Kosher Alerts

As of last night, No Frills at Bathurst and Wilson was still selling some sweet orange, red, and yellow peppers from Israel with "Carmel" stickers. However, most of the sweet peppers were not from Israel. Please be cautious as Israeli peppers are mixed together with the non Israeli peppers. The store sign states "Produce of Israel" and was posted on January 4th. Akiva’s at Steeles and Bathurst is selling large vine tomatoes with stickers saying "Carmel". At Sobey’s on Clark there are still some remaining Israeli "Carmel" peppers together with non Israeli peppers in the same pile. Please look at each pepper before purchase. If the pepper is not marked, it may be Israeli or non-Israeli. The Superstore on Dufferin is still selling organic sweet red, orange and yellow Israeli peppers. These peppers are individually wrapped, each with a label indicating that it is grown in Israel. The store sign says "Produce of Holland"! Highland Farms on Dufferin north of Finch is selling Israeli Mejol dates and Israeli persimmons (still fruit of the 6th year). The persimmons come in hard plastic container, seven in a container. The label says "Nature Candy, Sharon Fruit." Highland Farms signs indicate that it is Israeli produce. In addition they are selling high quality large vine tomatoes. Some of the tomatoes on one vine may have a "Carmel" sticker while others from the same vine may not have a sticker. It appears that all the tomatoes in that bin are Israeli. as indicated by the sign. They are also selling in their organic section sweet organic peppers, red, orange and yellow, individually wrapped, with stickers indicating that they are from Israel. The sticker bears the company name, "Ago Fresh Pro". Fortino’s on Lawrence is selling organic peppers, red, orange and yellow, individually wrapped. On the wrapping is a sticker indicating that they are produce of Israel. The store sign says "produce of Holland"! The sticker says Ago Fresh Pro. They are also selling large organic vine tomatoes in a plastic bag with the name Ago Fresh Pro. Sobey’s near Ner Yisroel (Carville) is carrying peppers, persimmons, and yellow tomatoes from Israel. So far, we have identified the following companies as exporters of Israeli produce: 1) Carmel 2) Sharon 3) Ago Fresh Pro 4) Gilad 5) Aviv I would like to reiterate that once Israeli produce is in the GTA it may be anywhere and it is up to the consumer to be cautious before purchasing produce. 1 Shvat 5768/ January 8, 2008 Rabbi Tsvi Heber Kashruth Council of Canada (P) 416 635-9550 x 365

We wish to alert you to the fact that some packages of Hermes Ready-to-Bake Frozen Cheese Blintzes were inadvertently labeled as Potato Blintzes. If you purchased this product, please check to see that it is not Cheese. Measures have been taken to ensure that this does not happen again.

Shemittah 5768 is having a substantial impact on the Jewish community of the GTA. A variety of Israeli produce has surfaced at the Toronto Food Terminal, the central locale for imported produce to the GTA. Examples of such produce include peppers, a variety of tomatoes, flower zucchini, gooseberries, chives and persimmons. The aforementioned items as well as other Israeli produce that is imported to the GTA this year are subject to the laws of Shemittah. The laws of Shemittah are vastly complex and are beyond the scope of this article. Consumers are urged to consult with their Rabbonim for direction. Rabbi Tsvi Heber, Rabbinic Coordinator for COR – Kashruth Council, has developed a special interest email group to disseminate Shemittah updates. This group includes Shuls, Rabbis, Mashgichim and members of the community that have already signed up to receive real time Shemittah updates by email. The objective of a Shemittah update is to provide current information as to the types and location of Israeli produce in the GTA. If you would like to join this special interest email group, please send your email address to Rabbi Heber along with a short note indicating that you would like to join. 24 Teves 5768/Janury 2, 2008 Please be advised that there has been a recent inflow of Israeli yellow, orange and red peppers into the GTA. The consumer is advised to ensure that he/she properly identifies the country of origin of peppers before purchase. This can be accomplished by observing the sticker on the pepper, where applicable, or by observing the signage that is posted in the supermarket that should indicate country of origin. Please note that although, by law, a supermarket is obligated to identify the country of origin of produce, the sign is not always accurate as new produce may come in before the sign is changed. Below, we will identify specific supermarkets where Israeli produce has been found. This is not an indication that Israeli produce is not found anywhere else. If produce is in the GTA, it could be anywhere and it is up to the consumer to be diligent. Yellow, red and orange peppers from Israel are being sold in No Frills (Bathurst and Wilson). They are mixed together with peppers from Mexico. The peppers may be marked with a Carmel sticker that indicates their country of origin. These peppers are being sold at Sobey’s (Clark) as well. Pre-packed Rainbow Peppers may contain individual peppers from Israel. The package will indicate country of origin. Devine Organic Clementine’s sold in Fortinos (Lawrence) on Monday were identified as a product of Israel through a sign in the supermarket. The identification on the packaging may be misleading. Israeli Deri and Majol Figs, Sharon Persimmons, Carmel Cherry Tomatoes, and regular and organic Peppers from Israel have been seen at Highland Farms (Dufferin, North of Finch). Fruit, in general, are still from the 6th year and are subject to the laws of terumos and maaseros. Please contact your Rabbi for further details. If you would like to join to the COR Shemittah Email Group and receive regular advisories, please send me a short email indicating that you would like to join. Rabbi Tsvi Heber Kashruth Council of Canada (P) 416 635-9550 x 365

Products: Non Dairy Creamer Company: Gordon Food Service- Grand Rapids, MI Issue: This product contains dairy ingredients as listed on the ingredient panel but the dairy designation has been inadvertently omitted. Consumers should be aware that "Non Dairy Creamers" may, and often do, contain dairy ingredients.

Gift tins being distributed by Hamakor Judaica of Skokie, IL containing an assortment of chocolate covered cashews and raisins, bear a sticker with the cRc logo. Please be aware that this product is dairy, cholov stam.

"The Grove" brand BerryBerry Almond Mix bears a cRc logo with both a pareve and a Á¥on the label. The product is indeed dairy, non-cholov Yisroel. Future labels are being corrected.

Crayola Hanukkah Cookie Kit distributed by BrandCastle, certified by the Star-K, lists dairy items in the ingredient panel. The item is, in fact, Pareve. The ingredient list is incorrect.

These products contain dairy ingredients as listed on the ingredient panel but the dairy designation has been inadvertently omitted. Future packaging will be revised Chocolate Nut Mix (UPC# 669887502146) Trail Mix (UPC# 669887502108) Suntree, LLC- Orosi, CA

The following alerts are from Rabbi Y. Herman, editor of the Chodosh/yoshon guide. REVISED ALERT!! The Gefen Company asked that an urgent bulletin be issued. Two batches of Gefen barley, that went to the stores during the week of Nov 11, are NOT YOSHON. These have the codes of 10-22-09 and 10-29-09. Gefen had a contract with a company to store Yoshon barley to last the entire season. However, that company went bankrupt and the stock of Yoshon barley was liquidated. Gefen has not been able to secure replacement stocks of Yoshon barley. Therefore, until further notice, all Gefen barley with date code of 10-22-09 or later is Chodosh. The following has just been sent from the Star-K hashgocho in Baltimore: Until further notice, SHINDLER’S FISH STICKS and SHINDLER’S FISH NUGGETS in retail blue packaging, sold in the New York area, are not yoshon even when the package says Yoshon. The problem will be corrected in the near future.

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. Caffe D’Amor- Monrovia, CA UPC: 027825001517

Sherbet (Assorted Flavors). This product contains dairy ingredients as listed on the ingredient panel but the dairy designation has been inadvertently omitted. Future packaging has been revised

THE MK WISHES TO INFORM THE PUBLIC THAT CELERY BEING SOLD IN STORES COMING IN FROM THE UNITED STATES SHOULD NOT BE USED UNLESS IT HAS BEEN CHECKED FOR LEAF MINOR.

The Gefen Company asked that an urgent bulletin be issued. Due to a production error, two batches of Gefen barley are NOT YOSHON. These have the codes of 10-22-09 and 10-29-09. All other batches of barley continue to be Yoshon under hashgocho, both those produced before these batches and those to be produced in the future. We thank the company for this alert that was issued as soon as the problem was discovered. This batch of Chodosh barley will first be sent to the stores during the week of Nov 11.

Caramel Milk Chocolate - 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.

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. Peanut Butter Cups UPC# 4126926078 or 4126926074