Kosher UpdatesRachel and Shlomo Barness
Renaissance Produce and Kosher Market
8935 Towne Centre Drive #107
San Diego, CA 92122
website: www.renaissanceproduce.com
email: renaissanceproduce@yahoo.com
Tel: (858) 452-3700
Fax: (858) 452-3733
We are a new kosher market in UTC (La Jolla)...actually the only ones besides one in El Cajon (city South of San Diego)
October 30, 2008
Justice Hala Gerstel, the president of Petach Tikvah District Court, this week took a personal interest in assisting Israel’s OK kashrus officials, seeking to block the distribution of Yayin Nesech marked as kosher wine under OK supervision.
The wine is distributed under the label ‘Gilgal’, originating in Romania. The bottles display an OK supervision, but the product is not under its supervision and is not kosher. The matter came to the OK’s attention when a consumer realized there was an error in the text of the bottle’s label testifying to the wine’s kashrus. Rabbi Aaron Haskel, who head’s the OK in Eretz Yisrael was notified. Rav Haskel immediately turned to the district court in the hope of obtaining an injunction preventing further distribution of the non-kosher wine. Justice Gerstel took a personal interest in the case and issued a permanent injunction instead of a time-limited one as is customary.
She also told the OK’s attorney, Yossi Ashkenazi, to arrange for a visit to the warehouse to enable the OK to get a realistic idea just how much of the bogus wine exists. The OK is also moving ahead via legal channels against the distributor in Israel as well as informing Rabbi Refael Yochai of the Chief Rabbinate.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
The hechsher (Beit Yosef) is under the supervision of HaRav Ovadia
Yosef Shlita, the former Sephardic Chief Rabbi and world renowned
Torah authority. It is recommended.
• This update, distributed by Rabbi Rafi Yochai of the Chief Rabbinate
of Israel, is sent to religious councils around the country.
1. WARNING OF TRAIF (NON-KOSHER) a raid of the Imperiat Besarit
butcher located 143 Katzenelson Street in Givatayim revealed traif
meat despite the fact the store had a kashrut supervision from the
local Rabbinate. The store was shut and the kosher certification
removed.
2. KASHRUT CERTIFICATION REMOVED: Acting on information provided by
the rabbi of Moshav Shoham, located in the Shafir Regional Council,
the kosher supervision was removed from the vegetable plant “Katifei
Yesha – Katifei Noam”. A surprise inspection revealed serious kashrut
deficiencies. The public is advised not to purchase the product which
no longer has supervision.
3. TRAIF: The Meir Yechezkel import company was apprehended trying to
bring traif meats into the Ra’anana area. In one case, he sold lamb
fat to a kosher store, exhibiting a bogus kosher certificate. No
products carrying his label should be used.
4. Import division inspectors explained that a product bearing the label “seafood chili sauce”, barcode 8850344010348, states kosher, approved by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. The product does not have
the approval as it claims. In addition, imported chocolate cookies with vanilla filling, manufactured by Keebler Murray, America, states it is under OU supervision. The product has no approval from the Chief Rabbinate and should be removed from shelves.
5. A couple hired a Tel Aviv caterer for their wedding who advertised
under the name “Lilach Food and Artistic Design”, telephone/fax 03-605-7566, presents a kosher certificate under the name “Kiruv L’evavot” signed by Rabbi Yossi Ben-Harush. The wedding was to take place in the HaKuma HaRe’vi’it Hall located at 8 HaCheresh Street in
Tel Aviv. The hall has no kashrut supervision whatsoever. The caterer
is not using an approved supervision. (A check of their website shows an impressive menu, including a photo of a shrimp dish -
www.mitchatnim.co.il/members/lilach/)
6. A complain led to an investigation of a pure olive oil product which was learned to be a total fraud, without any kosher supervision. Nitzat HaDuvdavan olive oil, barcode 7290003277100, produced by A.A,
distribution 2000 for Olive Oil, Nazareth. It states kosher for Passover Nazareth Rabbanut but it does not have the supervision.
7. The following information resulted from a complaint filed by employees of a Central Israel hi-tech firm. A firm called “Chavat
HaTavlin offers catered events under the name Catering Eshtol LTD, offering a kosher certificate signed by Rabbi Chanina Shapira, carrying the title of Rabbi of the Matte Yehuda Regional Council. The
Matter Yehuda Rabbinate reports they have not given any kosher supervision to this company. The operation does not have any legitimate kosher certification and it operates on Shabbat. An
additional inspection by Rabbinate officials reveal Rabbi Shapira is not affiliated with the Matte Yehuda Regional Council and therefore, the kashrut certificate being displayed is of no value.
8. Chof HaSharon Rabbinate: Meta HaPecanim is not authorized to host
wedding ceremonies.
9. Freeze Natural Ices. The factory store is located at 10 Sapir Street in Netanya. The company advertises itself as kosher and parve but has no supervision from the Rabbinate.
10. Artichoke hearts barcode 7290011587314, under the name Shenzin,
advertised as kosher mehadrin under the supervision of SKS, Rabbi David Michael Moskowitz, Av Beit Din Ashkelon. The product does not have a permit from the Chief Rabbinate and due to the general concern of insect infestation in artichoke hearts, the product should not be
served in establishments if a Rabbinate supervision.
11. The Hangover Bar in Mevassret Tzion has lost its kosher
supervision.
12. 40% fresh pineapple juice with fresh fruit chunks, barcode
8857105321231, manufactured in Thailand. It states it is supervised by
Rav Lichtenstein of the Badatz KF London. Rabbinate officials have investigated and found the product has not received supervision and the reported kashrut is bogus.
13. CLARIFICATION: Rabbi Yehuda Yissachar Stern of Ashdod, affiliated
with the Israel Youth Hostel Association, is not authorized to grant kosher supervision. Anyone visiting a youth hostel should ensure it has a legitimate local Rabbinate supervision.
14. Announcement on behalf of Rabbi Shlomo Shalush, chief rabbi of
Haifa: The Yefei Of slaughterhouse located in the Tirat HaCarmel industrial area, under the Haifa Rabbinate supervision, is operating legally and complies with all kashrut demands set forth despite some
of the rumors to the contrary.
* 365 Sorbets distributed by Whole Food Markets are now certified O/Kd (Kosher, dairy - Cholov Stam). Any old packaging still available in Whole Foods stores, with a plain O/K symbol, are Kosher, dairy. Signs to that effect are up on the shelves in all Whole Foods stores.
* Heaven’s Best Butter is certified by the cRc and all packaging has been corrected and this product is indeed Kosher and dairy when bearing the cRc -d logo.
* Mimicreme is an alternative to dairy cream. It can be used in sauces, gravies, pastries, puddings, confections & frozen desserts. It is non-dairy, non-soy, gluten-free and 100% vegan/Kosher.
* The following Website provides valuable information on Glatt restaurants. One must check the current Hashgacha for each restaurant. www.KosherRestaurantsGps.com.
* Kof-K: Whole Foods has MadHava Organic Raw Agave Nectar certified VK Alef Alef and Euinox Organic Maple Flakes certified MK pareve and Teennino Maya Chai Herbal Coffee.
* NEW PRODUC T - Kof K: Truffle D’Allassandro White Oil is under the Kof-K, Their website is KosherDepot.com.
* Ralph’s supermarkets now have Kroger brand breakfast liquid Egg Whites, certified by the O/Up. Also found at Ralphs is mixed frozen Berries certified by the Heart K (these berries have NOT been checked for bugs).
* Schwartz Bakery in Los Angeles is NOT certified by the cRc. The bakery and cafe remain reliably certified by the RCC. They do carry a line of nuts certified by the cRc. They now have a line of bakery goods, a full cafe, pizza, suchi etc. This is true for both locations: 8622 West Pico and 433 N. Fairfax.
.* O/U: The following are newly certified products from the O/U:
Bay Valley Foods/Pickle
BVF Premium Kosher Dill Spears, Mild Cherry Pepper, Sliced Jalameno Pepper, Whole Jalapeno Pepper
Degraffenred Dill Fillets, Dill Hot & Spicy Spears, Dill Relish, Fancy Sweet Relish, Giardiniera, Kosher Spears
Jack in the Box RefDeli Style Filletsd
Cott Beverages Xingtea (Green Tea w/ Lenon & Honey, Mango-Sugar Free, Pomegranate - Sugar Free, Raspberry - Sugar Free, Just Plain Tea, Sweet Tea Pure Cane Sugar, Ginseng & Honey
Divine Foods Boomi Bars - all dairy (Almond Protein Plus, Cashew Protein Plus, Healthy Hazel, Perfect Pumpkin, Pistachio Pineapple)
Prana Bar - all dairy (Apricot Goji, Cashew Almond, Cinnamon Apple, Pear Ginseng)
Genisoy Protein Shakes (Chocolate, Natural Unflavored, Strawberry Banana, Vanilla)
Mlo musl Blast (Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla)
Multi-Vitamin Energy Corp Enhanced Water (Buleberry-Pomegranate, Green Tea w/ Honey & Ginseng, Mango-Passion, Tropical Punch)
Rex Wine Vinegar
Tianli
Stirrings (Bitter Lemon Soda, Ginger Ale, Tart Cranberry Soda, Tonic Water)
Wise Acre Frostbites Frozen Treats (Honey Love, Maine Maple Lemon, Jasmine Green Tea)
* The following Dole products are certified O/U Kosher:
5 Fruit Blend (Peach, S’berry, Pineapple, Honeydew, Red Seedless Grapes)
Cranberries
Mango Chunks
Sliced Strawberries
Whole Strawberries
* The following Icee Bits products from J&J Snack Foods are certified O/Ud Kosher
Blue Raspberry
Cherry Burst
Cherry Cola
Cotton Candy
* The following 7 Seas Fish Co. products are certified O/U Kosher:
Cold Smoked Potlatch (Atlantic) Salmon Fillets
Cold Smoked Salmon Sides (Lox)
Fresh/Frozen Graviax
Fresh/Frozen Wild/Farm Salmon Fillets
Frozen Cold Smoked Black Cod
Sea Bass Fillets or Butterfly
Pasteurized Caviar (Salmon Roe)
Smoked BBQ Salmon Tips
Smoked Tuna Candy
Smoked Mackerel Whole
Smoked Tuna CandyJolly RA
* Whole Foods stores carry Wholly Wholesome Organic Pie Shells (whole wheat or regular), O/U certified, Cheesecake (frozen) O/U and COR and Frozen Pies O/Ud.
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