Kosher Alerts

Shemittah Wine Alert Israeli wines from the 2022 vintage were produced during the shemittah year and are currently available in the local Chicago market and beyond. Some were produced in reliance on the heter mechirah, and for those who do not subscribe to that position, the wine is forbidden (since it did not have a proper biur). These wines may be labeled as heter mechirah, but any 2022 wine from Israel should be carefully checked for this concern. Others were produced using the Otzar Beis Din setup (and are labeled accordingly); they have fulfilled the biur requirement, but it is generally accepted that they still have kedushas shevi’is. Accordingly, if they were purchased, they may be consumed but should be treated with kedushas shevi’is. For details on the issues involved, including how to consume wine with kedushas shevi’is, see the articles by Rav Yona Reiss, shlita, and Rabbi Dovid Cohen in Volume 9 of the cRc Shemittah Newsletter available at https://kshr.us/Kedusha As with all items, consumers are reminded to verify that the wine is certified by a reliable hechsher.

February 29, 2024 from the Kof-K in response to a question from the Kashrus.com editor: Lindt LINDOR Non-Dairy Oatmilk Candy bears a Kof-K dairy. It is dairy, even thought the product is listed as vegan. From the Kof-K: "Please note the KOF-K certifies and labels items as Parve, Dairy, Meat and DE. We use DE when we can and if we did not it is because the item is Halachically dairy even if the ingredient legend does not seem to contain any dairy components and you should use that item as it is marked."

January 31, 2024 from the OU: Old Vienna of St. Louis Honey BBQ Ranch Flavored Potato Chips, Old Vienna of St. Louis, Fenton MO has a missing D - Dairy Designation: The Orthodox Union certifies Old Vienna of St. Louis Honey BBQ Ranch Flavored Potato Chips as an OU D - Dairy product. Some 2.5 oz. bags were printed with an OU mark, without the D - Dairy designation. This products contains dairy as indicated in the ingredients and allergens statements. Corrective actions are being implemented.

LIEBER’S PRETZELS with the code “015X” have an erroneously printed label indicating Yoshon on some bags. These products are not actually Yoshon, as Chodosh malt was accidentally used in this particular batch.

February 5, 2024 from the COR Detroit: DUNCAN HINES MIXES: The OU has confirmed that all Duncan Hines Cake Mixes and all Duncan Hines Brownie Mixes are always Yoshon.

February 5, 2024 from the COR Detroit: RICOLA COUGH / THROAT DROPS: Only the following varieties are recommended by the cRc (Chicago Rabbinical Council). They do not require a certification sticker: Original (Natural) Herb, Honey Herb, and Lemon Mint - regular and Sugar Free.

January 18, 2024 from the OU in response to a question from the Kashrus.com editor: The Hershey’s Simply 5 Syrup is labeled OUD, but in fact, its true status, at the present time, is DE (Dairy Equipment). September 18, 2023 and January 17, 2024 from the OU in response to a question from the Kashrus.com editor: The Hershey’s Original Syrup is labeled OUD, but in fact, its true status, at the present time, is DE (Dairy Equipment). What does DE mean? A DE product does not contain actual dairy ingredients, but it is manufactured with heat on dairy equipment. DE items may be eaten after meat, but not with meat at the same time. Many products qualify to be DE but are labeled OUD because OUD is a less confusing symbol for the kosher consumer. Also, to be a true DE product, the equipment must be properly cleaned of residue after dairy production, and that level of cleanliness is sometimes difficult to maintain and guarantee. Please note that it is possible that the manufacturer will reformulate this product and add a true dairy ingredient. You will not be able to know this, since the OUD kosher symbol will remain the same. We recommend that you contact our office every few months to reconfirm the DE status of this product.

January 18, 2024 from the OU in response to a question from the editor: There are two versions of Kind Thins Dark Chocolate Nuts and Sea Salt Thins: The one marked OU is Parve. The one marked OUD is DE (Dairy Equipment).

January 22, 2024 from the OU: Birch Benders Blueberry Muffin Mix, Hometown Food Company, Toledo OH has a missing D - Dairy Designation: The Orthodox Union certifies Birch Benders Blueberry Muffin Mix as an OU D - Dairy product. This product contains dairy as indicated in the ingredients and allergens statements. Some packaging bears an OU mark without the D - Dairy designation. Corrective actions are being implemented.