Exposure to some types of PFAS have been linked to serious health effects. The FDA helps to safeguard the food supply by evaluating the use of chemicals as food ingredients and substances that come into contact with food, such as through food packaging, storage or other handling to ensure these uses are safe.

Today’s announcement marks the fulfillment of a voluntary commitment by manufacturers to not sell food contact substances containing certain PFAS intended for use as grease-proofing agents in the U.S. This FDA-led effort represents a positive step forward as we continue to reevaluate chemicals authorized for use with, and in, food. It underscores an important milestone in the protection of U.S. consumers from potentially harmful food-contact chemicals.

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1518

Nutraceutical Recalls Heritage Store Hydrogen Peroxide Mouthwash Due to Risk of Poisoning; Violation of Child Resistant Packaging Requirement

February 29, 2024 from the CPSC :

Heritage Store Hydrogen Peroxide Mouthwash has been recalled because the recalled mouthwash contains ethanol in a concentration which must be in child-resistant packaging, as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA). The packaging of the products is not child-resistant, posing a risk of poisoning if the contents are swallowed by young children.

Consumer Contact: Nutraceutical at 800-227-6063 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT Monday through Friday, email at info@nutracorp.com, or online at https://heritagestore.com/pages/recall, www.betterbeing.com/recall or www.Nutraceutical.com and click on "Product Recall” at the bottom right of the page for more information.

Description: This recall involves Heritage Store Hydrogen Peroxide Mouthwash in Wintermint and Eucalyptus Mint flavors. The bottles are a dark opaque brown with a white lid. The pink and white label on the front of the bottles displays the Heritage Store logo, product name and flavor. All lots are included in the recall.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately store the recalled mouthwash in a safe location out of reach and sight of children, and contact Nutraceutical Corporation for a full refund or free replacement product, including shipping, depending on availability. Consumers will be asked to dispose of the product. Nutraceutical is contacting all known purchasers directly.

Sold At: Whole Foods, Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, Mom’s Organic Market, New Season’s Market and Mother’s Market & Kitchen, and other stores nationwide and online at Amazon, iHerb, HeritageStore.com and other websites from October 2010 through December 2023 for about $10.50.

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1517

CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using Topfun Folding Step Stools Due to Fall and Injury Hazards; Sold Exclusively on Amazon.com

February 29, 2024 from the CPSC :

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to immediately stop using Topfun Folding 2-Step Stools because they can collapse or tip over during use, posing fall and injury hazards to consumers.

The seller, FuTai Household Supplies, of China, has not responded to CPSC’s request for a recall. Consumers who purchased the product will receive this notice directly.

There have been 39 reports that the step stools collapsed, tipped over or became unstable during use, including 13 reports of injuries including a concussion, fractures, and soft tissue injuries.

The step stools are made of black or white plastic and measure about 17 inches tall, 15-1/2 inches wide, and 13 inches deep. The first step is about 8 inches high, and the top step is about 17 inches high. The step stools were sold exclusively on Amazon.com from November 2021 through July 2023 for between $24 and $62. CPSC urges consumers to stop using the step stools immediately and dispose of them.

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1516

Cascade Designs Recalls Camping Cooking Pots Due to Burn and Scald Hazards

February 22, 2024 from the CPSC in conjunction with Government of Canada:

MSR camping cooking pots have been recalled because the pot handle can detach or become loose, posing burn and scald risks to consumers from hot food and liquids spilling from the product.

Consumer Contact: Cascade Designs Inc. at 800-531-9531 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or online at https://www.msrgear.com/pot-recall.html or https://www.msrgear.com and then click on the “Recall Header” at the top of the page.

Description: This recall involves select Cascade Designs camping cooking pots. The anodized aluminum pots are various 1- to 2-liter pots sold individually and as a part of stove systems and kits. The recalled models include Reactor, Trail Lite and PocketRocket Stove Kits. MSR is written on the side of the pots.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled camping cooking pot, and contact Cascade Designs for instructions on submitting a photo of the product to receive a free replacement pot handle/lifter. The replacement pot handle/lifter does not require tools to install.

Incidents/Injuries: The company has received 22 reports of the pot handle either detaching or becoming loose, including two reports of burn injuries.

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1515

American Kashrus vs. Israeli Kashrus- link to video

February 20, 2024 from the OU:

"During the recent AKO (Association of Kashrus Organizations) Executive Summit in Israel, one of the community panel discussions, which included our Kashrus Administrator, Rabbi Sholem Fishbane, was about the differences between American kashrus and Israeli kashrus. We invite you to watch or listen at https://torahanytime.com/lectures/281604."

fyi: The video is 1 hr, 48 min.

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1514

Kosher MRE’s for the IDF, Made With Texan Love

February 14, 2024 from the OU:

The OU certified a specialty run of baked items at Sterling Foods LLC, a local company that specializes in military contracts and MRE’s (meals ready to eat). This OU Kosher facility produced specific items for the IDF in partnership with the Chief Rabbinate of the IDF. The baked goods would need to meet the stringent kashrus level of the IDF, with all items pareve, pas Yisroel and yoshon.

"To date, close to two million kosher-certified items have been shipped and air lifted to the front lines of Israel’s war. These items include energy bars, shortbread cookies, split bread, cinnamon buns, tortillas, bagels and others coming down the pike."

The previous item can be cited with the URL: https://www.kashrut.com/News/?alert=W1513
Older news

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