BULLETIN FROM THE GUIDE TO CHODOSH
18 Feb 04
The third and final issue of the Guide for the season was mailed out on Thursday, Feb. 12. Meanwhile you can receive via E mail a copy of this Guide free of charge using the addresses and methods described at the end of this message. We issued the notice that the newest Guide is available by E mail about a week ago. However, those who requested the plain text version only received the earlier, second issue. That item has now been updated to the latest issue. Please request that again for the updated version. We apologize for the trouble.
THE FOLLOWING ARE NEW ITEMS SINCE THE PRINTING OF THE 3RD ISSUE OF THE GUIDE
WARNING: We have received a warning from a mashgiach regarding soy sauce and teriyaki sauce. In the 3rd issue of the Guide we warned that soy sauce is used very frequently with Chinese foods. It appears that some restaurants which claim to be Yoshon are not aware of the fact that soy sauce may be Chodosh if it contains wheat flour. This mashgiach from a (non-Yoshon) non-Chinese restaurant pointed out that soy and teriyaki sauces are used by chefs in a great variety of foods as a standard condiment, even in non-Chinese foods. His restaurant even uses it in tuna fish salad! Many such sauces contain flour and may be Chodosh. We share his concern about how many Yoshonrestaurants and caterers are aware of this problem. Meanwhile let the consumer beware and ask before eating in restaurants. I would appreciate communications from those reading this. Do you know how widespread this problem may be? Please send me E mail (do not respond to this message. Rather, send me E mail at [EMAIL PROTECTED] ) if you have any relevant information about either the frequency of use of these products or about the manufacturing processes of the sauces that may be relevant.
We have received many voice calls on the Hot Line about a product that sounded like Em Zee Fruit Flicks. If someone has a wrapper from this item, can they please E mail me the exact spelling of the company, the product and a sample code.
General Mills cereals that contain oats, the Chodosh packing date has changed from Oct 20 to Nov 11. All of the codes mentioned in the Guide for General Mills cereals with oats should be adjusted accordingly. Namely, for 248 days, the oats date is changed from Jun 24 04 to Jul 15 04. For 279 the Jul 25 04 date is changed to Aug 16 04. For 310 days, the Aug 25 04 date is changed to Sept 15 04. For 372 days, the Oct 26 04 date is changed to Nov 16 04.
Directly below is the first section of the Preface to the new Guide, summarizing the changes from the last issue.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES FROM THE PREVIOUS ISSUE OF THE GUIDE
NEW WARNINGS:
- We have always stated that items made from spelt are always Yoshon. That was based on the fact that still holds that US-grown spelt is always Yoshon. However, with the increased imports of grain from Canada, some items made in the US are now from Canadian spelt that may be Chodosh. One example is Vita spelt (see below.) We are now in the process of reexamining the status of some domestic spelt products to see the source of their spelt flour.
- Some items using flour made from winter wheat also list wheat starch in the ingredients. We used to state that the wheat starch is not a Chodosh problem. However, that may not always be accurate. An example of this is Duncan Hines products listed below.
· We have been informed that many restaurants that serve Chinese food may not realize that almost all soy sauces contain wheat which may be Chodosh at this time. Apparently the soy sauce is a common ingredient in many of their dishes. As stated in the last Guide, we are only aware of two brands of soy sauce that are Yoshon, Gefen and LaChoy (La Choy does not contain wheat, check ingredients for oats and barley or malt.) We urge all those who want to order Chinese Yoshonfood, to check on the soy sauce.
· Malt in Kellogs cereals. We have always been informed that the Chodosh malt is never shipped before Dec 15 of each year. The COR of Toronto informed us just before this Guide went to the printer that Kellogs in the USA may have received Chodosh malt as early as Nov 21. We have not had the time to investigate this further. Meanwhile we have revised the Kellogs listing to recommend Nov 21 as the Chodosh packing date for malt. Thusfar we are not recommending any changes in the malt dates for other companies, pending further investigation.
OTHER NEWS AND CHANGES
Gefilte Fish. So far as we know, all gefilte fish are Yoshon. Most contain matzo meal. A&B Gefilte fish contains bread crumbs, but they use only Yoshon bread.
HADAR PRODUCTS-PLEASE Please DO NOT CALL the Chodosh Hot Line regarding Hadar products. The mashgiach for Hadar insists that we respond to all inquiries by stating that only items stating Yoshonon the label are to be accepted as Yoshon. All others may be Chodosh and no dating codes will be given.
Ð Liebers. The following products are Yoshon: all soups, soup mixes and soups in cups, all cookies and cereals without oats, (with oats they are probably Chodosh) bread crumbs, corn chips, ice cream cones, all cake mixes, licorice, candies, Coat & Bake baking spray, all under the hashgocho of Rav Weissmadl.
WARNING: × Liebers brownies are now Chodosh.
Ð Empire pizza, hot dog wraps are Yoshon under the hashgocho of the O-U.
Ð Glicks baking spray with flour is Yoshon, under the hashghocho of the KAJ.
Ð Kineret pizza, hot dog wraps are Yoshon under the hashgocho of the O-U. The following Yoshon under the hashgocho of Rav Weissmandl: Kineret frozen chalehs. Also Yoshon under the hashgocho of Rav Weissmandl are Kineret and Kosherrific fish products and onion rings.
Ð Mishpacha flours, all purpose and high gluten, are all Yoshon under the hashgocho of Rav Aron Teitelbaum, the Nirbator Rav. Also Yoshon are Mishpacha baking spray with flour, bread crumbs, matzo balls. All items that are Yoshon have a Yoshon label on the package.
× NOT Yoshon is Mishpacha Chow Mein noodles.
Ð Old City Café pizza, hot dog wraps are Yoshon under the hashgocho of the O-U. Rav Weissmandl certifies the above as Yoshon plus also burritos and macaroni and cheese dinners.
Ð Old City pasta and pizza products are Yoshon. Under the hashgocho of Rav Weissmandl.
Ð Sabra Salads when displaing the B'Datz Mehadrin logo are Yoshon under the hashgocho of Rabbi Yehudah Shain.
Ð Setton International licorice is Yoshon. Under the hashgocho of Rav Weissmandl.
Ð Upscale Foods, St.Paul Minnesota. The following are Yoshon under the hashgocho of United Mehadrin Kosher, St. Paul MN: Pizzas, Tortillas, burritos, enchilada-Salsa. (Note the Upscale Foods produces Old City Café, Empire and Kineret products listed in this section.
Ñ Gefen barley packed in November through least the packing date of Dec 8, code 8 DE 05 (8=day, DE=December, 05=year+2), is Yoshon under the hashgocho of Rabbis Perez and Freedman. Gefen barley packed before November is Yoshon without hashgocho. Gefen chocolate wafers, Tam Tam crackers and Tariaki sauce are all Yoshon without hashgocho for Yoshon.
Ñ Kemach Minestrone soup mix is Chodosh starting with a code of 2685 (268=day of the year, 5=year+2). Vegetable soup mix is Chodosh starting with a code of 3535. All other soup mixes may be Chodosh if purchased after Jan 26 04. The malt in Kemach cereals, and crackers may be Chodosh starting with a packing date of Jan 1 04. The code for cereals for Jan 1 is Jan 1 05 (1 year after packing) as last year. For crackers the code is 4 001 (4=year, 001 is day of the year.) For oats in cookies, the Chodosh date is Dec 1, code 3 335.
Ñ Larom products including frozen dough items are Yoshon as of Jan. 12, but may be Chodosh now. Under the hashgocho of Rav Weissmandl.
Ñ Smackin Good potato knishes are Chodosh now. Waffles were Yoshon as of the purchase date of Jan 12, but may be Chodosh at this time. Under the hashgocho of Rav Weissmandl.
Ò Landau Whole wheat pretzels and whole wheat pasta from the Landlev Corp are Yoshon.
Ò Windmill Farms spelt breads without wheat are Yoshon. Organic wheat breads are also Yoshon since they use winter wheat flour.
Ó Barbaras Bakery.We have received a complete list of dating codes for the full line of Barbara cereals, and other products. If you have a question about a specific item call the Hot Line (845-356-5743) or send an E mail message with the exact name on the product wrapper.
Ó Barilla Pasta code given in the Guide is correct, with a slight modification: The probable Chodosh date of Sept 15 may have a code like 436583. (Start from the last digit, 3=year. Take the next 3 digits before the last one, 658 and subtract 400 to yield 258, the day of the year for Sept 15. The first digits such as 43 are not important.)
ÒÓ ConAgra H&R (Hotel and Restaurant) flour from factory MC is always Yoshon. Malt may be Chodosh staring the packing date of Jan 15 code MC011504 (MC=factory, 01=Jan, 15=day, 04=year). However note in the discussion about malt that according to many poskim malt is botul in baking flour.
:Ó Duncan Hines cake and cookie mixes. The Guide has always stated that these are from winter wheat, inferring that they are always Yoshon. According to the O-U mashgiach, the flour used for the mixes is indeed winter wheat. HOWEVER, the wheat starch is mostly from spring wheat and is probably Chodosh starting with a packing date of Aug 15. The code for Aug 15 is either 3227 (3=year, 227=day of the year) or 227M3 (227=day of the year, M=not important, 3=year).
Ó Goodmans Rice with Vermicelli has the Chodosh date of Sept 1, code 2445 (244=day of the year, 5=year+2).
Ó Hodgson Mills spelt flour and wheat germ are both Yoshon (without hashgocho). Hodgson Mills products have a code clarification: Whole wheat pasta and whole wheat organic pasta code is a date 2 years after packing. Probable Chodosh code Sept 15 05. All others 18 months, as listed in the previous Guide.
Ó Rice Dream contains a tiny amount of barley protein. We are unable to ascertain the halachic significance of this additive. Therefore, to avoid any questions of Chodosh, use the Chodosh cutoff packing date of Sept 15. For Rice Dream beverages that do not require refrigeration at the store the code is Sept 15 04 (1 year after packing.) For Rice Dream in the refrigerated cases at the store, the code is Oct 30 03 (45 days after packing.)
Ó Vita spelt flour from Purity Foods. The whole grain spelt flour is Yoshon. The white spelt flour may be Chodosh starting with the packing date of Sept 1, code March 1 04 (6 months after packing.)
× Liebers brownies are now Chodosh.
× Martisco barley can not be recommended as Yoshon until we receive further updates.
× Weinz potato chips may be Chodosh at this time according to the mashgiach.
NEW YOSHON-PRODUCING FACILITIES
Ò Gotta Getta Bagel shops 311 Central Ave, Lawrence, NY 11559 (516-374-1131) and 1039 Broadway, Woodmere, NY (516) 569-6628. All items produced in the stores are Yoshon (without hashgocho for Yoshon).
Ò Lekach Tov Bakery, 4809 New Utrecht Ave, Brooklyn, 718-435-5650. All chalehs, cakes and cookies are Yoshon, without hashgocho for Yoshon.
Ò Weiss Wholesale Bakery, 143 Front St., Brooklyn, NY 11201. All items baked are Yoshon without hashgocho for Yoshon.
Ó Circa Restaurant, 1505 Ave J, Brooklyn. The following are Yoshon without hashogocho: pizza, wraps, pasta and pastries. The following are Chodosh: breads, bagels, French fries.
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