OU Leader Calls on Parents to Talk to Their Children About Dangers of Drinking of Purim

Once again this year, as part of the Orthodox Union's Safe Schools, Safe Shuls, Safe Homes initiative, OU Executive Vice President Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb is calling on parents in advance of Purim festivities to alert their children to the dangers of drinking. Purim begins this year on Thursday, March 20 with the reading of Megillat Esther. Rabbi Weinreb’s message is as follows: Celebrating the miracle of Purim is a most enjoyable time for our community. It is a time to celebrate our deliverance from the danger of extinction as a people. Unfortunately, however, the Orthodox community has experienced tragedy as a result of accidents related to excessive drinking. Excessive drinking poses serious health risks for the inebriated as well as those around them. Purim simcha is appropriate but the kind of reckless drinking that takes place in many circles is not in the spirit of Yahadut (unity). In today’s climate, where youngsters have increased access to all types of excesses, having too many drinks on Purim leads to future problems. Many teens who have fallen away from a stable life situation point to a drink at a “Kiddush Club,” a drink on Purim, or a smoke at a Purim party as the starting point for their addiction. We are therefore asking parents to join together and to carefully monitor their children over Purim. It is important to know where and with whom your teens will be throughout the holiday. Please talk to your children about the dangers of drinking. In this way, we can ensure that we all experience a Purim filled with Orah, Simcha, Sasson, V’ykar (light, gladness, rejoicing and splendor).

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UOS Kashrut Alert and Yoshon Bulletin #5

• Clover Manhattan Iced Tea is erroneously marked with a Milchik logo. The product is Parev. Clover has apologised for the error and will rectify it immediately. • Please be advised that Pyotts Kips Spring Onion is no longer kosher. Existing stock should not be used. Please update your kosher guide on page 55. YOSHON BULLETIN # 5 2 Adar I 5768 / 8 Feb ’08 1.“BEST BEFORE” / “SELL BY” DATES – NEW INFO The following products are Yoshon when bearing dates not later than: BRAND | PRODUCT | DATE FRY’S | All products | 09/08/09 KOO | Pearl Barley, 4-in-1 Soup Mix | Jan 09 LION | Pearl Barley, 4-in-1 Soup Mix | Jan 09 2.“BEST BEFORE” / “SELL BY” DATES – repeat from Bulletin #4 The following products are Yoshon when bearing dates not later than: BRAND PRODUCT DATE ALPEN | Nutrific | 04 11 08 BOKOMO | All other cereals containing wheat or bran | 14.08.08 BOKOMO | Bran Flakes | 12.11.08 BOKOMO | Crunchies, Puffed Wheat, Weetbix, Wheat Flakes | 12.11.08 BOKOMO | Fine Form Muesli, Swiss Muesli | 12.09.08 BOKOMO | Fruity Flakes, Honey Munch, Morning Munch | 12.07.08 BOKOMO | Morning Harvest | 12.05.08 BOKOMO | Oats | 25.11.08 BOKOMO | Oatees | 27.08.08 COCAM | Phyllo Pastry | 16 Jun 08 FATTIS & MONIS | All OTHER PASTA products | 8/7/2010 FATTIS & MONIS | All PASTA products made with whole wheat or containing egg, spinach or tomato | 8/7/2009 FATTIS & MONIS | Cones, Cookie Cups | 0912.08 GOLDEN CLOUD | Flour | 27/05/08 JUNGLE | Tastee Wheat | 19 Nov 2008 KELLOGG’S | All other cereals containing wheat or bran | 28 Nov 2008 KELLOGG’S | Toasted Muesli | 28 May 2008 OUMA (Supreme) | Flour | 14:06:08 Pick ‘n Pay | Oats | 25.11.08 Pick ‘n Pay | Phyllo Pastry | 16 Jun 08 SNOWFLAKE | All types of BROWN flour – see note below | 6 MAY 2008 V SNOWFLAKE | All types of WHITE flour – see note below | 6 JUL 2008 V WOOLWORTH’S | Oats | 25.11.08 N.B. Dates of Snowflake flour apply only if packed in Vereeniging. “V” following the date identifies this. Any other Snowflake flour may be Chodosh from much earlier. 3.OATS & PRODUCTS CONTAINING OATS The following brands are safe to buy until further notice: Jungle, Lion, Score, Tiger UOS - Each day, in some way, working for you! 58 Oaklands Road, Orchards, 2192, Johannesburg | PO. Box 46559, Orange Grove, 2119 Tel.: (+2711) 485 4865 | Fax.: (+2711) 640 7528 E-mail: kashrut@uos.co.za | Website: www.uos.co.za

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STAR-K Announces The Launch of The Institute of Halacha

by Margie Pensak The Mishna teaches us, “Appoint for yourself a Rav”, a Torah guide, from whom you can acquire clarity through wisdom. But, what happens when you do not have a personal Rav, because you live in Fargo, North Dakota? Or, if you live in a large Jewish community and have a Rav, but time is of the essence for your halachic query? How often have you exasperatingly attempted to contact your Rav, only to find out that he was unreachable because he was in the middle of giving a shiur, attending a bris, or officiating at a wedding or a funeral? STAR-K CERTIFICATION realizes that there is no substitute for a person’s own Rav. However, to help remedy such situations, it is pleased to announce the creation of its Institute of Halacha, as a public service. The opening of a general halachic division, within its kashrus agency, depicts Star-K’s uniqueness and belief that the world of kosher extends beyond typical milk and meat issues. Through the years, the agency’s Kashrus Hotline has answered generic halachic questions, in addition to inquiries about the kosher status of foods and its certified Sabbath mode appliances, from kosher consumers the world over. The formation of a separate, official division within STAR-K, testifies to the overwhelming need of such an institute. The director of the Institute of Halacha will be Harav Mordechai Frankel, who will serve under the guidance of Harav Moshe Heinemann, STAR-K’s Rabbinic Administrator. The Institute of Halacha will also serve as a resource for rabbanim, who may call Harav Frankel to discuss general halachic matters. “Harav Frankel is particularly suited for such a position,” feels Rav Heinemann,” with his years of experience, acting as a posek in the absence of both myself and Rav Yaakov Hopfer.” “I have confidence that Harav Frankel will be able to do the perfect job to answer all the questions necessary according to the Shulchan Aruch,” says Rav Heinemann,” in filling this tremendous need.” When one’s own Rav is not available, shailos may be called into the Institute of Halacha, 410-484-4110, Monday-Thursday, 2-5 p.m., Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., or e-mailed to: Halacha@star-k.org. Star-K Certification 410-484-4110 410-653-9294 fax www.star-k.org

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Flying the Kosher Skies:Major US Carriers Provide Kosher Food

OU SURVEY DETERMINES THAT ALL EIGHT MAJOR U.S. CARRIERS CONTACTED DO PROVIDE KOSHER FOOD ON BOARD Kosher snacks -- such as potato chips, pretzels, cookies -- and in many cases, meals, are available on eight major United States airlines, and all the kosher-keeping traveler has to do to get them is to ask, the Orthodox Union Kosher Division announced today. OU Kosher revealed that its survey of eight major United States airlines has made it clear that all eight offer kosher meals and/or snacks on board and that guided by the OU, most of them are eager to expand on their offerings. No longer do those who keep kosher have to be hungry at 35,000 feet – or in many cases have to bring kosher food with them on board. The airlines are American, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, Northwest, Southwest, United and US Airways. Until prodded to investigate by the OU, some of the airlines were not even aware that they had kosher food on board as part of their snack offerings. The study came about from an OU Kosher initiative, announced in September, to make it easier for the kosher traveler to eat on board given the fact that for economic reasons airlines have cut back on complimentary meals, which formerly gave the kosher passenger the opportunity to order food in advance. Rabbi Eliyahu Safran, Senior Rabbinic Coordinator and Vice President for Communications and Marketing of OU Kosher, wrote at that time to vice presidents for food services and other airline company officials: “Recently, many consumers, who are frequent airline travelers, approached us to see if we can find a way to make kosher certified meals and snacks available for purchase on those routes where this is the only option. We are well aware,” he added, “of the financial considerations that have made this policy so prevalent. But kosher consumers, who are equally willing to purchase food items, have been left with no option, as kosher meals and snacks are not available on your airline.” “The OU seeks to share its expertise with you in order to assure that all passengers are truly able to equally enjoy meals or snacks on your airline,” Rabbi Safran wrote. In other words, he made clear, while serving as an advocate for kosher travelers, the OU at the same time wants to serve as an educator and facilitator for the airlines as they seek to meet the needs of their kosher passengers. Clearly, the OU succeeded in that objective. “Over the months of communication with the airlines, several which were initially hesitant and even responded somewhat negatively, or which had just one or two kosher offerings, came to appreciate the pivotal role the Orthodox Union can play in helping them understand the needs of the kosher traveler, and that certainly in the area of snacks no special arrangements need be made other than selecting from the thousands of renowned national snack brands that are OU certified and can be consumed and enjoyed by all travelers,” Rabbi Safran declared. “It is clear,” Rabbi Safran said, “that airlines increasingly realize that the kosher market is a niche they should be concerned with, and that it goes beyond the Jewish community. The OU is pleased to help the airlines respond to the needs of this market.” He advised the airlines to train their cabin crews to respond to questions from passengers about whether they carry kosher food, and even to have a list of kosher products on board to hand to travelers for their reference. He offered to have the OU conduct a seminar for all airlines to explain the basic needs of kosher traveler. A survey of the airlines is as follows, based on their replies to Rabbi Safran: American Airlines: According to Dennis Hammett, Manager, Menu Planning & Development: “We do offer our customers an appealing variety of four sweet and salty snacks on domestic flights that are two hours or longer. Of the snacks offered, the Chocolate Chunk cookie (which is OU-Dairy) and 3 Musketeers candy bar are kosher certified. Our Kosher meals are approved by the Orthodox Union (OU) and supported by our Special Meal program on breakfast, lunch, snack and breakfast snack flights in the following markets: First and Business Classes on transcontinental flights in the US.; all classes to Europe and Asia; all classes to Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo, Brazil; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Santiago, Chile or Montevideo, Uruguay. Kosher meals are adapted during Passover.” Rabbi Safran wrote back: “We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to enhancing the needs of the kosher traveler on American Airlines.” Continental Airlines: Eric Kleiman, Director of Product Marketing, sent a box of snacks to Rabbi Safran, who informed him that “a great majority are indeed kosher approved. That is gratifying,” to which Mr.Kleiman responded, “We are pleased to cooperate and provide support.” Regarding meals, Mr. Kleiman wrote: “We provide kosher meals in both our domestic first class and main cabin for our Trans-Continental flights and Latin flights. We also provide kosher meals for our BusinessFirst and main cabin for Trans-Atlantic and Trans-Pacific flights.” Trans-Continental, he explained refers to flights from Newark to West Coast destinations such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Orange County and Portland. “We spend a lot of time focusing on the Glatt kosher meals we offer to all of our customers on the routes where we offer special meals,” Mr. Kleiman wrote. The meals are provided by an OU certified catering service. Continue reading article...

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OU alerts: Wyke Farms Cheese & Solomon’s Ground Buffalo Mishap

Wyke Farms Cheese Brands: Wyke Farms Products: Village Oak Vintage Cheddar Importer: א.ג.ל סחר מזון בע״מ Issue: This product's Hebrew label (as applied by the Israeli importer) bears an unauthorized OU representation. The product is being withdrawn from the marketplace. Consumers spotting this product are requested to contact the Orthodox Union in the United States at 212-613-8241 or via email at kashalerts@ou.org. ------------------------------ Solomon’s Ground Buffalo February 26, 2008 Brands: Solomon's Products: Ground Buffalo (UPC #0-53390-061038-8) Company: Blackwing Bison Meats, Inc. - Antioch, IL Issue: The Orthodox Union certifies Solomon Ground Buffalo as kosher. A limited amount of non-kosher meat was substituted for kosher meat and sold in Solomon's packaging. The non-kosher product is identifiable by the following: 1) The inner plastic wrap does not contain a plastic OU seal. 2) The meat is on a black Styrofoam tray. Consumers spotting the mislabeled product are requested to contact the Orthodox Union at 212-613-8241 or at kashalerts@ou.org. * UPDATE February 27, 2008 The Orthodox Union certifies and wholly stands by Solomon's Ground Buffalo meat and all of Solomon's Finest Glatt Kosher Meats (fresh and frozen) are Glatt kosher. A limited amount of frozen non-kosher meat was substituted for kosher meat by an outside distributor and sold in Solomon's packaging. The non-kosher product is identifiable by the following: 1) The inner plastic wrap does not contain a plastic OU seal. 2) The meat is on a black Styrofoam tray. Consumers spotting the mislabeled product are requested to contact the Orthodox Union at 212-613-8241 or at kashalerts@ou.org. ------------------------------ A few newly certified products: Di Carlo SPA Italy Brand: Di Carlo Product(s): 100% Pure Olive Oil OU Extra Virgin Olive Oil OU Happy Herbert's Food Co. Jersey City, NJ Brand: Happy Herbert's Product(s): Honey Wheat Pretzel Sticks OU Organic Pretzel Sticks OU Old Dutch Foods St. Paul, MN Brand: Old Dutch Product(s): Dutch Crunch Original Kettle Chips OU Regular and Rip-L Potato Chips OU Restaurante Tortilla Chips OU Ready Roast Nut Company Hughson, CA Brand: Ready Roast Nut Company Product(s): Almonds (Whole & Diced)-Dry Roast & Oil Roast OU Almonds-Smoked Seasoning-Oil Roasted OU Walnuts-Dry Roasted OU

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No Kosher for Pesach Tam Tams this Year

Manischewitz runs short on Tam Tams by Johanna Ginsberg NJJN Staff Writer February 28, 2008 Aficionados of Tam Tams and other Manischewitz kosher-for-Passover products may have to find a different snack food this year. They are among the products Manischewitz will not be producing this year due to engineering and construction delays at its new Newark facility. “It’s been a hiccup,” said David Rossi, vice president of marketing for the company. The company closed its Jersey City facility after Passover 2007 and built a $15 million facility in Newark. “We have a brand-new, state-of-the-art, computer-controlled production line [or oven]; but as you know if you’ve ever done any construction, there can be delays, and we had delays,” said Rossi. Manischewitz will also be offering less variety in its matza selection. It will produce unsalted, whole wheat, and egg matzot; but it will not be producing its less popular ones: Passover Thin Tea Matzo, Yolk Free Egg Matzo, White Grape Matzo, Concord Grape Matzo, Thin Unsalted Matzo, Shmura Matzo, and Spelt Matzo. Prices will not be affected either by the delays or by rising wheat prices, said Rossi, at least for this Passover. As the company renegotiates wheat contracts for after the Passover season, however, the company expects to be affected by rising market prices. Andrew Halper, owner of Zayda’s Kosher Deli in South Orange, said he hadn’t heard about the shortage before getting a call from a reporter. “Tam Tams are a big item,” said Halper. “I’m really shocked.” The company expects a shortfall from its drop in production, but Rossi said, “Sometimes you take one step back to take two steps forward.” The B. Manischewitz Company, LLC started in Cincinnati in 1888. It moved to Jersey City in 1932 and became part of RAB Holdings in 1998. In 2004, it changed its name to RAB Food Group, LLC. The company produced its first Tam Tams in 1940. “It’s not a catastrophe,” said Rossi. “It’s not like Manischewitz is not producing matza this year. We’re biting the bullet for this Passover. We’ll get through it and we’ll come out better.” Comment: comments@njjewishnews.com

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Fresh Scottish Salmon Recall Now Under Control

Presence of taint in salmon from Marine Harvest Scotland 11th February 2008 Marine Harvest was made aware that some batches of salmon harvested by Marine Harvest Scotland contained salmon with an unpleasant odour and taste described as similar to fuel/diesel. Analysis of tainted salmon revealed the presence of substances normally found in petroleum, diesel and petroleum based products which could explain the unpleasant taste. Through investigations and traceability we were able to identify one of the well boats as the most likely source of the contamination. This well boat was therefore suspended from the operations as we further investigated the issue. A statement from the UK Food Standards Agency commented that the chemicals implicated in the problem were present at low levels and therefore very unlikely to be a risk to health. Customers that had received salmon products originating from the period identified as a period of risk for tainted products were contacted and recommended to withdraw the products from the market. The company confirms today that the situation is under control and that all salmon from harvesting day 13 February meets the necessary quality standards. [Marine Harvest News]

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London: Anger spreads over Tomor margarine’s ‘improved’ size

By Alex Kasriel, The Jewish Chronicle Anger at the price of kosher margarine is spreading after Rakusen’s restricted the production of its Tomor sunflower margarine to small-sized tubs which cost relatively far more. Kosher Kingdom in Golders Green used to sell 500g tubs for 89p, and now only stocks the 250g size for 79p. Meanwhile, Titanics in North Manchester currently stocks the small tubs for 79p when the 500g tubs used to be £1.09 — effectively half as much product, for over two-thirds of the price. JC readers have been writing in with their concerns. Kosher Kingdom’s David Rokach says he has been left with no choice but to hike prices since Rakusen’s changed the size of the tubs of Tomor. “There’s a definite demand for the smaller sizes, especially for the older people,” he said. “But people are saying they liked the bigger size as it is better value and better for the environment as there is less packaging. Rakusen’s really have the monopoly and they are capitalising on their market. The non-kosher sunflower manufacturers haven’t gone up as much. It’s an item that people need and they will buy it. There’s nothing else really like it on the market.” A non-kosher version of a dairy-free sunflower spread — Vitalite — only comes in 500g tubs but costs just 77p. Rakusen’s sales and marketing director Alan Pridmore insisted that the company’s hands were tied, since the factory where the margarine is produced will only make the smaller-sized containers. Additionally, prices of sunflower oil have increased dramatically over the last year because of bad weather. “We’re getting a lot of people phoning in querying it,” he said. “The manufacturers have come to the conclusion that 250g is the best size and they’re not replacing their 500g packing equipment. The level of kashrut in that factory is fantastic so we didn’t want to move. This just happened to coincide with this massive increase in oil prices. It is 74 per cent over last year’s price.” Mr Pridmore added that other oils such as rapeseed and palm have not increased so dramatically in price, but people appeared to prefer sunflower margarine. “We’re not looking to benefit from it. It’s not good news for us. We’re not in a position to influence the market and we’re not big enough to absorb the prices.” Titanics owner Richard Hyman agreed that the margarine hike is an unhappy combination of events. “As much as we’re all trying to keep the costs down, it’s a fact that is beyond our control. To be honest we’re probably making a loss because we’re scared to put the prices up too much.”

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KosherClasses.org Telekosher Conference Tomorrow

Join us for www.kosherclasses.org's next Telekosher Conference: Wednesday, February 27th at 12 noon EST: Purim is coming! Liquor and liqueurs — Rum, Vodka, Brandy, Whiskey, Tequila...What is and what isn’t kosher with these drinks and tricks of the liquor trade which affect kosher. Rabbi Zvi Goldberg interviews Rabbi Tzvi Rosen, Star-K liquor expert. Rabbi Rosen will also answer questions from the listening audience. To join the conference, call 1-605-475-8590 (if you have unlimited long distance there is no charge) and enter conference 528-5502 or Skype for free at +990008275285502 Mark your calendars! STAR-K’s ongoing TeleKosher Conference Series is scheduled for the last Wednesday of each month at 12 Noon EST. Past conferences are archived online at www.kosherclasses.org Call-in numbers from other countries are as follows: Country: Code-Number UK: 44-0870-738-0763 Austria: 43-0820-4000-1574 Spain: 34-0902-88-60-51 Germany: 49-01805-00-7649 France: 33-0826-100-277 Belgium: 32-070-35-9989 Switzerland: 41-0848-560-195 Ireland: 353-0818-270-034 Italy: 39-0848-390-175

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First Major Jewish and Kosher Event at Windsor Castle

By Jenni Frazer, News Editor, The Jewish Chronicle Exclusive: THE ROYAL family is granting two of the community’s biggest charities the use of Windsor Castle for a special anniversary dinner to mark Israel’s 60th anniversary in April, the JC can reveal. Excited officials from UJIA and the JNF said they were in the early stages of planning the April 7 event, which will be held in the presence of the Duke of Edinburgh. The guest of honour is to be Israeli President Shimon Peres, who will be in Britain before hosting a major international 60th-anniversary conference in Jerusalem in May. Invitations for the Jerusalem conference have gone out to President George Bush and heads of state. A JNF spokesperson said the anticipated 300 dinner guests would be raising funds for both organisations, the first time they have worked together on such a scale. “We are so grateful to the Royal Family for giving us the opportunity to celebrate Israel’s anniversary, and for allowing us to stage this wonderful event in Windsor Castle.” UJIA chief executive Doug Krikler believed it was the first major Jewish — “and kosher” — event to be held at Windsor Castle. The dinner will be part of a series of celebrations in Britain to mark the Jewish state’s 60th anniversary. Among communal functions already lined up are a dinner in central London this month, held by the Zionist Federation, with guest speaker Ronald Lauder, the new World Jewish Congress president. There will be a show in May featuring comedian Jackie Mason and Israeli singer Sarit Hadad at Wembley Stadium, and, at the end of June, London’s first ever street parade for Israel.

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Feb. 26th: Starbucks Closing, Other Shops Giving Free Coffee

Starbucks will close the doors at nearly 7,100 of its U.S. coffee shops for three hours tomorrow evening, February 26th, from 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM to give baristas a refresher course on espresso standards. Many independent coffeehouses are running promotions during this time. Click here to find local independent coffee houses near you. Dunkin Donuts is offering small coffee drinks for just 99 cents on Tuesday, from 1 to 10 p.m. Coffee Klatch Roasting celebrates Starbucks store closures with Free Coffee for everyone from 5:30 PM until 8:30 PM PST - Press Release Stew Leonard's offers Free Cups of Coffee Tuesday, February 26th from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM - Press Release

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Nathan's Hot Dogs Coming to a Vending Machine Near You

VALLEY COTTAGE, New York — A trademark treat from New York City's Coney Island will soon be available as a kosher snack at the touch of a button. Officials from both companies say Nathan's Famous hot dogs will be sold in vending machines run by Valley Cottage, New York-based Kosher Vending Industries LLC. Nathan's chief executive Eric Gatoff says the machines will help the company reach a growing audience of kosher customers. All Nathan's franks are beef, but relatively few are produced and served under a rabbi's oversight. They have been available only in certain restaurants. Kosher Vending Industries chief executive Alan Cohnen says the machines will get the dogs grilled and the buns warmed within 34 seconds. The company already has machines serving kosher items ranging from pizza to knishes. © 2008 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

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Purim Baskets $10 off + Extra 10% Discount

1 Week Left - Shop Early For Purim and Save Money at A-Kosher-Basket.com. All Purim Baskets for USA and Israel, now $10 off! Plus, all orders from now until March 1, 2008 can receive an additional 10% discount! Just enter the code: EBP8 in the discount coupon on checkout. All Purim Baskets shipped to arrive on or just before the holiday.

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THIRD Update to Morrisons Fresh Scottish Salmon Recall

This is an update to the Food Alert for Information issued on 15 February 2008 concerning the withdrawal of salmon (excluding organic salmon) products/brands, due to a potential risk of a taint, resulting in an unpleasant taste. The Agency has been informed that an additional product could potentially be affected and, as a precautionary measure, has been withdrawn from sale. The retailer implicated is: Aldi Stores Ltd The product beingwithdrawn is: Almare sliced smoked salmon 200g Lot number: L8059 Use by: All use-by dates with lot number L8059 No other Aldi Stores Ltd products are known to be affected.

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Kellogg Company Launches New Kosher Products

Kellogg Company's recently launched new products include: Special K® Cinnamon Pecan cereal contains light, crunchy rice flakes with the delightful taste of cinnamon and real pecans, and offers weight managers another great tasting option without sacrifice. Product hit store shelves in December. [Parve] All-Bran® Strawberry Medley cereal has crunchy bran flakes and squares with granola clusters and real strawberries. Product was available nationwide in January. [Parve] Kellogg's Frosted Flakes Gold™ cereal offers the great Frosted Flakes taste kids love -- made with 10 grams whole grain, three grams fiber and baked with honey. Kellogg's Frosted Flakes Gold was introduced in January. [Parve] Animal Planet™ Wild Animal Crunch™ lets kids go wild with a vanilla-chocolate flavored, whole-grain cereal that's a good source of fiber. Available in January in four collectors' packages featuring real photographs of meerkats, polar bears, pandas and seals. [Parve] Mini-Wheats® Unfrosted cereal allows consumers to enjoy the lightly toasted, whole-grain flavor of Mini-Wheats cereal with no added sugar. Product was available nationwide last October. [Parve] Morningstar Farms® Ginger Teriyaki Veggie Cakes are lightly browned on the outside and tender on the inside, with a flavorful blend of vegetables, rice and seasonings. These veggie cakes are a good source of protein. Product hit store shelves in January. [Dairy] Eggo® French Toast Waffles combine French Toast flavor with the crisp taste of Eggo waffles. They feature bigger, deeper pockets with a big taste in every bite and are a good source of 9 vitamins and minerals. Product hit store shelves in January. [Dairy] Townhouse® Flipsides™ pretzel crackers combine the versatility of a cracker with the taste of a pretzel and are available in Original and Cheddar flavors. Flipsides were introduced in January. [Dairy] Cheez-It Duoz™ crackers feature two delicious cheese flavors in one Cheez-It® box. Enjoy the big cheese flavor of Zesty Queso and Cheddar Blanco or Sharp Cheddar and Parmesan. Cheez-It Duoz hit store shelves in January. [Dairy]

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Pierre's Homestyle Dutch Chocolate Ice Cream Recall

Pierre's Ice Cream Company is voluntarily recalling its Pierre's Homestyle Dutch Chocolate Ice Cream (purple 56 fl. oz. package) because it may contain undeclared peanut butter cup candies. The containers are identified with the code 07320, which is printed on the rim of the lid. The product is certified OU-D, which is printed on the front of the carton. If you have a Dutch Chocolate 56 fl. oz. (purple package) with the code 07320 on the rim of the lid, please discard the ice cream and send the lid of the empty container back to Pierre's for a full refund: Consumer Response Department Pierre's Homestyle Dutch Chocolate Refund 6200 Euclid Ave Cleveland, OH 44103 For any questions, consumers are asked to call 1-216-432-1144.

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Top Chef Takes On Kosher Kitchen

Forward - Kosher-keeping fans of “Top Chef” will be able to savor first-hand the culinary creations of one of the TV show’s recent stars. Hung Huynh, who won season three of the Bravo reality-show competition, has been named executive chef of Solo, a Mediterranean-Asian fusion kosher restaurant in Midtown Manhattan. Huynh was born in Vietnam and studied Asian and French cuisine at the Culinary Institute of America. He will begin his new position at Solo on March 2 and will continue at the restaurant through early April.

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CRC alert: Honey and Salads

This notice is meant to clarify the policy of the cRc regarding honey. All honey sold in retail or foodservice packaging requires a reliable hashgacha. This is due to the fact that the kashrus status of the bottling process for these honeys may be compromised due to the possibility of non-kosher products being packaged on the same equipment. ---------------------------------- Several stores sell salads under the Orval Kent and/or Chef’s Solutions label, and many of these salads bear a cRc kosher symbol. There are very similar salads being sold in the same stores, with seemingly identical packages, but do not bear the cRc logo. Only those salads in containers bearing the cRc logo (or other reliable certifications) should be purchased, as not all are produced under rabbinical supervision. This rule is true with most products requiring hashgacha. The consumer should always look for a reliable hashgacha on each package being purchased, as not all are made in the same facility or under the same circumstances.

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Second Update to Morrisons Fresh Scottish Salmon Recall

The Food Standards Agency has issued a second updated Food Alert for Information on the withdrawal by a number of retailers of fresh Scottish salmon (but not organic salmon), because of a risk of a taint, resulting in an unpleasant taste. Further products have been withdrawn by Tesco and Costco. The original alert was issued on 13 February and the update issued on 15 February can both be found at the links below. The Agency has been informed that the products and brands listed below could possibly be affected and, as a precautionary measure, they have been withdrawn from sale. The salmon has been supplied by Marine Harvest, which is currently investigating the cause of the taint. At present, they believe that the source of the contamination is diesel but have not identified the precise source of contamination. Based on the information received by the Agency, the chemicals implicated in the problem are present at low levels, which are very unlikely to be a risk to health. Products withdrawn are: Costco Kirkland Signature Boneless Skinless Fresh Salmon Fillets - Use by 16/02/08, 17/02/08, 18/02/08, 19/02/08, 20/02/08 Tesco Premium Scottish Smoked Salmon, 400g - Use by 27/02/08, 29/02/08 Tesco Sweet Chilli Hot Smoked Salmon Fillets, 240g - Use by 21/02/08, 22/02/08 Tesco Poached Salmon Fillets, 225g - Use by 20/02/08 Tesco Skinless Salmon Fillets, 260g - Use by 21/02/08 Tesco Boneless Salmon Fillets (variable weight) - Use by 20/02/08 Tesco Skinless Salmon Fillets (bagged multi-pack) - Use by 20/02/08 No other Costco or Tesco products are known to be affected. See More Here: Original Alert - All Morrisons Fresh Scottish Salmon Recalled First Update - Update to Morrisons Fresh Scottish Salmon Recall

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Brighton, NY: Dunkin Donuts No Longer Kosher

The kosher supervision of the Dunkin Donuts, 1760 Monroe Ave, has been suspended. It is no longer under the joint rabbinic supervision of the Rochester Kosher Services (ROKS). The introduction of non-kosher food at the establishment does not permit continued kosher endorsement of the premises.

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Israel is Second Highest Per-Capita Consumer of Vodka Worldwide

Ynetnews reports that Israel is the second highest per-capita consumer of vodka in the world. The annual market for vodka in Israel is currently estimated at over $80 million. Israelis are also willing to invest in brand names. A testament to this is the fact that 50% of all vodkas sold in Israel are premium brands while 10% belong to the super-premium class. "The top selling brands in Israel are Absolut, Finlandia and Smirnoff. Those looking for a super-premium brand often buy Kauffman, which is over $100 a bottle, or the vintage – which is over $250 a bottle and is only for oligarchs" says David Biton who manages Tiv Taam's alcohol department in Rishon LeZion. Most consumers do not drink their vodka straight, however, and prefer it in cocktails.

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Halutza, Israel, Receives Patent and Trademark for Olive Cans

NEW YORK, (January 28, 2008) – The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent to Halutza Israeli Olive Oil Co. for the unique barrel shape of its olive cans and a trademark for the design, which is printed directly on the cans. The barrel-shaped cans of Halutza green and black olives reflects the distinctive flavor of the Israeli-grown fruit within, according to Eddie Ben-Aderet, Halutza vice president. The rounded shape stands out from conventional cylindrical cans, and an easy-open tabbed top is convenient to use. The multi-dimensional look of the can is enhanced by the luminosity of the artwork printed directly on its sides, Ben-Aderet said. “The result is a sleek look, with lively, vivid colors, that eliminates the wasted paper from applied labels,” he said. “Unlike a lot of innovative packaging, these barrel shaped cans remain comparably priced with conventional cylinders by taking away the cost of purchasing and applying paper labels.” The Halutza line consists of whole, pitted and sliced green olives as well as pitted and sliced black olives in 18-ounce cans with a suggested retail price of $3.59. Halutza’s olive groves are located in the highlands of the arid Negev Desert and are irrigated with brackish water from ancient underground aquifers. The salt and minerals from the water create a uniquely flavored fruit. The olives are all natural and are OU-P certified kosher and kosher for Passover. --------------------------------- About Halutza Halutza, based in Israel, imports premium and USDA organic extra virgin olive oils and olives. The company is part of Jordache Enterprises, a privately held conglomerate with operations in apparel, residential and commercial real estate. Products are available at Whole Foods Market, Wild Oats, Wegmans, Earth Fare, Food Emporium and A&P. Halutza’s U.S. headquarters is located at 1400 Broadway, New York, NY 10018. More information about the company is available by calling 917 207 0146 or online at www.halutza.com. PRESS CONTACT: Halutza: Laura Burke, 917.207.9146, lburke6@nyc.rr.com Sue Engelhart & Associates: Sue Engelhart, 941.926.4245, Suehart5@aol.com

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G-Willi Foods confirms Danish kosher agreement

By Neil Merrett G-Willi Foods, an international supplier of kosher food products, has finalised an agreement for the purchase of a controlling stake in an unnamed Denmark-based dairy distributor. The deal, which was made through its 90 per cent owned subsidiary Gold Frost, will allow Willi Foods to claim a 51 per cent stake in the company. The purchase will extend the company's presence in Kosher cheese production, according to the group. Under the agreement, the new venture will produce a variety of non-kosher and kosher dairy goods including blue cheese, edam, gouda, havarti and feta. The deal is expected to be completed by the end of this month, with the first purchase orders for the venture expected later during the financial quarter, Willi Foods said. Dairy Reporter © Decision News Media SAS – All Rights Reserved.

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Massive fish poisoning in Kinneret

JPost.com Staff , THE JERUSALEM POST - Police arrested a fisherman in his thirties for alleged involvement in poisoning thousands of fish in the Kinerret over the weekend. On Saturday tens of thousands of dead fish were found in the Kinneret marina, and police suspected that the poisoning was an act of revenge following a dispute on fishing areas owned by rival fishermen. Allegedly, the suspect poisoned the fish in his rival's marina after the latter had trespassed on his own territory. Health Ministry inspectors spent the last 24 hours thoroughly examining fish-selling stands in the North. The Health and Agriculture Ministries issued a strong warning not to eat fish fished in the Kinneret.

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Update to Morrisons Fresh Scottish Salmon Recall

Friday 15 February 2008 Update to the Food Alert for Information issued on 13 February 2008 (as reported here on Kashrut News) concerning a recall of all Morrisons Fresh Scottish Salmon (excluding Organic Salmon), due to a potential risk of a white spirit taint, resulting in an unpleasant taste. The Agency has been informed that several other products/brands could potentially be affected and, as a precautionary measure, have been withdrawn from sale. The potentially affected salmon has been supplied by Marine Harvest to Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc and Young's Seafood Ltd. Young's Seafood Ltd, who produce their own-brand products as well as those for other retailers, have supplied products to the retailers listed below. Marine Harvest is currently investigating the cause of the taint. At present, they believe that the source of the contamination is diesel but have not identified the precise source of contamination. Based on the information received by the Agency, the chemicals implicated in the problem are present at low levels which are very unlikely to be a risk to health. The retailers implicated are: Asda Booths Supermarkets Budgens J Sainsbury plc Nisa-Today’s ShopRite Supermarkets Somerfield Tesco The Co-operative Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc A list of all the withdrawn products can be found in here (PDF). No other retailer brands or Young's Seafood Ltd products are known to be affected.

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Oogie’s Gourmet Popcorn now 100% kosher

Denver, CO – Oogie’s Snacks, a Denver-based producer of all-natural gourmet popcorn, is pleased to announce that all of its products are 100% kosher. Oogie’s uses only the finest kernels, natural oils, cheese and spices to produce the best tasting natural gourmet popcorn. All Oogie’s Gourmet Popcorn flavors are now certified kosher, produced under KOF-K kosher supervision. The KOF-K emblem is the internationally recognized trademark of KOF-K Kosher Supervision, one of the foremost kosher certification agencies in the United States. Only those products and services meeting the strictest standards of kosher law are permitted to display the symbol, which is protected under Federal law against unauthorized use. “When consumers see the KOF-K emblem on a product, they know they are buying food that meets high quality standards,” said Eric Thier, President of Oogie’s. “This is especially appealing to a certain part of our customer base who appreciate, among other things, the overall health benefits associated with kosher food. In order to be certified as kosher, all nutritional supplements are manufactured under the supervision of a kosher certification agency. Such certification gives customers the extra assurance of purity and quality. Kosher products are perfect for vegetarian, lactose intolerant, food allergic or generally health-conscious people. ABOUT OOGIE’S GOURMET POPCORN Oogie’s Gourmet Popcorn was founded in 2005 by a small group of friends looking to provide a healthy snack alternative. Made from all-natural ingredients, without any artificial flavors or colors, Oogie’s pre-popped seasoned popcorn products use only top-grade premium popped corn and one-hundred percent corn oil to create a delicious snack that has no cholesterol or trans-fat. Oogie’s comes in a variety of unique savory flavors including Spicy Chipotle & Lime, White Cheddar, Sundried Tomato & Parmesan, Smoked Gouda, Romano & Pesto, Caprese and Asiago & Cracked Pepper. Oogie’s is available in all 50 states, Canada, the Caribbean islands and online at www.oogiesnacks.com. To find out more, log on to www.oogiesnacks.com or call (303) 455-2107. -30- Contact: Annie Coghill or Kevin Maresca; 303.832.2700

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Kosher Events Coming Soon to NYC, RI, PA

Providence, RI: "What’s Hidden in My Grocery Store" is a Kosher Tour sponsored by the Vaad HaKashrus of Rhode Island. The tour will be this Sunday, February 17th from 10 to 11 a.m. at Eastside Marketplace, 165 Pitman St. Suggested donation to the Vaad is $18. Reservations are required by calling (401) 861-1714. ---------------------------------- Philadelphia, PA: "Kosher Wine & Food Expo" sponsored by Rosenberg Blue Star Wines and Lower Merion Synagogue on Thursday, February 21st. Wine representatives will include Jay Buchshaum, president of Weinstock Cellars; Arnon Gevah, director of fine wines, Carmel; Joe Hurelman, winemaker for Herzog Wines; Jurgen Wagner, Capcane Wines; Geva Hurliman Miodownick, winemaster, Herzog French selection; and Yacov Berg, Psagot Winery, Israel. Food will come from Yitzi Peking, Cafe Shira, and Max & David's. The event, which is the first of its kind, will take place at Lower Merion Synagogue, 123 Old Lancaster Road in Bala Cynwyd, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For tickets, call 215-880-1896. ---------------------------------- New York City: The 2nd Annual Simply Manischewitz Cook-off. First there were 30, now there are 6 final competitors who will square off on February 27th for the chance to win a $25,000 prize package including a GE Profile Kitchen. This is a media-only event and therefore not open to the public, but you can see the competitors and get the recipes here: http://www.manischewitz.com/thats_kosher/cookoff * thank you to anonymous ---------------------------------- New York City: "Identifying Opportunities in the U.S. Food Market: A Seminar for Trade Consulates," presented by the OU and Food Institute on March 19th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at OU headquarters in New York City. The seminar is designed to pinpoint opportunities for exporting food into the United States as well as to provide an overview of the U.S. food market for economic and trade specialists in consulates in New York and Washington. The suggested audience includes trade commissioners, trade promotion officers, consuls for economic and commercial affairs, food and beverage manufacturers, importers, brokers, marketers, consultants to the industry, and the trade press. For more information click here. ---------------------------------- New York City: Chef Jeff Nathan will be performing a cooking and wine pairing demonstration at New York's famed De Gustibus at Macy's Cooking School May 19th. Seating is limited. Call for more information 212-439-1714.

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Montreal Kosher Kashrus Fish Alert

February 14, 2008 It has come to our attention that members of our community are purchasing fresh fish sold at stores or fish counters that do not have certification by the VAAD. Currently, no supermarkets have a Kosher certified fish department. It is imperative that the community understand that purchasing fresh fish has extensive restrictions and provisions, and that there are many non-kosher species being sold that closely resemble kosher species. A shocking example of the dangers involved in this practice has recently come to our attention. A local supermarket has been selling STURGEON and BASA (PANGASIUS, otherwise known as Vietnamese catfish), which are NOT KOSHER, while claiming to its customers that they sell only kosher fish. The consequences of using non-kosher fish are the same as TREIF meat. If you have bought fish from any unsupervised establishment, and you were unable to positively identify them as kosher fish you need to consult with your Rabbi for further instructions regarding the status of your pots and pans, etc. We are asking members of our community to be aware of this issue and to understand that without a reliable hechsher, one cannot always tell whether or not a fish has scales and fins. It is certainly forbidden to purchase fish that has already been filleted without a Hechsher. We therefore urge our community to purchase their fish in locations that have kosher certification. Please pass this message on to others so that we can prevent any further harm and error. Your attention to this matter is of the utmost importance.

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All Morrisons Fresh Scottish Salmon Recalled

PRODUCT RECALL All Morrisons Fresh Scottish Salmon (excluding Organic salmon) Use by dates, 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th February (inclusive) 2008 We are taking the precautionary measure of recalling Fresh Scottish Salmon sold from the Fresh Fish Counter and Pre-Packed Chiller cabinet. This is due to a potential risk of a white spirit taint, giving an unpleasant taste to a small quantity of Fresh Scottish Salmon products. If you have purchased one of the affected products, please do not eat it and return it to the store from which it was bought where you will receive a full refund. All our fresh salmon is delivered daily and no other date codes are affected. NO OTHER MORRISONS PRODUCTS ARE AFFECTED We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and assure customers of our continuing commitment to the highest standards of product safety and quality. click here for more information...

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Various alerts from OV, BCK, DK and cRc

From the OV of Saint Louis: Publix Homestyle Mashed Potatoes This certified product, distributed by Publix Supermarkets, Lakeland, FL, contains dairy ingredients as listed on the ingredient panel, but erroneously bears the OV-Pareve symbol. Future packaging will be revised to correctly bear the OV-D symbol. From BC Kosher Supervision: There is a new kosher restaurant in Vancouver called Falafel Plus & Catering which is located at 446 West 8th Ave (between Cambie & Yukon). Menu items are either Pareve or Dairy Chalav Yisroel. Please call Simon at 604-724-5252 for more information. From the Chicago Rabbinical Council: Effective February 15, 2008, “ONLY 8” soft serve frozen yogurt is no longer being certified by the cRc. From Dallas Kosher: As of February 1, 2008 the following products are no longer recommended due to a formulation change. Big Red Soda - Red Jak concentrate and Red Jak low carb

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Learning to Dish Up Kosher Gourmet Food at the Jerusalem Culinary Institute

By SHELLY PAZ "I grew up eating kosher food, and I hated it," says Jay Engelmayer. Today, Engelmayer is the head chef of the first school in the world for glatt kosher cooking, the Jerusalem Culinary Institute, located in Moshav Messilat Zion, near Beit Shemesh. After a rebellious eight-year period of eating non-kosher food, Engelmayer, who made aliya from New York 18 months ago, rediscovered his roots and his true vocation: teaching Jews aged 16 to 35 from Israel and the Diaspora the secrets of gourmet kosher food. The 10-month program is now in its fifth year. Masa, a joint project of the Jewish Agency and the state, has granted 17 of the 25 full scholarships awarded to this year's students. A history and political science major, Engelmayer later discovered a love for cooking and attended the French Culinary Institute in New York and The Art Institute of New York City. "Nowadays, New York is full of kosher restaurants. But growing up there, the only option to eat outside was a crummy pizzeria that was always packed with clients who had no other choice," he says. The school's director and founder, Yohanan Lambiase, immigrated to Israel from the UK in 1994, following three years of schooling and cooking in some of Europe's best restaurants. After making aliya, Lambiase, an observant Jew, started a catering company and soon discovered that there was a large market for quality kosher food. Inspired, he decided it was time to teach kosher gourmet cooking. "Kosher food is funky," he says. "It's not just gefilte fish." Three months into the school's program, the students prepared dinner for their relatives, friends and the press, so they could taste for themselves just how good kosher food could be. The evening's appetizers included grilled peppers stuffed with sauteed beef and rice pilaf, smoked buffalo wings, eggplant Napoleon, French onion soup and shepherd's pie soup. Ari Klarfeld, 21, who has already been accepted to a summer internship at a prestigious Swiss hotel, says he ultimately plans to return home to Cleveland and open a kosher Italian restaurant there. "Cooking pasta and fish allows you to make good food while [not] encountering so many kosher limitations," he says. Devorah Seigel, 20, who comes from a haredi family in New York, says she came to Israel specifically to study at the kosher cooking school. When the course finishes, she plans to return home and work in one of New York's many kosher restaurants. "I love New York and I love the US," she says. "[It's] where I was born and it's my home." Yehuda Fisch, 22, says there is a shortage of kosher restaurants in his hometown of Toronto. "The fancy food in Toronto is hardly ever kosher and my goal is to turn the kosher food into fancy and good food," says Fisch. Gershon Gandelman, 26, of Sao Paulo, says that although he has studied cooking, he searched for a program to expand his expertise to include kosher food, with which he was raised. After spending only three months in Israel, he has now decided to make aliya. "My parents are convinced that I'm crazy because we have a good life back in Brazil," he says. "But I'm happy here. I study and I work and I have friends here." Esther Schiffman, 16, the youngest of the group, came to Israel from New Jersey with her mother two years ago. She wants to serve as a cook in the IDF and plans to pursue a cooking career. "My mother is a chef and a few years ago without even noticing, I fixed something she ruined while baking," she says. "My mom was so thrilled she shouted 'I knew it! I knew it! You're going to be a chef too!'" JPost.com

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General Mills and DuPont Sell 8th Continent Joint Venture to Stremicks Heritage Foods

MINNEAPOLIS, Min., and WILMINGTON, Del., February 11, 2008 - General Mills and DuPont today announced they sold their 8th Continent soy milk joint venture to Stremicks Heritage Foods, a branded specialty foods company. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Conditions of the sale included a long-term supply agreement from Solae, a DuPont majority-owned joint venture, which has been supplying soy protein to 8th Continent. General Mills and DuPont created 8th Continent in 2000. General Mills, with annual net sales of $12.4 billion, is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of consumer foods products. Based in Minneapolis, Min., General Mills’ mission is to innovate to make people’s lives healthier, easier, and richer around the world. Its global brand portfolio includes Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Old El Paso and more. It also has more than 100 U.S. consumer brands, more than 30 of which generate annual retail sales in excess of $100 million. General Mills also is a leading supplier of baking and other food products to the foodservice and commercial baking industries. Solae, a joint venture between DuPont and Bunge, is the world leader in developing innovative soy-based technology to the food, meat and nutritional products industries. Solae provides solutions that deliver a unique combination of functional, nutritional and economic benefits to our customers. DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to better, safer, healthier lives for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation. Contact: Heidi Geller General Mills 763-764-6364 Doyle Karr DuPont 515-270-3428

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New Open Kosher Community Surveys

Chicago Area Survey - 2 Parts Chicago - Part I: Restaurants Chicago - Part 2: Stores & Bakeries Atlanta Area Survey Cleveland Area Survey Kosher surveys have been previously conducted in the following cities: Chicago, Washington DC, Boston, Baltimore and Philadelphia. If you are interested in participating future surveys, e-mail surveys@kosher-community-surveys.com and you will be provided a link to the requested survey when it opens. Go to Kosher-Community-Surveys.com

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News from the Orthodox Union

Kosher Alerts: Asaro White Truffle Oil Brand: Asaro Product: White Truffle Oil Company: Sipa srl- Sicily, Italy Issue: This product bears an unauthorized OU symbol and is not certified kosher by the Orthodox Union. Corrective action is being taken. Consumers spotting this product are requested to contact the Orthodox Union by phone at 212-613-8241, or via email at kashalerts@ou.org. Ginseng Tea Products: Instant Korean Ginseng Tea Company: Uncle Bill Trading Inc.- Toronto, Canada Issue: This dairy product bears an unauthorized OU symbol. Consumers spotting this product are requested to contact the Orthodox Union at 212-613-8241 or via email at kashalerts@ou.org. ---------------------------------- OU Kosher to Present OU Kosher Coming Program in New York State Capital District Region on March 5th. The OU Kosher Coming program, which will encompass broad segments of the New York State Capital District region, will take place on Wednesday, March 5, featuring Rabbi Eliyahu Safran, OU Kosher Vice President of Communications and Marketing and Rabbi Yisroel Bendelstein, OU Kosher Rabbinic Coordinator who specializes in the baking industry and is a frequent lecturer at OU Kosher Coming programs. During their visit to the Capital District community, the OU rabbis will visit the area’s Maimonides Orthodox Day School and meet with its elementary, boys high school and Bnos Chaya Girls High School students. They will meet and analyze Vaad HaKashrut facilities in Albany and Schenectady and discuss kashrut in health and communal settings as well as the issue of Shabbat preparations. continue reading here... ---------------------------------- Newly Certified Products: Asiatic Agro Industry Co., Ltd. Thailand Brand: Oriental Chef Product(s): Canned Premium Coconut Cream OUD Canned Premium Coconut Milk OUD Avasoft, Inc. Rocklin, CA Brand: Avasoft #55-477 Product(s): Low Fat Chocolate Fudge Ice Cream OUD Low Fat Mint Marble Ice Cream OUD Low Fat Vanilla Ice Cream OUD Premium Mint Chip Ice Cream OUD Premium Strawberry Ice Cream OUD Premium Vanilla Ice Cream OUD Bongrain North America New Holland, PA Brand: Kolb Lena Cheese #17-559 Product(s): Goat Curd OU-D Cheryl & Co. Westerville, OH Brand: Cheryl & Co. Product(s): Apricot Almond Bar OUD Butter Pecan Crisp Cookies OUD Buttercream Frosting OUD Carrot Roll-Large, Small Cake OUD Caramel Chocolate Pecan Cookies OUD Cheryl OH/Peppermint OH Cookies OUD Chocolate Cherry Almond Cookies OUD Chocolate Chip Dough OUD Chocolate Curl Brownie/Bar OUD Chocolate White Chip Dough OUD Frosted Banana Walnut Cookie OUD Frosted Cinnamon Pumpkin Cookie OUD Frosted Cutout Holiday Cookie OUD Frosted Triple Chocolate Cookie OUD Macadamia Pineapple Slice Cake OUD Orange Citrus Frosting OUD Peanut Butter OH Cookies OUD Peppermint Chocolate Cake OUD Raspberry Crumb-QTR Tray, Bar OUD Sugar Cookies OUD White Chocolate Curl Cake OUD Cintron Beverage Group, LLC Philadelphia, PA Brand: Cintron Product(s): Green Tea w/Ginseng & Honey Diet OU Green Tea w/Ginseng & Honey Original OU Ice Tea Lemon OU Di Carlo SPA Italy Brand: Di Carlo Product(s): 100% Pure Olive Oil OU Extra Virgin Olive Oil OU El Nasr for Manufacturing Agricultural Crops Egypt Brand: El Nasr Product(s): Anise Seeds OU Beet (dehydrated) OU Caraway Seeds OU Fennel Seeds OU Marjoram OU Parsley OU Sunflower Seeds OU Tomato (dehydrated) OU Intramark Srl Italy Brand: Aromolio Product(s): Extra Virgin Olive Oil OU Kerry Do Brazil Ltda Brazil Brand: Kerry Product(s): Colored Sprinkles OU Henry P. Thomson, Inc. Brand: Henry P. Thomson Product(s): Blended Green Tea OU IBIS Moon Peach Blend Tea OU IBIS Moon Traditional Blend Tea OU Wallingford Tea Blend OU Gandules Inc. S.A.C. Peru Brand: Gandules Product(s): Jalapeno Peppers (red smoked) in Adobo Sauce OU Jalapeno Red and/or Green Peppers (sliced, whole, diced, cones, halves, quarters) OU Red Peppers (peeled/roasted) (whole, strips, diced) in Brine) OU Roasted Peppers Piquillo (whole, strips) in Brine OU El-Nenaiea Co. For Industry & Trading Egypt Brand: El-Nenaiea Co. For Industry & Trading Product(s): Dehydrated Carrot OU Dehydrated Lemon OU Dehydrated Parsley OU Dehydrated Tomato OU Garlic Oil OU Onion Oil OU

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Kosher Sales Sizzle as Shoppers Put Faith in Foods' Safety

By SUSAN SALISBURY Palm Beach Post Staff Writer GREENACRES — When Avi Bohbot is preparing shish kebab platters at his restaurant, there's a very nosy someone looking over his shoulder. Bohbot, who owns Best of Israel, a kosher restaurant and deli in Greenacres, prefers it that way. Actually, the close supervision provided by Jerry Farkas is required. Farkas, 70, whose Hebrew title is mashgiach, is charged with ensuring the restaurant's kosher status. "I can't get close to the refrigerators. He is the only one allowed to bring the food out," said Bohbot, 52, who runs the restaurant with his wife, Ateret. Originally from Israel, the Bohbots opened their shop three years ago after finding a dearth of kosher restaurants in central Palm Beach County. The restaurant is glatt kosher, which means it follows the highest kosher standards. "I check everything to make sure it's 100 percent kosher," Farkas said. "I check the vegetables to make sure they are free of insects. We wash them in a vegetable wash." That kind of scrutiny is helping to drive a boom in kosher products, and not just in the Jewish community, experts say. Wary consumers of all kinds, worried about the safety of the food supply, are finding an extra layer of confidence in food that is certified kosher, whether at restaurants or grocery stores. "It is not that we suddenly turned into a nation of Orthodox Jews. More Jews don't keep kosher than do keep kosher," said Marcia Mogelonsky, a senior research analyst in the Chicago office of London-based market research firm Mintel International Group Ltd. "The reason it is growing so much is the safety factor. That is really a big issue for consumers." "Kosher," which means fit or proper, was the most frequently used claim on new products launched in the United States in 2007. With 3,984 new food products and 728 new beverages, kosher beat out "all-natural," which had 2,023 foods and 405 beverages, according to Mintel's Global New Products Database. It's not coincidental that the surge in kosher labels came during a year of foodborne illness outbreaks linked to products such as chicken pot pies and peanut butter, including the second-largest beef recall in U.S. history. "People are concerned about the integrity of the food supply," Mogelonsky said. Kosher sales are also up for another reason, she said. Because the labels must state whether an item contains milk or meat, buying kosher is an easy way for those with food allergies to avoid certain ingredients. "There are so many food-allergic and food-sensitive people out there. They use the kosher label as a sort of shorthand," she said. "The same goes for vegetarians who do not want to eat any meat products." Food manufacturers say kosher certification has become a must because some consumers will not buy anything that is not certified. Kevin McElvaney, marketing manager at Domino Foods in Yonkers, N.Y., said almost all of Domino's products have been certified kosher for at least 20 years. "We got certification primarily because a lot of manufacturers that buy bulk sugar from us want kosher ingredients to make a product that is kosher in the end," McElvaney said. Domino once had an edge over competitors whose products were not kosher, but now many store brands it supplies, such as those for Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. and Publix Super Markets, also are certified. Domino Foods is owned by a division of Florida Crystals Corp. of West Palm Beach and the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida in Belle Glade. "We are losing our point of differentiation as more retailers demand kosher certification," McElvaney said. "We can't say no to them." Also because of consumer demand, Tropicana Products Inc. has had its orange juice certified kosher year-round for close to 30 years. That requires an annual inspection by a rabbi to ensure that Tropicana is complying with all kosher guidelines, said Karen May, spokeswoman for the Chicago-based company. Some merchants say kosher sales also are growing for traditional religious reasons. In South Florida especially, the kosher sector has seen explosive growth because of the increase in the population of Orthodox Jews, said Cyril Rubin, kosher supervisor at Albertsons in the Mission Bay Plaza west of Boca Raton. He estimates 60 percent of the items sold at his Albertsons location are kosher. "It's also growing among Jews who are not observant," Rubin said. Major mainstream brands such as Lipton, Nabisco and Keebler have certified-kosher products on the shelves alongside niche firms such as Tabatchnik, Ratner's and Rubashkin's. The store also sells imports from Israel. "Every which way you turn, there are kosher products. ... It is really catching on with a lot of people," Rubin said. Albertsons shopper and longtime kosher devotee Doris Siskin of Boca Raton believes it's safer: "There are more guarantees with it." Judith Josephs, a Port St. Lucie tropical fish farmer who was shopping at the Whole Foods Market in Palm Beach Gardens, said she's a Christian who believes that kosher food is better and safer because it is based on the Bible and is certified by a rabbi. "In my opinion, the flavor of kosher chicken is much better than any other one you can buy," Josephs said. "I do it for my health. I believe that God left these instructions for a reason." But despite the widespread public conviction that kosher is safer, there's little research to back that up. "The more sanitary precautions that are taken, the more cleanliness in any kind of slaughter environment, the less likely it is that there would be a problem with pathogens," said Douglas Archer, a professor in the food science department at the University of Florida. "If you can make that leap of faith with kosher and say that it is something that is an added value to the product, then the consumer should make that choice." Jeff Cronin, a spokesman for the Washington-based watchdog Center for Science in the Public Interest, said there's "no evidence to suggest that kosher meat and poultry is any more or less safe than non-kosher meat or poultry." Mogelonsky, the Mintel research analyst, said some could argue that the strictures of kosher mean a closer look is being paid to the products. "Meat is slaughtered and handled in a different way," she said. "I tend to think that due to the inspections, the products are safer to eat." Still, restaurants that depend on regulars who follow kosher diets find they are attracting others who want to eat a healthy diet, too. Michael Aharon and Moshe Ariel, co-owners of Eilat Café, a kosher dairy restaurant west of Boca Raton specializing in Italian dishes and fish, said their customer base includes Jews and non-Jews, as well as Muslim customers who say kosher is close to the Islamic dietary laws known as halal. "Kosher is known as a clean and healthy product," Aharon said. During a recent evening at Best of Israel, diners included those who keep kosher at home and those who don't. Louis Karp, an attorney visiting from Teaneck, N.J., is an Orthodox Jew who strictly follows a kosher diet. "We eat it because it says we should in the Bible," Karp said. And then there's Joe Vocaire, a Lake Worth retiree who isn't Jewish and doesn't follow a kosher diet. Judging by some of the slim people in the restaurant, eating kosher must be healthful, he figures. But the main reason he likes it? "The food is very good." Copyright 2008 The Palm Beach Post

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2008 Kosher Food & Wine Experience

The Premier Kosher Food & Wine Event of the Year! 2008 Kosher Food & Wine Experience February 20, 2008 The Puck Building Grand Ballroom New York City, NY 10012 6:30pm - 10:00pm Tickets selling fast! Don't miss your chance to attend! This year, we have taken a more spacious location (Puck Building, New York City) to accommodate the accelerated demand and to allow plenty of walk around space for wine afficianados. Sip, superb, sophisticated wines from Bordeaux to California and around the globe. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets or call 877-866-8642.

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Montreal Kosher (MK) alerts: Celery Leaf Miner Update

From the Jewish Community Council of Montreal: The MK wishes to inform the public that for the past few weeks we have checked celery and found it to be free of leaf miner. Therefor it may be used provided the stalks have been brushed under running water and the leaves discarded.

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KLBD New Chocolate Products & New Facebook Group

From The London Beth Din-Kashrut Division: • Newly approved Chocolate products- Cadbury's Wispa Bar is now approved kosher dairy. Alpro Soya Dairy Free Dark Chocolate Dessert is now approved kosher parev. Guylian products that are now approved kosher dairy: Dark Chocolate No Added Sugar, Extra Dark Chocolate No Added Sugar, I Love You, La Trufflina, Milk Chocolate No Added Sugar, Opus, Praline Hearts, Sea Shells and Twists. Please note that no other Guylian products are kosher approved. • The London Beth Din-Kashrut Division has a group on Facebook. The group is called KLBD Kosher Direct, and already has 674 members. It is an closed group, so members must be invited or approved by an administrator of the group. Just click here and follow the instructions to join. It's a great group, with daily conversation about the kashrus status of food items and more.

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G. Willi-Food Israel-based Stock A Good Value

In an article published by Globes [online], author John Reese takes a look at some Israel-based stocks that are traded on US exchanges. He finds a number of good values in tech stocks, as well as in other Israeli sectors. One particular stock mentioned in the article is G. Willi-Food International Limited (WILC). "G. Willi-Food bills itself as Israel's largest food importer, offering an array of foods that include fruits and vegetables, canned fish, bakery products, nuts, pasta, and dairy products, to name just a few. All of its products are certified Kosher. The Yavne-based firm's suppliers are located across the globe, including in the Far East, Europe, South America, and the US. G. Willi-Foods distributes its products to more than 1,000 customers, which include wholesalers, supermarket chains, mini-markets, and even Israel's military. G. Willi-Food is very small in term of market cap ($57 million, which I'll address below), but its fundamentals are very strong. The stock has been growing at a 36.47 percent pace (based on the average of the three-, four-, and five-year EPS figures), and has a P/E ratio of 22.03. That makes for a strong 0.60 P/E/G ratio, passing the most critical part of my Lynch-based strategy. This fast-grower appears to still be selling at a bargain price. In addition, G. Willi-Food's debt/equity ratio is just 3.63 percent. The company has been growing quickly while keeping its balance sheet clean, a great sign. One more reason my Lynch-based model likes G. Willi-Foods involves its inventory/sales ratio. Lynch saw it as a red flag when inventory increased more quickly than sales (it's not good when unwanted merchandise is piling up). Last year, G. Willi-Food's inventory/sales ratio was 18.52 percent; this year, it dropped to 9.97 percent. Sales are increasing significantly more quickly than inventory is piling up, an indication that the company's products are in demand. One last note on G. Willi-Food: You should be aware that this is a very small stock. Its $57 million market cap makes it a "micro-cap", which puts it at risk for volatility. Articles in the media can generate enough interest to make the stock's price quickly and artificially spike up, so that you can end up buying at a price much higher than you expected; similarly, if you and several other investors happen to sell on the same day, the price can quickly spike downward, and you can get caught selling at a price much lower than you expected. If you do trade in micro-cap stocks, you should be sure to use a limit order rather than a market order to help make sure you get the approximate current market price. While G. Willi-Food and each of the other stocks I've discussed are small in terms of market cap, each has established a solid track record and stands on good financial footing, making them the kind of stocks that should interest investors -- and not just those in the U.S. If you're looking to test out the American markets and aren't sure where to begin (and if you're willing to live with a bit of short-term volatility in exchange for long-term growth potential), some of these strong Israeli-based, US-listed stocks might be a good place to start."

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Choyce Products Yellowfin Tuna Recalled Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination

Contact: Choyce Products 808-839-1502 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- February 9, 2008 -- Choyce Products of Honolulu, Hawaii is voluntarily recalling 5,452 pounds of frozen Yellowfin Tuna because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illness such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis. The frozen Yellowfin tuna was distributed on Oahu and most likely reached consumers in the form of a mixed, previously frozen, seafood product through its customers. Choyce Products received the tuna from a mainland importer who confirmed the tuna was sent from Indonesia. Choyce Products' customers received the cubed tuna in frozen form. The frozen product is packaged in labeled white cardboard shipping boxes containing 22 pounds of product. These boxes each contain 11 2-pound packages of vacuum-packed product in unlabeled plastic bags. White stickers on the cardboard shipping boxes have the following code information: • Lot Number 0727408005899 with Production Dates October 1 and 2, 2007 • Lot Number 0725008005899 with Production Date September 7, 2007 • Lot Number 0726408005899 with Production Date September 21, 2007 Choyce Products unknowingly sold the tuna to its customers before learning of the possible contamination. The FDA and the state of Hawaii are conducting a joint investigation of a variety of vendors due to the state receiving Salmonella illness reports between October 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007. The source has not yet been identified. Choyce Products will destroy all returned and inventoried recalled product. Consumers can call 808-839-1502 if they have concerns or questions about tuna-containing products they have consumed. Those Choyce Products customer who suspect they may have this product should keep it in their possession and call 808-839-1502 with the label information. Should the tuna be from the parcel in question, it will be retrieved and destroyed by Choyce Products and a refund will be issued.

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Making Treif Recipes Kosher

Kosher cooking capers Treif recipes don't dispirit kashrut keepers by Aaron Leibel, WJW Staff You're watching Fast Food: My Way when PBS chef Jacques Pepin who in a different life cooked for the president of France adds butter and heavy cream to enrich the gravy destined to cover his pot roast. "Kashrut," those of you who keep kosher might yell in frustration, hurriedly switching to the Food Channel. But instead of finding succor, you encounter Rachel Ray adding lots of shredded cheddar to her quick and easy hamburger in 30 Minute Meals or Emeril "Pork Fat Rules" Lagasse "kicking it up a notch" by cooking everything in strips of bacon on Emeril Live. A feeling of helplessness may ensue. Is it impossible to get a taste of the good life, while still keeping kosher? What's a cook to do? Plenty, say two pros and three kosher foodies consulted for this story, as long as you mix a little ingenuity with some knowledge and remember that there are few instances when kosher substitutions either don't work at all or produce a truly inferior dish. Laurie Moskowitz embodies the can-do spirit of local kosher cooks. The District resident concedes that there are some recipes that are "off the chart" she mentions lobster bisque as an example. In general, though, when she sees an intriguing recipe with treif ingredients, her first reaction is: "How I can make it work?" "There are ways to replace almost anything and be left with a dish you find tasty and would like to serve to family and friends," says Moskowitz, who is the co-founder of the Democratic grassroots consulting firm FieldWorks in the District. "Being creative is important and don't give up if one or two ingredients are not appropriate." Alexandria Alice Fierstein agrees, but stresses the need to understand some chemistry, how the ingredients work together; how, for example, fats interact with other ingredients in baked goods. And, in addition to making her dishes kosher, she also is interested in making them more healthful. Thus, before substituting kosher for nonkosher fats, she tries to eliminate or at least reduce the fat itself. Joan Nathan, cookbook author and hostess of the PBS series Jewish Cooking in America, says it is much easier to keep kosher today than even five years ago. Many companies from all over the world are offering kosher products, and some view a kosher symbol as "another stamp of approval" for consumers, she says. In part, this growth in kashrut stems from the rising number of baalei teshuvah (those who have returned to their religious Jewish roots) who previously ate treif products "and want that flavor and that taste" in kosher foods, the District resident says. A parallel development has been the upswing in the number of vegetarians who also want that meat taste in nonmeat products. So what are some of those exchanges that can make dishes not only kosher, but as delicious or in some cases, almost as good as the nonkosher originals? Nathan suggests using mushroom instead of beef stock to create a dairy version of risotto, a meaty Italian classic. She also notes that using smoked salmon gives chowder that smoky flavor usually associated with forbidden shellfish. That same salmon also is a good substitute for prosciutto, the dry-cured ham. For maximum flavor, use duck or goose fat, rather than margarine, as a substitute for butter in meat dishes suggests the District's Vered Guttman, who runs the Cardamom and Mint catering service. Moskowitz says she makes a tasty French onion soup, using lots of onions with mushroom stock or pareve beef bouillon. "When I serve that soup, people are surprised that it is kosher," she says. The classic French dish coq au vin (chicken in wine) is usually made with bacon, Moskowitz notes. Instead of using kosher bacon, "you can get a great outcome without using bacon at all," she says. Cooks say that pareve dishes can be just as rich and "buttery" as those containing dairy. Jodi Sohl of Silver Spring has successfully pushed the kashrut envelope, making the classic Italian dairy desert tiramisu, replacing mascapone with pareve cream cheese. For beef stroganoff, she uses pareve sour cream. Sometimes, it is necessary to concoct one's own kosher products. Living in Germany while her husband was serving in the Air Force, Sohl had difficulty finding certified kosher products, so she created her own kosher cake mix (pareve cake flour, sugar, vanilla powder and baking powder), as well as mayonnaise and pasta. While these cooks tended to be upbeat in their assessments of what can be done "to kasher" a treif recipe, they also caution that there are limits as to what will work. "Don't try to force French nonkosher recipes to be kosher, because they never taste the same," Guttman says. Instead, she suggests, go to Mediterranean cuisine Spanish or Italian which uses olive oil and fresh spices. That's also a more healthful way to eat, she says. There will be setbacks, these cooks note. A teacher at the Hebrew Day School in Silver Spring, Sohl recalls making a wheat-free carrot kugel for Passover that resulted in a dish that "tasted like paste." She also tried to make a pareve creme anglaise, a dessert custard, using soy milk. The substitute was closer in texture and taste to a "good vanilla-flavored milk, but didn't work for cream puffs." She has since discovered a pareve whipped cream that does the trick. Moskowitz remembers trying to make pareve pumpkin pie without the evaporated milk. The pies came out "liquidy," she says. But, in general, these cooks tend to echo Sohl, whose philosophy is: "Any recipe can be made kosher."

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New Era Canning Company Recall Expanded Yet Again

(Includes large institutional-sized cans of all types of beans, blackeye peas and asparagus) Updated: February 8, 2008 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers about a potential Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum) contamination of canned beans manufactured by New Era Canning Company, New Era, Mich. C. botulinum is the bacterium that causes botulism, which can be fatal. The company is broadening its nationwide recall of canned vegetable products for a third time. This recall is intended to prevent further distribution of foods potentially contaminated with Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum). The affected products are large institutional-sized cans, weighing between six and seven pounds, of various types of vegetables. Click here view a list of the products and brands that have been recalled.

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The Challenge of Keeping China Kosher

From the Los Angeles Times: The country is a fast-growing producer of kosher-certified food. But inspection and approval require a cultural balancing act -- how do you explain the Book of Leviticus in an atheist nation? By Ching-Ching Ni Los Angeles Times Staff Writer February 5, 2008 NINGBO, CHINA — It isn't easy being a kosher food inspector in the land of moo shu pork. No matter how hard you try. "Once, they got me into a restaurant and they ordered a whole plate of food and put it in front of me," recalls Rabbi Martin Grunberg, who has the unusual task of ensuring that Chinese factories that make food for export comply with ancient Jewish dietary laws. "They were putting me to the test because they really don't understand why I can't eat Chinese cuisine." Keeping kosher is a breeze back home in Jerusalem, but it's a daily challenge here in China, where food is practically a religion and people say they'll eat anything with four legs -- except for the table. It means Grunberg can't travel light on his monthly trips through China: He carries two or three suitcases packed with dry goods, canned meats and vacuum-sealed packets, so he can feed himself breakfast, lunch and dinner. That way, he never has to step into a Chinese restaurant where about the only thing he can order is a fruit plate and can of Coke. Although many here have never heard the word "kosher," China is now the world's fastest-growing producer of kosher-certified food, with more than 500 Chinese factories producing the approved products. That number is expected to soar, not because this country that is still officially atheist has embraced Judaism, but because it's good for business. "I used to get this puzzled look, 'What is kosher?' " said Grunberg, 54, a field inspector for the New York-based Orthodox Union, which is responsible for certifying more than 300 plants in China. "Now a lot of people know it as a marketing tool to increase their market share, especially in the United States." The largest kosher market in the world is the U.S., where a growing number of the consumers are non-Jews who see kosher-certified food as generally safer and healthier. That's important in China, which is trying to recover from the recent spate of tainted-food scandals. Eager to regain consumer trust, the "Made in China" label has found an unexpected ally in the once-obscure kosher symbol. "People have been looking for some other measure of security for products coming out of China," said Rabbi Shimon Freundlich, one of a handful of Beijing-based independent kosher field inspectors. "They want to see quality control, and kosher is a standard people know." As China in recent years has become a factory for the world, practically anything can be made here at a bargain. The unlikely kosher business flourished simply because of supply and demand: The global appetite for kosher products exploded and China is happy to feed the frenzy. But even after the Chinese learned basic kosher rules -- no pork, no shellfish, no fish without fins or scales -- misunderstandings remain. As the calls poured in from Chinese companies looking for kosher approval, Freundlich recalls explaining why he couldn't certify a toy maker that produced plastic food. "They sent me samples of fake apples, fake vegetables," Freundlich said. "They were right about the food aspect. They didn't know we don't do wooden toys or plastic toys." Then there was the guy who makes dining room tables. "Since food goes on the table he thought we needed a kosher table," Freundlich said. "Of course, every table is kosher." It's even hard for many Chinese to grasp the meaning of "rabbi." "Sometimes they call me 'rabbit,' " Grunberg said. "I start hopping. They don't get it. I let it pass. It doesn't pay to explain." In the frigid Chinese winter, Grunberg, a grandfather of five, keeps his white beard relatively short and covers his head with a wool hat. He keeps his yarmulke in his pocket and puts it on only when the room is warm enough. The Israeli resident has long given up on wearing his wide-brimmed black hat when traveling across China. "They get squashed," he said, during the extended transits by plane, bus and train. It's harder for Freundlich, 34, to blend in. His black beard is much longer and bushier, and some Chinese he meets can't resist tugging at it with their fingers. "They used to call me Santa Claus," said Freundlich, who moved to Beijing with his family in 2001 to start a Jewish community center. Then came the Sept. 11 attacks. "They started calling me Bin Laden, which is unfortunate." But they don't mean any harm by it, he said. For the most part, rabbis are treated with respect, even if the Chinese know very little about the Jewish people and their religion. "In China, we have very little contact with the Jewish people," said Lucy Qian, the general manager at Ningbo Gooddays Food, a factory that makes mostly novelty candies here in one of China's manufacturing hubs. "We are doing this purely because of market demand." Since the factory went kosher a few years ago, sales have soared 40%, she said. Her primary customers are Israelis and Americans who want such things as kosher lipstick-shaped Barbie candy, some of which ends up on the shelves of places like Wal-Mart. The tainted-food scandals, she said, had no impact on her business last year. In fact, sales grew. "I'm sure the kosher certification helped," Qian said. For now, finished products such as candy, fish and some dehydrated vegetables are a small component of the Chinese-made kosher market. The bulk of the business is in raw materials and food additives, but that is likely to change very soon, according to the Orthodox Union, which expects huge growth in the demand for kosher snacks, soft drinks and even beef. Jewish dietary rules originate in the Hebrew Bible, particularly the Book of Leviticus. But rabbis working in China try to sidestep serious discussions on religion to avoid political minefields in a country where anything other than state-sanctioned church activities are strictly forbidden. Once, Grunberg said, an official asked him during a public function to explain what religious law kosher is based on. Caught off guard, the rabbi quickly emphasized the common ground between the Chinese and Jewish people, who share long histories of pride and persecution. "I didn't bring religion or God into the equation," Grunberg said. That's just fine to pragmatic Communist Party officials, who see little contradiction in describing their brand of unbridled capitalism as "socialism with Chinese characteristics." Tolerating unfamiliar foreign ideas seems a small price to keep the export-driven economy humming. "The biggest benefit of going kosher is that it introduces more accountability," said Ray Cheung, a Chinese broker who acts as a bridge between Chinese companies seeking kosher approval and Jewish agencies that certify them. "The rabbi inspectors need to know where each ingredient is made and be able to trace it back to the factory that made it. If you don't provide that information, we don't give you the certification." Certification can be labor-intensive for the rabbis. During a recent trip to the Gooddays candy factory, which requires four annual inspections, Grunberg checked long lists of raw materials and poked around every warehouse and factory floor, picking up bottles of sweetener and food coloring, asking if there had been any changes in the suppliers and if the buckets on the floor were used to store anything other than kosher products. Sometimes, despite the best of intentions, he has to turn the applicant down. Once, he said, he traveled to far western China to watch Tibetan herders using a primitive method to turn yak milk into casein, a dairy protein used as a food additive. "It was like a million Tibetans all privately cooking this on their stoves -- every home is a little factory," Grunberg said. "It would be an impossible type of supervision." Then the Chinese government stepped in to form a company that supplied the Tibetans with cows and a place to milk them by machine. Grunberg went back and certified the liquid milk that will be used for the casein. The rabbi's requirements don't always go over well with productivity-crazed Chinese plant owners. "Somebody once called me and asked me to come bless the fish," said Freundlich, referring to a company that processes Alaskan fish for the American market. "I told him that's not the way it works." But even Freundlich wasn't prepared for what he faced when he got to the fish plant. Jewish law says fish must have fins and scales to be kosher. But with frozen fish, it is difficult to tell which ones do. So even though the plant had processed thousands of fish, Freundlich says he rolled up his sleeves to check them by hand. He and a partner worked three days straight, scratching each one of the 37,000 fish with their gloved fingers. So many fish in the sea look the same," said Freundlich. "If I can't find the scale or the fin, it can't be eaten." chingching.ni@latimes.com Copyright 2008 Los Angeles Times

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Potomac, Washington: High-End Kosher Bistro Coming Soon

by Richard Greenberg Associate Editor Recently retired airline executive Jacob Schorr, an Orthodox Jew, often encountered turbulence of the culinary kind. That is, he had trouble finding kosher restaurants where he wouldn't feel embarrassed hosting business contacts. So he has created one of his own ‹ the Pomegranate Bistro, which is scheduled to open in the next few weeks in the Cabin John Shopping Center in Potomac. The 80-seat meat and pareve establishment, in a storefront that formerly housed the Chicken Out Rotisserie, will strive to fill any number of upscale market niches, according to Schorr and the restaurant's staffers. For example, Pomegranate will offer "a finer experience than is generally available at many kosher facilities," and will also be "satisfying to the general public" as well as kosher-keepers, according to Schorr, 63, who has residences in Silver Spring, Jerusalem and Bal Harbour, Fla. Pomegranate will provide "New York-class, high-end food delivery" with a "high level of ambiance" that will "make people go 'wow,' " said general manager Eli Verschleisser. "This will be New York-quality food," said Pomegranate executive chef and co-owner Stephanie Gold. "I would describe Pomegranate as upscale, serene elegance." The setting will be "very romantic," added assistant manager Martin Chavez. Dinner will be served on cloth, lunch on place mats, and gourmet prepared foods will also be available during certain hours for "grab-and-go" customers and other shoppers. (Outdoor tables will be set up in the warmer months.) The prepared foods section will be "comparable" to such high-end groceries as Whole Foods and Balducci's in terms of quality, selection and price, according to Gold, who said that section will be open late on Thursdays to accommodate shoppers who are stocking up for Shabbat. The restaurant itself will be open for lunch and dinner. Dinners will be about $18-$35, although the menu is not finalized, Chavez said last week. The restaurant will also have a liquor license. Pomegranate, which is under the supervision of the Rabbinical Council of Greater Washington, is one of about a dozen kosher-certified eateries in the area. The size of that roster ebbs and flows from time to time. While new establishments open when investors see fresh business opportunities, others fold for a variety of reasons, ranging from bad food to bad service to bad location to bad concept to undercapitalization, according to observers. The most recent departure was Mama Leah's Gourmet Kosher Pizza in Rockville, which closed at least a month ago. A spokesperson for Mama Leah's could not be reached for comment. Schorr said he had been approached about investing in the operation, but "I took a pass on it" in part because the business's location was less than ideal. Schorr was also an investor in the now-defunct Red Heifer restaurant, a white-tablecloth, crossover establishment in Bethesda that closed in 2005. "I made very good use of it for business purposes," said Schorr. A member of the Orthodox Kemp Mill Synagogue and Young Israel-Shomrai Emunah of Greater Washington, both in Silver Spring, Schorr is former chair and CEO of Spirit Airlines. Gold has 25 years of experience as a chef, most recently at Signature Caterers in Silver Spring, where she was executive chef and catering manager. Meat and pareve dishes, such as fish, will be prepared and handled separately at Pomegranate, according to Gold, who said the establishment will have essentially four kitchens ‹ pareve and meat kitchens for prepared foods and a similar setup for dining room fare. "Anything that is pareve from our prepared foods section, for example, we guarantee will be 100 percent pareve and can be used with dairy in the home; this is what the consumer wants," said Gold. "You'll be able to buy our salads and fish and go to Starbucks and have a latte to top it off," added Schorr. [WJW] Copyright 2008, Washington Jewish Week

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G. Willi-Food to Present at Roth Capital Partners 20th Annual OC Conference

Yavne, Israel - February 4, 2008 - G. Willi-Food International Ltd. ( NASDAQ: WILC ) ( the "Company" or "Willi Food" ), one of Israel's largest food importers and a single-source supplier of one of the world's most extensive range of quality kosher food products, today announced that the Company is scheduled to present at the Roth Capital Partners 20th Annual OC Conference to be held February 18-21, in Dana Point, CA. For more information regarding the Roth Capital Conference, please visit http://www.rothcp.com. Zwi Williger, chairman and chief operating officer of Willi Food will give a presentation on the Company followed by a question and answer session on February 19, at 12:30 PM. PST. The presentation will be broadcast live over the Internet. Interested parties may tune in to the live presentation by visiting the investors section of Willi-Food's website at: http://www.willi-food.co.il/eng or alternatively at http://www.wsw.com/webcast/roth16/wilc/. Willi-Food recently reported that it expects fiscal year 2007 revenues to increase 31% over the prior year's period. Concerning the closing of Shamir Salads, approval from Willi-Food's Board and Israeli Anti-Trust Authorities has been received. As such, the Company will consolidate the results of Shamir Salads in the first reporting quarter of fiscal 2008. Willi-Food expects to publish its financial results for the fourth quarter and full fiscal 2007 year at the end of March. The Company will host an earnings conference call at that time. Mr. Williger will be available for investor meetings at the conference. For more information regarding one on one meetings with the company, please contact Christopher Chu of the Global Consulting Group or your institutional sales rep at Roth Capital. About G. Willi-Food International, Ltd. G. Willi-Food International Ltd. is one of Israel's largest food importers and a single-source supplier of one of the world's most extensive ranges of quality kosher food products. It currently imports, markets and distributes more than 400 food products manufactured by some 100 top-tier suppliers throughout the world to more than 1,700 customers. Willi Food excels in identifying changing tastes in its markets and sourcing high-quality kosher products to address them. The Company's Gold Frost Ltd. subsidiary develops and distributes kosher chilled and frozen dairy food products internationally, while its Laish Israeli subsidiary and joint venture with the Baron Family engage in the global import, export and distribution of kosher products worldwide. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.willi-food.co.il. Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements that are dependent on certain risks and uncertainties, including such factors, among others, as market acceptance, market demand, pricing, competition, changing economic conditions and other risk factors detailed in the Company's SEC filings. Company Contact: G. Willi Food International Ltd. Yaron Levy, CFO +972(8)932-1000 yaron@willi-food.co.il IR Contact: The Global Consulting Group Christopher Chu (646) 284-9426 cchu@hfgcg.com

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COR alert: Fairlee Grape Juice (114ml) bears unauthorized COR

FAIRLEE GRAPE JUICE in the 114 ml size bears an unauthorized COR. Corrective measures have been taken. New companies under COR supervision: Steen's Dairy Ltd. St. Albert Cheese Co-op Bonduelle Ontario, Inc. Mariposa Dairy Second Cup Kosher at Clark and Hilda Great Lake D-Hy, Inc. Phoenix Brands Credit Valley Apiaries Max Soy Canada Hansco Distributors, Inc. N2 Ingredients Lantic Blending Saugeen Specialty Grains Agropur, Div. Natrel Bagel Haven Restaurant Solis Mexican Foods Arla Foods EZ Food Group

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OK alerts: Elie Baking Corp., Joseph Farms Cheese

OK Kosher DOES NOT certify any items produced by Elie Baking Corp. under any of the following brands: Near East Bakery Vita's Tortillas Typical Farm ----------------------------------------------- Joseph Farms Cheese Joseph Farms produces kosher cheese and non-kosher cheese. The kosher varieties include Monterey Jack, Mild Cheddar, Medium and Sharp Cheddar, Colby, Mozzarella blocks, Marble Cheddar, Marble Jack and Pepper Jack. These are available in block, sliced and shredded styles in a variety of sizes through many supermarkets and other retail outlets. There is no difference in packaging between the kosher cheese and non-kosher cheese. Therefore one must look carefully for the OK-D certification before purchasing. For more information call 209-394-7984 or email: JGFInfo@josephfarms.com

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Kosher SUBWAY® of Baltimore Updates

The Kosher Subway team in Baltimore sent its first e-newsletter today with the following information: The Grand Opening should be with the next 30-45 days! ...construction is well underway. As you pass by the new location, you will now see our banner. Help Wanted - We are starting to interview for full and part time help. If you or anyone you know are interested in becoming a part of The Kosher SUBWAY® of Baltimore Team please contact us at: koshersubs@gmail.com Baltimore will soon offer a SUBWAY® Kosher restaurant in Pikesville that will offer kosher submarine sandwiches available for dining in, catering or take-out. The menu at the SUBWAY® Kosher restaurant in Pikesville will feature Glatt Kosher meat and pareve non-dairy cheese as well as seafood and vegetarian offerings; no dairy items will be served and will be under the Kashrus supervision of the Star-K. Visit our website at www.koshersubs.com

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New Kosher Cinnabon in Hackensack, NJ

From Kosher-NY.com: Finally, a Kosher Cinnabon! Sorry folks - it's not in New York City yet, but pretty darn close. One of the first kosher supervised Cinnabons in the United States is now open! (The other is in Sunrise, FL, under the supervision of the ORB.) Located at 450 Hackensack Avenue in Hackensack, NJ (201-487-7600) in the Pathmark/Home Depot Shopping Center (directly across from the Home Depot), the Cinnabon/Carvel location is now under the kosher supervision of the Kof-K. Rabbi Moshe Reich of the Kof-K assures us: "The entire store is certified kosher dairy including the ice cream and cinnabons." Here's to the next chain making the kosher switch!

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Australia:Animal Welfare Groups Call On Federal Agriculture Minister to Stop Shechita

by Lorna Edwards, www.theage.com.au ANIMAL welfare groups have called on federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke to halt the slaughter by throat slitting of up to 4000 sheep a week at four Victorian abattoirs for new kosher exports, which began last month. The RSPCA and Animals Australia believe that killing without any form of electrical stunning of conscious sheep is illegal under the current industry standard and have called on the minister to intervene as the practice escalates in Victoria. The Australian standard for ritual slaughter states that animals must be electrically stunned, however exemption permits have been issued under special arrangements made under a legally disputed guideline. It is believed abattoirs at Kyneton and Geelong last week began killing 1000 sheep each a week without stunning for kosher exports to Israel, while abattoirs at Warrnambool and Cranbourne were set to follow. The previous agriculture minister Peter McGauran announced a review of the standard for ritual slaughter in August last year after The Age revealed animals were being slaughtered without stunning for halal meat exports. Animal welfare groups are concerned that the practice of slaughter without stunning has now quadrupled since the review was announced, despite an undertaking by Mr McGauran that no new permits would be issued during the review. The review was originally expected to be completed by November but is now unlikely to be finalised before April. Animals Australia and the RSPCA believe the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service has issued new export permits for the kosher slaughter at four Victorian abattoirs during the review. But Mr Burke denied the kosher slaughter that began in Victoria two weeks ago was the result of new permits. "No further permits have been or will be issued while that review is under way," he said. "The review will be thorough and I don't intend to rush." Animals Australia executive director Glenys Oogjes said the new minister should not wait for the outcome of the review. "The new minister can stop it from happening and … can see the community believes this to be wrong and the science says that animals will suffer unnecessarily," she said. RSPCA chairman Dr Hugh Wirth said all ritual slaughter without stunning should be stopped by the minister until the review was complete. "I know the former minister allowed this cruelty to continue but the new minister should have intervened," he said. Ritual slaughter of animals for Jewish and Muslim markets requires that the animal is killed by having its throat slit. The review will examine the science of how much suffering this causes to conscious animals and whether the practice is inhumane. Copyright © 2008. The Age Company Ltd.

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OU Responds to Allegations Made Against Them in Winnipeg Free Press

From the OU: Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation Products of Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation (FFMC), located in Winnipeg, Alberta, Canada have been certified by the Orthodox Union for many years. This facility, which only processes kosher fish, has been carefully reviewed and accepted by many respected kosher certifying agencies worldwide. Recent irresponsible and false claims have been published concerning the integrity of the hashgacha as it was administered more than seven years ago, under a previous mashgiach A''H (who is no longer living), alleging that non-kosher fish was sold as kosher. It should be noted that the writer of the piece was identified by the newspaper as "a former fish marketer who believes the FFMC's monopoly should be broken." OU Kosher urges everyone to realize that charges leveled in print can be, and often are, false. The Orthodox Union urges the kosher-consuming public to recognize such spurious innuendo for its true nature.

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OU alerts: Rocky Mountain Candy Cane Bar, Publix Gummy Worms

From the Orthodox Union: 1. Rocky Mountain White Candy Cane Bar Brands: Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Products: White Candy Cane Bar UPC: 7 51269 00702 5 Company: Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory- Durango, CO Issue: This certified product contains dairy ingredients as listed on the ingredient panel but the dairy designation has been inadvertently omitted. Future packaging will be revised. 2. Publix Gummy Worms Brands: Publix Products: Gummy Worms Company: Publix Super Markets, Inc. - Lakeland, FL Issue: This product, sold in Publix Supermarkets, erroneously bears an unauthorized OU symbol and is being withdrawn from the marketplace. Consumers spotting this product are requested to contact the Orthodox Union by phone at 212-613-8241, or via email at kashalerts@ou.org. 3. Newly Certified Products Procesadora De Alimentos Cale S.A. De C.V. Mexico Brand: Mariani/Jovy Product(s): Fruit Roll Apricot- OU Fruit Roll Cherry- OU Fruit Roll Green Apple- OU Fruit Roll Raspberry- OU Fruit Roll Tamarindo- OU Real Wasabi, LLC Bluffton, SC Brand: Real Wasabi Product(s): Wasabi Almonds- OU Wasabi Cashews- OU Wasabi Nut Mix- OU Wasabi Pistachios- OU S.C. Johnson Consumer Racine, WI Brand: Fantastik Product(s): Clean & Shine All Purpose Cleaner- OU Fantastik Regular All Purpose Cleaner- OU Lemon Power Fantastik All Purpose Cleaner -OU Qxy Power All purpose Cleaner- OU Brand: Saran Product(s): Premium Wrap Plain/Colored- OU Saran ™ Premium Wrap- OU Brand: Ziploc Product(s): Double Guard Bags- OU Gallon Storage Bags- OU Recloseable Bags- OU Brand: Ziploc With Easy Gripper Product(s): Storage and Freezer Bags- OU Delano Growers Grape Productions Delano, CA Brand: Delano Product(s): Grape Juice Concentrate OU-P With OU numbered seal M & M Designs Brooklyn, NY Brand: Candy Creations Product(s): Candy Jewelry Sets- OU Chocolate and Marzipan Flavors- OU Chocolate truffles Filled with Marshmallow Krispies- OU Marzipan Centerpieces- OU Peanut Butter, Chocolate Ganache- OU Brand: M & M Designs Product(s): Candy Sushi- OU Chocolate truffles Filled with Marshmallow Krispies- OU Decorated Marzipan Candy- OU Marzipan Decorations- OU Peanut Butter, Chocolate Ganache- OU

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