Notes
2023-7-25 KosherGram PDF THE CHODOSH SEASON is fast approaching for Oats, Spring Wheat and Barley. Chodosh Oats may be on the market in the beginning of August, and Spring Wheat and Barley shortly thereafter. Those who want to purchase Yoshon items to store over the Chodosh season should do so now. Please note that all grain and flour products that will be stored should be refrigerated to avoid insect infestation. RITA’S ITALIAN ICE & FROZEN CUSTARD OF FARMINGTON HILLS at 11 Mile & Middlebelt is under supervision of the Vaad Harabbonim / Council of Orthodox Rabbis of Greater Detroit, as Dairy non-Cholov Yisroel. Many flavors of the Italian Ices contain only pareve ingredients, but may contain traces of dairy; a list is posted at the store. Cream Ices are Dairy. ICE CREAM and FROZEN YOGURT STORES often claim that they are Kosher and may post Kosher certification letters, which leads consumers to believe that the store and its products are under supervision. In fact, in most cases, the letters refer only to specific products or ingredients which are factory produced under supervision, and are certified only when in their original sealed packaging bearing Kosher marking. Once the unsupervised store opens the packaging, the certification is no longer valid. Unless the consumer verifies that there is actual on-site reliable Rabbinical supervision of the entire individual retail store, no ice cream, yogurt, syrups or toppings should be considered Kosher except for those in their original sealed containers bearing a reliable Kosher certification. The following are some stores in our area that are not under supervision: Clark’s Ice Cream and Yogurt, Haagen-Dazs, Menchie’s, Oberweis, and TCBY. It is always preferable to buy at fully supervised stores. Locally, soft serve Cholov Yisroel ice cream is available at Jerusalem Pizza and Soul Cafe. Hard pack Cholov Yisroel ice cream is available at Spreads Bagels & Café. Hard pack non-Cholov Yisroel ice cream and yogurt is available at Baskin-Robbins/Dunkin’ Donuts at 10 Mile & Greenfield in Oak Park (which is K-COR certified for all products). Packaged Cholov Yisroel ice cream is available at The Grove Kosher Market and Lincoln Liquor. If it is necessary to purchase hard pack ice cream or yogurt from an unsupervised store, the consumer should request and see a sealed container before it is opened, and check for the Kosher certification mark on the container. In addition, the scoop should be thoroughly washed. Soft serve ice cream or yogurt should not be purchased from an unsupervised store, because of the inability to verify that Kosher mix was put into the machine. KORDAS’ brand BREADS, ROLLS AND BUNS from Metropolitan Baking Co. are K-COR certified and Pas Yisroel (glow-plug method), even if the label does not bear the K-COR symbol, except GREEK STYLE PITA BREAD which is presently not certified Kosher and should have the K-COR symbol on the back covered with a sticker. ROSEN’S DELI STYLE BRIOCHE BUNS (sold at Costco) bears an ink-jetted symbol similar to an OU next to the Best If Used By date. This product is in fact OU certified (and Pas Yisroel – glow-plug method). DUM-DUMS LOLLIPOPS in all flavors are OU certified, and bear the OU symbol both on the outer bag and on each individual wrapper, except for the “Mystery Pop” flavor which does not have an OU on its wrapper, but is nevertheless OU certified. SPRING VALLEY POTATO BLINTZES with Lot # 1513MMR7831RE on the side of the box may actually contain cheese blintzes (non-Cholov Yisroel), and has been recalled from stores. If you have a package at home, check it before preparing it to be sure it is potato and not cheese. COLONNA RANCH SEASONING contains milk and is certified OU Dairy, but mistakenly bears only a plain OU without a D. BEST OF THAILAND HOISIN SAUCE bears an unauthorized MK / Manchester Beth Din symbol. WILD SMOKED SOCKEYE SALMON from Tony’s Smokehouse & Cannery and ALASKA SMOKED SALMON from Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary bear an unauthorized KSA symbol. These products are not Kosher certified. RECALLS TRADER JOE’S ALMOND WINDMILL COOKIES with Sell-By dates 10/19/23 through 10/21/23, and TRADER JOE’S DARK CHOCOLATE CHUNK and ALMOND COOKIES with Sell-By dates 10/17/23 through 10/21/23 have been recalled because they may contain rocks. Details are available at https://www.traderjoes.com/home/announcements?category=recalls&id=664277606 or 626-599-3817. ROLLER BALL and ROLLER DIPPER CANDIES have been recalled after a choking incident with a 7 year old Lakewood boy, when the white ball inside detached and was swallowed. Details are available at https://lakewoodalerts.com/breaking-update-company-recalls-candy-after-7-year-old-lakewood-boy-chokes-on-it/ MARTINELLI’S GOLD MEDAL APPLE JUICE in 10 oz. apple shaped glass bottles has been recalled due to potential glass chips in the product. Details are available at Martinelli’s apple juice recalled over potential glass chips in the product | Food Safety News NEWLY WEDS FOODS BATTER MIXES, BREADERS, SEASONING RUBS, MARINADES and more [commercial products] have been recalled due to possible Salmonella contamination. Details are available at https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2023/07/six-million-pounds-of-batters-breaders-seasoning-rubs-marinades-and-more-recalled-over-salmonella-concerns/