Kashrus Alerts 2/23/07

From the OU:

America’s Choice Sixteen Bean Soup Mix with Ham Seasoning

Brands:
America's Choice
Products:
Sixteen Bean Soup Mix with Ham Seasoning, UPC #75480753595
Company:
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company-Montvale, NJ
Issue:
This product bears an unauthorized OU symbol and is being withdrawn from the marketplace. Individuals spotting this product are requested to contact the Orthodox Union at 212-613-8148 or via email at kashalerts@ou.org .



Starbucks Coffee Liqueurs

Brands:
Starbucks
Products:
Coffee Liqueurs
Issue:
Although the OU symbol is not yet on the bottles, please be advised that these products are certified as follows:
StarbucksTM Coffee Liqueur is OU, Kosher and Parve.
StarbucksTM Cream Liqueur is OU-D, Kosher and Dairy.



Beech-Nut Baby Foods

Brands:
Beech-Nut
Products:
Assorted Baby Foods
Company:
Beech-Nut Nutrition Corp- Canajoharie, NY
Issue:
Several previously certified varieties or stages of Beech-Nut products are no longer certified kosher. These non-certified products' labels do not bear the OU symbol. As always, the public is encouraged to check for the OU symbol on every product which is purchased.


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From the cRc:

Several cities around the United States have a TCBY yogurt store, selling soft serve yogurt and other products. None of these stores were ever under the certification of the cRc, but for a period of time, the yogurt base was under the supervision of the cRc.

However, while the stores are still in operation, the manufacturer of that product is no longer in business. Some stores are using a yogurt base under various other supervisions, but none are presently certified by the cRc. It is the responsibility of the individual consumer to inspect the kosher status of this and other products before each purchase.


Public Notice - Recently the Chicago Rabbinical Council published and distributed "2007 Spotlight On Chicago", a visitor’s guide to the Jewish community. Inadvertently, an ad was printed on the back cover containing the "Shaim HaShem" and is therefore considered "shaimos".

Corrected copies have been printed. If you have received one of the original booklets, you may return it for a corrected copy. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.


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http://www.kashrut.com/Alerts has information concerning the following products or companies:

Health alert concerning Earth's Best Organic 2 Apple Peach Barley Wholesome Breakfast baby food

Health alert concerning Dole Cantelopes

Health alert concerning Wellsley Farms mushrooms distributed by BJ's


Kashrus alert concerning Bagel Country Cheese Danish

Kashrus alert concerning America's Choice Sixteen Bean Soup Mix with Ham Seasoning and America's Choice Sixteen Bean Soup Mix with Chili Seasoning

Kashrus alert concerning TCBY yogurt stores

Kashrus alert concerning Krack-o-Pop Caramel Popcorn, D'Snacks Caramel Popcorn, and Krack-o-Pop Pink Popcorn

Kashrus advisory concerning Starbucks Coffee Liqueur and Starbucks Cream Liqueur

Certification change for Streits

Egg Allergy alert concerning Giant Eagle brand Free Pasta Ribbons

Baruch Dayan Emes

It's a sad day for Klal Yisroel. Although I never met him, Rabbi Avrohom Blumenkrantz ZATZAL was a big influence in my life. I was among the many people he helped with his yearly Pesach guide. I learned a great deal from him and owe him much hakores hatov. May his family be comforted.

BJ's Wholesale Recalls Fresh Mushrooms

BJ's Wholesale "Wellsley Farms" fresh mushrooms are being voluntarily recalled due to possible E. coli contamination. The recall is on packages purchased between February 11-19:

Wellsley Farms fresh Sliced Mushrooms, 20 ounces, SKU 016377
Wellsley Farms fresh White Mushrooms, 24 ounces, SKU 016375
Wellsley Farms fresh Portabella Caps, 16 ounces, SKU 016573
Wellsley Farms fresh Baby Bella Caps, 10 ounces, SKU 016572
Wellsley Farms fresh White Mushrooms, 10 ounces, SKU 016376

BJ's is offering a full refund. Call 800-257-2582 for more information.

15th Kosher Cooking Carnival!

Get Ready for Purim, and
Use up all that Chametz Before Pesach!
The 15th Kosher Cooking Carnival is here to help you!
Yummy Stuff! Visit me-ander to see the featured recipes.

Kashrus Alerts 2/19/07

From the cRc:
Certain packages of Cheese Danish from Bagel Country, Skokie, IL, are dairy as indicated on the ingredient panel. However, the label mistakenly states that the product is pareve. The product is indeed cRc kosher/dairy, and is Cholov Yisroel, Pas Yisroel, and Yoshon. Future packages are being corrected.


Effective immediately, Healthy Treats, Manitowoc, WI, is no longer certified by the cRc. Any product still bearing the cRc may be used.


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http://www.kashrut.com/Alerts has information concerning the following products or companies:

Kashrus notice concerning Godiva Chocolate Liqueurs
Kashrus alert concerning Brivais Vilniius Assorted Herring Products
Kashrus alert concerning Healthy Treats
Kashrus alert concerning Hunt's Thick & Rich Premium Pasta Sauce Four Cheese
Health alert concerning Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Great Value Peanut Butter
Health alert concerning Little Debbie Nutty Bars


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KOSHER INFORMATION BUREAU
12753 CHANDLER BOULEVARD
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA 91607

Rabbi Eliezer Eidlitz, Rabbinic Administrator


No longer Certified

Due to Kashrus violations all products manufactured or distributed under the Z-Snacks brand are no longer certified by the Kof-K. Any product still bearing the Kof-K may be used.

Effective immediately, Brooklyn Pizza and Pasta, located at 9228 W. Pico Blvd. is no longer certified by the R.C.C.


Mislabeled

F.M.V. Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips in 12oz bags, distributed by Inter-American products with a sell date of Sept 07 2008 only, was erroneously labeled O/Kp. The product is O/K pareve but is not kosher for Pesach.

Hunt’s Thick & Rich Premium Pasta sauce Four Cheese was erroneously labeled with the O/K symbol. This product is not kosher.


Unauthorized

Brivais Vilnis Assorted Herring, Sprats, and Sardine products bear an unauthorized O/U.

Waltz Pure Butter Shortbread Rounds bears an unauthorized O/U.


Dairy Without “D” Designation

Squirrel Brand Co. Southern Style Hunter Mix is O/U dairy even without the “d” on the label.

365 Organic 5 Grain cereal with Soy is dairy even when not bearing the “d” after the O/U.

Quaker Crispy Delights Cinnamon Streusel and Quaker Crispy Delights Chocolaty Drizzle marked COR are dairy even without the dairy designation on the label.


From the O/U

Kristian Regal Apple Sparkler-Regular & with Splenda, Lingonberry Apple, Peach Sparkler, Pomegranate-Apple Sparkler – Regular and with Splenda – are all certified O/U.

Glucerna Crunchy Flakes N Almonds, N Raisins, N Strawberiies are O/U pareve.

King Solomon Big Round Cracker bread, Chak-Chak, Halva, and Tandoori Brick oven bread are all certified O/U Pas Yisroel.

Europe Chocolate Company ECC Batons, Chunks, Drops, Mega Curtis, Spaghetti, Splitters are O/Ud certified.

Sweet Breath Cinnamon drops, Mint Drops, Spearmint drops, and Wintergreen are O/U Pareve.


Clarifications

Godiva Chocolate Liqueurs are missing the O/U symbol from many of the labels. The Godiva Chocolate Cream Liqueur, White Chocolate Cream Liqueur and the GoCappuccino Liqueur are kosher dairy- O/Ud. The Godiva Chocolate Liqueur is O/U Pareve.

Correction: All Wilton colors bearing the U.S. K from Rabbi Bukspan are recommended. The indigo carmine listed is not derived from insects. The following was received from the company:
Please be aware, the following information regarding Food Allergens, Food Sensitizers, or Food specifications is to the best of our knowledge believed to be accurate.

We do not use carmine in any of our products.

Sincerely,
Rosemary

Consumer Care Center
Wilton Industries
2240 W. 75th St. #9A
Woodridge, IL 60517
800-794-5866

Rabbi Slams Back At Jews For Jesus

Rabbi Tovia Singer of Outreach Judaism has a new website and he is now offering his tape series, "Let’s get Biblical" free via mp3 download. There are new articles and a free audio download for Russian speakers as well.

My husband and I have a personal connection to Rabbi Singer as we were able to come out of xtianity due to his tape series, book and website. I also spoke to him on the phone at the beginning of our process of conversion. We owe him tremendous hakaras hatov for the huge amount of help he gave us.

I highly recommend his tape series and website. He makes a great deal of information available to anyone who seeks it. He knows xtianity backwards and forwards and can refute any missionary and leave them speechless. In an article on Arutz Sheva he sums up his "mission":

"This spiritual war against the most vulnerable members of our community is deeply troubling, and cannot go unanswered," says Rabbi Singer. "Outreach Judaism is responding to Jews for Jesus’ unyielding assault upon the Jewish faith with point-by-point answers to their arguments. This is an all-out, no-holds-barred spiritual war instigated by Jews for Jesus that Outreach Judaism is responding to with an effective response."

Food Product Recalls

Earth's Best Organic 2 Apple Peach Barley Wholesome Breakfast baby food has been recalled due to possible clostridium botulinum contamination, which causes botulism.

Affected jars were sold individually and in variety packs in 4.5-ounce glass jars with a UPC number of 23923-20223, which is marked on the label. ''PF6J14 NP'' and expiration date ''14 SEP 08 A'' are marked on the lid. They were also sold in a 12-pack of Earth's Best Organic 2 Wholesome Breakfast Variety Packs, which has a UPC number 23923-20295 on the bottom of the pack and an expiration date of 13 SEP 08.

Here is a picture of the item:
http://www.earthsbest.com/products



Dole Fresh Fruit Company announced the recall of cantaloupes in the Eastern U.S. and Quebec due to potential health concerns. Some cantaloupes packed on January 25, 26 and 27, 2007 by an independent, third-party grower in Costa Rica have tested positive for Salmonella. Although no illnesses have been reported, Dole voluntarily has decided to recall all cantaloupes imported from Costa Rica and packed by that grower.
http://www.dole.com/CompanyInfo/PressRelease



Update on Peter Pan & Great Value Peanut Butter Salmonella Outbreak and Product Recall:
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/pnutbuqa.html

Blog Changes

Yes, I've changed the colors on my blog again. Hope nobody minds that I keep trying new stuff to see what I like best. I want something that really represents "me". Maybe, just maybe, this will be the last change.

Pollard Protest Rally

Protest rally for Jonathan Pollard
Next Monday, February 19, 2007 (Adar 1, 5767), 6 PM (18:00Hrs)
opposite the Prime Minster's residence at Kikar Pariz, Jerusalem

Prime Minster Olmert is scheduled to meet with American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and Abu Mazen next Monday February 19, 2007, at his residence in Jerusalem. Olmert's invitation to Condoleeza Rice and Abu Mazan has been set to coordinate the release of thousands of Palestinian terrorists and murderers from Israeli prisons, at the explicit request of the Americans.

JUSTICE4JP and THE COMMITTEE TO BRING JONATHAN POLLARD HOME invite you to join our protest:

We will gather to remind Prime Minister Olmert that it is his exclusive responsibility to demand the release of Israeli agent, Jonathan Pollard, who continues to languish in an American prison, serving his 22nd year of an unlimited life sentence for his activities on behalf of the security of Israel.

We will protest the immorality of responding to the American demand that Israel release dangerous murderers and terrorists from our prisons while our agent, Jonathan Pollard, who saved Israeli lives, continues to rot in an American prison.

Olmert, who zealously leaps to attention every time the Americans say 'jump', now feverishly prepares to release Marwan Barghouti, the terrorist mastermind, so that Barghouti can once again wreak havoc, death and destruction upon us. Olmert does not even think about our own Jonathan Pollard.

Can any one remain silent in the face of such a travesty?

Please join us on Monday, February 19th at 6 PM at Kikar Pariz in Jerusalem.

Esther Pollard will be there. She and Jonathan need your support. Come one come all! Bring your family and friends to demand the release of Israel's longest held captive, Jonathan Pollard!

For further information call 054-6437218 or visit our web sites:
www.FreePollard.org (Hebrew) and www.jonathanpollard.org (English)

Please reprint, recirculate, and repost this message.
-- JUSTICE FOR JONATHAN POLLARD
http://www.JonathanPollard.org/rss.htm

Kashrus Alerts 2/13/07

From the StarK:

Assorted Herring, Sprats, and Sardine Products, produced by Brivais Vilnis and imported by Interpage Inc., bear an unauthorized OU symbol and are being withdrawn from the marketplace. These products have been found in Baltimore, MD, supermarkets. Consumers spotting these products are requested to contact the OU at 212-613-8148 or via email at kashalerts@ou.org.

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From the COR:

The Organized Kosher Certification (Circle K) has asked us to notify the public of the following: Hunt's Thick & Rich Premium Pasta Sauce Four Cheese was erroneously labeled with the OK symbol. The product is NOT certified by the OK and is NOT kosher.

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From the OU:

365 Organic 5 Grain Cereal with Soy
Brands: 365 Organic
Products: Organic 5 Grain Cereal with Soy
Company: Whole Foods Market, Austin, TX
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.


Godiva Chocolate Liqueurs
Brands: Godiva
Products: Chocolate Liqueurs
Issue: Due to an error, the OU symbol was omitted from the labels. These products continue to be certified without change as follows: Godiva Chocolate Cream Liqueur, White Chocolate Cream Liqueur and Cappuccino Liqueur are Kosher and Dairy. Godiva Chocolate Liqueur is Kosher and Parve.

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http://www.kashrut.com/Alerts has information concerning the following products or companies:

Kashrus alert concerning Waltz Pure Butter Shortbread Rounds

Kashrus alert concerning Southern Style Gourmet Hunter Mix

Kashrus alert concerning Z-Snacks Corporation, Amityville, NY

Kashrus alert concerning Solea brand potato chips, Parmesan Olive Oil flavor

Kashrus alert concerning cast iron pots

Kashrus alert concerning 365 Organic Organic 5 Grain Cereal with Soy

Insect infestation alert concerning Bodek Frozen Strawberries

Revised South African kashrus notice concerning Mrs Garlic products

Change in certification of Centre Market (Gordon & Alperin), Newton, MA

Nut allergy alert concerning Whole Treat Organic Vanilla Ice Cream Bars Dipped in Chocolate