I PDF versions of the new Guide will be available soon. I will send out a new message when you will be able to download the PDF version. Meanwhile, reproduced below is the introductory section of the new Guide, outlining the changes. Many of these I send our earlier, some are new.
Y. Herman
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PREFACE TO PART TWO OF THE GUIDE
MAJOR CHANGES ARE COMING TO THE GUIDE
The next issue of the Guide, the first issue of the new season, to be published after the summer, will contain major changes. These changes are the result of our consultation with Roshei Yeshiva, Rabbonim and Mashgichim Shlita. In addition, the format of the Guide will also be greatly revised to make it easier to use.
When the printing of the Guide first began, about 33 years ago, we initiated the practice of gathering data by consulting companies over the telephone. This was done at that time under the advice of Gedolim ZTL. This approach made sense at that time since the concept of Chodosh and Yoshon were not known to the Gentile public, and Chodosh was not a significant factor for business profits. Therefore, the principle of mesiach lefi tuma was dememed applicable. Recently, it has become increasingly obvious that this principle may no longer be applicable, when Chodosh and Yoshon are recognized by Jew and Gentile alike, to be important in their business. Therefore, following the revised guidelines formulated by the Roshei Yeshiva, Rabbonim and Mashgichim Shlita whom we consulted, we will make the following changes in the Guide, starting with the first issue after the summer:
- We will only list products and establishments as being Yoshon, if they either have a hashgocho for Yoshon, or we can determine from independent sources that they probably are Yoshon.
- Consequently, we will no longer list in the Guide any bakery, pizza shop, or other establishment, whether run by Jew or Gentile, unless it has some certification as being Yoshon.Thus, establishments which have been listed until now in categories Ò and Ó will no longer be listed. (This will not infer that the establishments without such hashgocho cannot be relied upon, however, we will no longer be able to list them, unless they have hashgocho for Yoshon. Consumers may wish to warn their local establishments of this forthcoming change.)
- We will no longer list any wheat product as being Yoshon based solely on the testimony of the manufacturer that it is made with winter wheat.
- We will no longer rely on Chodosh starting dates provided by individual manufacturers, unless confirmed by a mashgiach. In these cases, we will substitute general Chodosh dates deduced from data supplied by the US Department of Agriculture, and other independent sources.
- Therefore, all intems listed until now in categories Ò and Ó will no longer be listed, unless we have such general independent data to indicated that they are Yoshon. (This is already being done in the current issues of the Guide for pasta, noodles and some other products.)
The result of all this may be initial inconvenience to the Yoshon consumer. We will do everything in our power to insure that such inconvenience is minimized and will be only temporary. We hope that the result of these changes will be to provide the consumer with products that are Yoshon based upon more sound halachic considerations.
ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS TO THE SECOND ISSUE OF THE GUIDE
REMINDER: All items containing malt should not be purchased after Mar. 15, unless one checks to make sure that the malt is Yoshon. Check the lists of ingredients for malt for cereals, pretzels, candies, cookies, etc where malt is used for flavoring or coloring. Exception to this deadline is malted barley flour or maltused in baking flour is allowed since it is botul, according to the poskim we have consulted.
HAND MATZOS FOR PESACH: We have contacted a number of hand matzos bakeries in the New York area. They all agreed unanimously that all of the wheat used for hand matzos, is Yoshon. It is cut in June and early July, whereas the Chodosh cutting in the US does not begin until the end of July. They also stated that spring wheat does not make a good and matzo product. These renewed facts agreed with what we have been told over the years when we raised this question..
15th Ave. Food Corporation that sells breads throughout the New York metropolitan area in groceries under the names off Sterns, Kohen and New York kosher. As of Chanukkah, they were able to acquire a new supply of whole wheat flour that is Yoshon. As a result, all their whole wheat products are once more Yoshon.
A&B Gefilte Fish and Royal Gefilte Fish are both Yoshon under the hashgocho of Rabbi Y. Gold. (So far as we know, all gefilte fish are Yoshon.)
American Roland pasta and cous cous are Yoshon under the hashgocho of the Star K of Baltimore.
Arrowhead Mills loose wheat kernels are from winter wheat.
Bestbrand products. A range of Best products are available that are Yoshon under the hashgocho of Rav Gruber. These include white flour, whole wheat flour, light wheat flour, spelt flour, spaghetti, macaroni and spirals. Other items may be added later. All with Yoshon label only.
Bordens Old London and Devonsheer melba toast. The new dating code for Aug 15 is 0522761 (05=not important, 227=day of the year, 6=year+1, 1=not important.)
Btam Yoshon bread crumbs in large, 25 pound bags are available. They have the hashgocho of the Badatz of Yerushalaim. Call 908-862-8200.
Con Agra Harvest all purpose flour with CC in the dating code is from winter wheat.
Diari pasta and cous cous are Yoshon under the hashgocho of the Star K of Baltimore.
Dr. Praeger breaded fish products and fish cakes, all varieties, are always Yoshon as stated in the Guide. Dr. Praeger's veggie burgers, vegetable pancakes, and Nuggets contain some oat bran. All packages with codes such as L05AE use Yoshon oat bran. However packages with the code of W05, where W is the first letter, contain Chodosh oat bran.
Eagle Bakery, address correction: 3801 13th Ave., Brooklyn, New York.
Eden Soy Light soy milk. The date on the package is 1 year after packing. For barley in the ingredients (not malt) use Oct 1 06 as the Chodosh date. For barley malt, use Jan 15 07.
Em Zee Fruit Flicks are Yoshon.
Everything Spelt Bakery in Monsey. All items are Yoshon at all times, including items containing oats. Under the hashgocho of Rav Weissmandl.
Gefen Rice Milk is Yoshon. Gefen soups in cups and the pancake mix are Yoshon. All Gefen pasta and noodle products have a Chodosh code of 05233 (05=year, 233=day of the year.) Gefen Tam Tam crackers are Yoshon, including malt, at least until a purchase date of mid March.
General Mills Reeses Puffs cereal. Use the codes for 248 days given in the table in the Guide. General Mills Total cereals have a date that is 310 days after packing.
Glick Graham pie crust is Yoshon.
Gustoro cous cous is Yoshon under the hashgocho of the Star K of Baltimore.
Kemach updates: Kemach spelt matzos come from Israel and are Yoshon. The malt in the cereals will be Chodosh starting with the code of Feb.21 2007 (1 year after packing). The Wheat Flour and Wheat Starch in the Choco Chippers cereal is from Winter Wheat. All Kemach Egg Noodles must say Yoshonstarting in February to be considered Yoshon. Vegetable Soup mix is Chodosh starting with a code (for Nov 22, 2005) of 3287 (328=day of the year, 7=year+2). Minestrone Soup Mix is Chodosh starting with a code of 0178 (see code above). Snacker Crackers and Graham Crackers may contain Chodosh malt starting a code of 015 (day of the year, other letters not important.) There were some problems with worms in several batches of Kemach bread flour. That flour has been withdrawn from the market. The supplier which provided that problematic flour has been replaced with a new flour supplier that is milling freshly milled flour from Yoshon wheat. Therefore we do not anticipate any further worm problems with Kemach flour. The old flour had a code on it that is not a simple date. If any of those are found they should be sifted. The new flour bags can be recognized by a regular date: month, day and year, stamped on the top of the bag. The same new supplier is also making available freshly milled Kemach Yoshon whole wheat flour in 2 pound bags. There is no malt in whole wheat flour which is always Yoshon. Kemach flours, other than whole wheat, may contain some Chodosh malt starting with a package date of September 15, 2007.
Kikkoman teriyaki sauce is listed in the Guide as being Yoshon. Apparently this product lost its kosher supervision. In that case, of course, it is not recommended at all.
King Arthur pastry wheat flour uses winter wheat only. The white whole wheat flour uses spring wheat, despite the label claiming that it uses only winter wheat. King Arthur regular whole wheat flour and stone ground whole wheat flour also use spring wheat, Chodosh date Aug 15 code 08 15 06 (1 year after packing.)
Kinneret and Kosherific frozen chalehs, latke mixes and fish sticks are Yoshon until pesach Kinneret onion rings are now Chodosh. Cookie dough mixes are not recommended due to insufficient information.
Kosher Gourmet produces frozen hospital food packages. These are all Yoshon, without hashgocho for Yoshon.
Liebers brownies are probably Chodosh at this time. Liebers graham and saltine crackers may contain a small amount of barley malt that is Chodosh starting at this time according to the mashgiach.
Lipton herbal teas may contain wheat in the ingredients. If there is wheat in the ingredients, then the Chodosh code for Aug 15 is 5H15 (5=year, H=Aug in alph. order with A=Jan and X=Sept, 15=date).
Manischewitz Tam Tam crackers are Yoshon, including malt, at least until a purchase date of mid March.
Mishpacha noodles and pasta are all Yoshon. The orzo does not have a Yoshon label, but it also is Yoshon without the label. Yoshon under the hashgocho of Rabbi Teitelbaum, the Nirbarter Rav.
Paskesz Encore candy under the hashgocho of Rabbi Westheim is Yoshon.
Pizza Mizza, 305 Ave. K., Brooklyn, New York, telephone 718-692-2800. Everything in the store is Yoshon. No hashgocho for Yoshon.
Primoro pasta and cous cous are Yoshon under the hashgocho of the Star K of Baltimore.
Rokeach homontashen by Daves Cookies are probably Chodosh at this time.
Spencer Catering, 7601 147th St, St, Flushing New York (Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim) Telephone 718-793-4415. All catering Yoshon under the hashgocho of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens.
Spiga pasta and cous cous are Yoshon under the hashgocho of the Star K of Baltimore.
Twizzler and other licorice products from YS Hersey all use winter wheat. If there is malt in the ingredients,, the Chodosh code for Jan 06 is 58LYU7A, where the last 2 characters are important.7=year+1, A=month in alph. order, day of month not used.
