Kosher Alerts

It has come to our attention that GE mistakenly removed a critical piece of information from some STAR-K certified oven manuals. In the following list of GE, Hotpoint and Crosley models, Sabbath Mode does NOT control the light inside the oven. The light WILL turn on if you open the oven even when in Sabbath Mode. Owners of these ovens should either leave the light on over the duration of Shabbos/Yom Tov or simply remove the light bulb ahead of time. List of affected models is here. https://www.star-k.org/articles/articles/kosher-appliances/6333/ge-hotpoint-crosley-oven-alert/ Corrective action is being taken.

December 16, 2019 Barley, Brown Rice & Quinoa Alert BROWN RICE sold in the Northeastern USA has been found to be infested due to issues in the distribution chain and storage. According to our continued research, this issue is more widespread than previously thought. Affected batches were found in markets from NY to Maryland. Our research is ongoing and we will issue updates as warranted. In the interim, we are recommending that consumers in the affected areas check all brown rice prior to use, using the following procedure: Place brown rice in a fine mesh strainer. Shake for 25-30 seconds over a light box or white paper. Examine the surface of the lightbox or paper under a strong light for any insect presence. Our research identified booklice and mites as the most common insects. QUINOA has also been found to be infested for the same reason as brown rice. Quinoa in general seems to be more susceptible to infestation than other similar grains. The problem was mainly found in quinoa that had been stored for over a year (i.e., it had been packed more than a year prior). Quinoa packed within the year was generally not infested. However, due to differences in each company’s date coding, we are recommending that all quinoa be checked prior to use, in the same manner as for brown rice above. Click for a video demonstration for checking brown rice https://vimeo.com/379094357 and quinoa. https://vimeo.com/379122829 BARLEY (particularly Yoshon brands) continues to have consistent issues with infestation. Therefore, we are now recommending that all barley be checked prior to use. For barley checking instructions, click here: https://www.star-k.org/checking. Our latest webinar on insect infestation is available here: https://vimeo.com/375428652 Contact us at webinar@star-k.org to find out about upcoming webinars.

OU KASHRUTH ADVISORY December 16, 2019 White Quinoa Product White Quinoa Issue Some brands of white quinoa were recently found to contain booklice. The Orthodox Union is looking into this matter. Accordingly, white quinoa should not be used without a thorough inspection. The method of checking that has been found to be effective is to pour the quinoa into a thirty mesh sifter and agitate for 30 seconds over a white surface. If any booklice are found on the white surface, the quinoa should be discarded.

OU KASHRUTH ADVISORY December 11, 2019 Cinnamon Toast Crunch Brand General Mills Product Cinnamon Toast Crunch - Club 2-pack Company General Mills Issue Missing D Dairy designation The sleeve on the 2 pack, only bears a plain OU symbol. Each individual box, correctly bears a OU D Dairy designation. The product at this time does not contain actual dairy, but is produced on dairy equipment.

December 2, 2019 Carolina Brand Brown Rice STAR-K certified bags of Carolina brand brown rice with a best by date of September 2021 were found to be infested in Lakewood, New Jersey area stores. The infestation was traced to the distribution chain. Consumers should not use this product.They are urged to return the rice to the store for a full refund. Corrective action is being taken.

4 Kislev 5780 – December 2, 2019 Brand: Nuts.com Product Name: Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans (Sugar Free) Company: Nuts.com Cranford, NJ 07016 Issue: Mistaken Use of OK Pareve Symbol A limited amount of Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans (Sugar Free) sold by Nuts.com were mistakenly printed with a plain OK symbol. This product is certified kosher dairy, and correctly lists dairy in the ingredient list. Action: Corrective actions have been taken.

7 Kislev 5780 – December 5, 2019 Product Name: Klein’s Naturals Dark Chocolate Almonds Company: Klein’s Naturals Advisory: Please be advised that a limited number of display cases for Klein’s Naturals Dark Chocolate Almonds sold at Costco were mistakenly labeled with an OK P symbol. Individual product bags are correctly labeled with a plain OK symbol, kosher pareve for year round use.

At this time of year when many of us are using figs, dates and leeks, this is a reminder to check these items properly: DATES: It is recommended that one open and do a visual inspection on a few out of each container. If no insects can be seen, one can assume the rest are insect-free. FIGS: Open each one and check carefully for infestation (typically wasps, beetles or worms). Checking instructions for dates and figs apply even if they have a hechsher, due to the possibility of improper storage. LEEKS: Examine the outside for any leaf miner trails. Check in between the leaves for thrips or other insects. BLACK EYED PEAS: Dried peas should first be boiled in water. After they have been fully cooked, allow the peas to soak in the water for 2-3 hours. The peas will then swell and the peel will become translucent. Canned or frozen peas may be checked straight out of the can/bag; there is no need to boil or soak. To check, take the peas and inspect for holes or dark-colored stains as this may indicate an insect beneath the thin peel. If there is a dark spot on the peel, remove the thin skin and check if there is a cavity with a bug in it. (The black "eye" spot is not a sign of infestation. Similarly, orange colored stains on the surface are not signs of infestation; only dark or black stains are of concern.) Click here for Checking for Bugs Chart https://www.star-k.org/articles/wp-content/uploads/bugchecking2.pdf Click here for What Do Bugs Look Like Chart https://www.star-k.org/images/What-bugs-look-like.pdf Click here for Yoshon/Pas Yisroel Updates https://www.star-k.org/articles/yoshon/4123/yoshon-updates/

10 Elul 5779 – September 10, 2019 Brand: Montes Product Name: Andinetas Mix Company: Montes Y Cia SA de CV Jalisco, Mexico Issue: Mistaken Use of OK Pareve Symbol Montes brand Andinetas Mix (Chocolate Flavored Gems) sold at Sam’s Club locations in Mexico, have been mistakenly labeled with a plain OK symbol. These products contain milk, and are certified kosher dairy. Action: Corrective actions are being taken.

Shatnez in Oven Mitts Cuisinart brand oven mitts, product of China, pictured with label stating “100% Polyester Filling”, contain a shatnez filling. They are not pure polyester; they contain wool and linen. In general, oven mitt fillings should be checked for shatnez, especially if made in China. Silicone mitts without a filling do not require checking.