Update from the Guide to Chodosh

[Y. Herman]

CHODOSH NEWS AS OF 16 JAN 03



MANISCHEWITZ Tam Tam crackers are Yoshon, including the malt, at least up to the packing date of Feb. 28. Manischewitz pasta has the Chodosh date of Oct 17, code 2902 (290=day of year, 2=year).

GOURMET ON THE BAY, 8501 Bay Pkwy in Brooklyn. Revised listing: Everything is Yoshon besides barley, couscous and anything made with Chinese eggroll skins. Under the hashgocho of Kehilah Kashrus.

ESSEX ON THE CONEY, 1359 Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn. The American side is Yoshon, including noodles and pasta, but excluding the egg rolls, hamburger and frankfurter rolls, baguettes, fries, square knishes, and fancy cakes. Also excluded are anything that is fried. On the Chinese side nothing is Yoshon. Under the hashgocho of Kehilah Kashrus.

LANDAU SUPERMARKET, 4510 18th Ave, Brooklyn, 718-633-0633. All items in the bakery and takeout sections are Yoshon. No hashgocho for Yoshon.

MATAMIM CATERERS, 4302 16th Ave, Brooklyn, 718-435-8556. Mrs. Resnick. All catered items are Yoshon. No hashgocho for Yoshon.

KEMACH correction. The malt in flour date given below applies only to the regular baking flour. The high gluten flour is always Yoshon, including the malt (since the flour is in storage.)



CHODOSH NEWS AS OF 8 JAN 03



ANNUAL MALT REMINDER



We never found any malt manufacturer that begins to ship Chodosh malt from the new barley crop earlier than Dec. 15. The malt is then shipped, Dec. 15 or later, to other factories that begin to use it in the end products. Therefore, using the terminology established in the Guide, all malt in foods is definitelyYoshon before Dec 15. Up to Jan. 15 such malt is probablyYoshon

The following applications of malt pose a problem of Chodosh. Malt is used for several purposes. Foods using malt for flavoring or coloring should not be used if packed after Dec 15 or at least Jan 15 since that malt may be Chodosh. That includes cereals flavored with malt such as Corn Flakes and Rice Crispies, as well as most pretzels where it is used for coloring. Beer is also included in the category of items which are Chodosh because of malt. (In the case of beer, we recommend that the Dec 15 date should be used, not the probable date of Jan 15.) In addition there are specialty vinegars such as malt vinegar, terragon vinegar and salad vinegar which are made with high concentrations of malt.

We had urged our readers to avoid some items in the past because they may contain barley malt. We have since discovered that many of these are not a problem so far as the malt content is concerned. This includes baking flour that lists barley malt in the ingredients. Also permitted are most vinegar-based items such as ordinary household vinegar, and condiments such as ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, pickles, etc.



OTHER UPDATES



KEMACH malt update. All Kemach cereals dated Jan 04 or later may have Chodosh malt. All flour dated Jan 13 04 or later may have Chodosh malt. Bread sticks have no malt and are Yoshon. Crackers malt status to be announced.

LIEBERS cereals. All cereals containing oats or wheat germ should be considered Chodosh now. No codes given. Malt in cereals is Yoshon. Liebers potato chips and corn chips are Yoshon. All under the hashgocho of Rav Weissmandl.

FLOUR USA. Caution, the high gluten flours in brown paper bags made by this company may be Chodosh at this time. Those bags that contain Chodosh flour have the Yoshon label crossed out. Always check the label on the bags.

LANDAU whole wheat pasta is Chodosh at this time. No code given.

LE CHAIM Potato Crisps (like Pringles) is Yoshon. It contains no flour. The flour listed in the ingredients is by error.

BEECHNUT baby foods code update. For example for the sample code of 2507MAY04, look only at the first 4 characters. 2=year, 5=month(1=Jan&9=Sept, X=Oct, Y=Nov, Z=Dec), 07 day of the year. For oats and barley the code would be Sept 14=2914& For wheat Sept 11, code 2911&

MAYPO oats Chodosh date is Sept 21 (Note earlier than the date in the Guide!), code SEPT 21 2003 (1 year after packing). Maypo farina is Yoshon.

KOSHER BITE restaurant in Baltimore. Not all items are Yoshon. Yoshon is only available on some items and only on request. Ask at the restaurant.

SOUTH AFRICA. Up to date Yoshon information is available from the UOS, The Union of Orthodox Synagogues of South Africa in Johannesburg. Their Yoshon Bulletin may be accessed on the Web at the address <http://www.uos.co.za/>www.uos.co.za. Look for the Kashrus Guide. Under that look for Yoshon Update. You can also call them at 011-27-11-485-4865.

MANNA frozen pizza is Yoshon under the hashgocho of the Star-K. This is stated in the Guide, but is hidden there.

GENERAL MILLS cereal Lucky Charm is NOT KOSHER. The Guide does state that we take no responsibility for kashrus. Nevertheless, we try not to include items that are known not to be kosher. This cereal should be deleted.



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THE FOLLOWING AS OF 29 DEC 02



The second issue of the Guide to Chodosh has been mailed out to all the subscribers. The following are additions and corrections to the second issue of the Guide.



BENZYS MARTISCO AND UNGER BARLEY UPDATE. The second issue of the Guide described in great detail the halachic questions raised by these brands of barley. Refer to that Guide for the details. We suggested that you consult your Rov or Posek for halachic guidance. After the publication of the second Guide, on Dec. 13, 02 a letter was issued by Rabbi Evan Shore of the Young Israel of Syracuse. It states that Rabbi Shore visited Martisco (that packs all 3 brands of barley in question) and verified that all of the barley at Martisco on that date was of the Yoshon batch sealed under the hashgocho of the Ottawa Vaad Hakashrus. Based on that one time inspection, the letter concludes, in the words of Rabbi Shore, Without reservation I can say that the barley packaged by the Martisco Bean Company is Yoshon.I had left two telephone messages on Rabbi Shores answer machine asking that he call me back for clarifications. I also left a telephone message with Unger/Martiscos agent asking that Rabbi Shore call me. I sent a fax to both the agent and Unger with the same request. Despite the agents assurance about a week ago that Rabbi Shore will call me, that call never came. Perhaps, Rabbi Shore is out of town&? I have several serious questions about this letter. Since Rabbi Shore has not called me back yet I have no choice but to detail my questions here. When you ask your Rov of Posek whether or not to use Benzys, Martisco or Unger barley, add the following questions regarding Rabbi Shores letter:

· How significant is Rabbi Shores finding that all of the barley at Martisco was Yoshon based on only one visit, especially since it appears that the visit was expected and prearranged by the company (the agent told me ahead of the time that the visit will take place) ?

· There is no reason to suspect that Martisco will necessarily bring in Chodosh barley to include in their packing. However, how can Rabbi Shore guarantee that in writing?

· How can Rabbi Shore give assurances that all of the barley packed by Martisco will be Yoshon the entire season, when he does not even claim to have been there at any of the packing?

OTHER ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS TO THE GUIDE

LE CHAIM FRUIT BARS. The Guide states that they are all Yoshon under the hashogocho of the Mechon LHoroah of Monsey. The Mechon has asked that we warn the public that the latest packing of these candy bars may be Chodosh. The following package codes should be avoided: 23501, 23502 and 23512.



ARROWHEAD MILLS whole wheat bread flour is from winter wheat.



MRS. SILBER, 6 Maple Leaf Road Monsey sells 3 kinds of whole wheat flour. At this time these are Yoshon without hashgocho for Yoshon. They may be Chodosh in the future, ask.

AMNON frozen falafel balls are Yoshon.









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Y. Herman

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