Update bulletin from the Guide to Chodosh

[Y. Herman]

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 “definitely” Yoshon before Dec 15. Up to Jan. 15 such malt is 
“probably” Yoshon
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 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.

---------------------------------------------------
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.

BENZY’S 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 Shore’s answer machine asking that 
he call me back for clarifications. I also left a telephone message with 
Unger/Martisco’s agent asking that Rabbi Shore call me. I sent a fax to 
both the agent and Unger with the same request. Despite the agent’s 
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 Benzy’s, Martisco or Unger barley, add the 
following questions regarding Rabbi Shore’s letter:
·       How significant is Rabbi Shore’s 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 L’Horoah 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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