The new Guide to Chodosh is available! Updated bulletin on Gefen barley

[Y. Herman]

The Guide to Chodosh has gone to the printer. We hope to mail out the 
printed copies by early next week. Meanwhile, you can download the new 
issue by email as usual. The new Guide is in two sections. The body of 
the Guide, which contains the information you need day to day is in Part 
2. This is the part being printed and will be mailed out. The first part 
of the old Guide, that has not changed, is available separately as in 
"Introduction".

To the get the new Guide, the part 2, send a blank email message to ONE 
of the following:
chodosh at sefer.org
chodosh at moruda.com

To get the introductory part, the part that has not changed from the 
first issue, send a blank email to
chodosh-intro at sefer.org

As usual, the beginning of the new Guide has a list of all the news and 
changes from the old Guide. You have seen most of all these items in the 
bulletins that I have issued over the last few weeks. However, there are 
some new items, including an update that Gefen barley will remain 
Chodosh until further notice, starting with a package code of 10-22-09. 
This list is reproduced below:


    *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, the Guide assumes that all malt in foods is Yoshon 
before Dec 15. The date of Dec 15 is used as the Chodosh packing date 
for malt.

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 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 or flavoring. Beer is also included in the category of items 
which are Chodosh because of malt.

There are specialty vinegars such as malt vinegar, terragon vinegar and 
salad vinegar which are made with high concentrations of malt. However, 
the vinegar used in almost all food products, also known as 
“manufacturers white vinegar” does not have any Chodosh problems. 
Therefore, the following common products should be free of Chodosh: 
ordinary household vinegar, and condiments such as ketchup, mayonnaise, 
mustard, pickles, etc.

Thusfar we have discussed malt used as flavoring or coloring. However, 
there is an other frequent use of malt. It is used in most baking flours 
for their chemical reaction, which allows the flour to react with the 
yeast and water so that the dough should rise properly. We have received 
psak halochos several years ago that baking flour is not a problem so 
far as the malt content is concerned. This includes baking flour that 
lists barley malt in the ingredients. (We have included dating codes, as 
we do for many other products, for some baking flour for those who do 
not want to rely on this psak that this malt may be used. Call the Hot 
Line for details of this psak.)

If you know the dating code for an item that has a malt problem, then 
you should avoid that item if it was *packed* on or after Dec. 15. If 
the dating code is not known, then we recommend that the item would 
probably still be Yoshon if purchased up to Mar. 15.


    ****************************


    *ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS TO THE GUIDE***

*URGENT WARNING: GEFEN BARLEY*

The Gefen Company asked that an urgent bulletin be issued. Two batches 
of Gefen barley, that went to the stores during the week of Nov 11, are 
NOT YOSHON. These have the codes of 10-22-09 and 10-29-09. Gefen had a 
contract with a company to store Yoshon barley to last the entire 
season. However, that company went bankrupt and the stock of Yoshon 
barley was liquidated. Gefen has not been able to secure replacement 
stocks of Yoshon barley. Therefore, until further notice, all Gefen 
barley with date code of 10-22-09 or later is Chodosh.

* *

*IMPORTANT CORRECTION REGARDING SOY, TERRIAKI AND TAMARI SAUCES*

* *

_Summary_: The Guide stated that soy, terriaki and tamari sauces that 
have wheat in the ingredients may be Chodosh starting with the packing 
date of Aug 9. In fact, these are _surely Yoshon at least up to the 
packing date of Jan 9 (5 months after Aug 9, the Chodosh date for 
wheat)_ and may be free of Chodosh problems completely.

_Details_: After being alerted by some mashgichim, we discussed the 
method of production of these sauces with expert chemists who actually 
produce them. Here is what we learned:

    * All these sauces that contain wheat are fermented over a period of
      time that is _5 months or longer_. All sauces that are produced in
      a shorter time do not contain any wheat.
    * The flour when used is from spring wheat that may be Chodosh.
    * In the production of the fermented soy sauce, wheat flour and some
      spores are added at the same time to start the fermentation. The
      spores produce the fermentation, the wheat flour is added only to
      allow the spores to be more evenly distibuted in the liquid and to
      do a better job. The wheat flour, which at the start is about 7%
      of the starting volume, is almost completely consumed during the
      fermentation.
    * Terriaki sauce is produced the same way, except they start with
      only about 3.5% wheat.
    * Tamari sauce uses much less wheat.

 From a halachic point of view, this production method seems identical 
to the question we raised many years ago regarding plain white household 
vinegar. The vinegar is produced from non-Chodosh alcohol. There, some 
barley malt plus other chemicals are used in combination to cause the 
alcohol to ferment into vinegar. In the process, the malt is virtually 
eliminated (much less than 1/60.). There we consulted several poskim who 
all ruled that the barley malt is botul. Based on that we believe that 
in the case of these sauces, as well, the wheat flour may be botul. 
Please consult your own posek regarding the question of bitul. However, 
since it takes at least 5 months to complete the fermentation of these 
sauces, there can not be any Chodosh problem before Jan 9, ’08 in any case.

*WARNING:*

* *

Matzo meal has always been assumed to be Yoshon. We believe that this is 
still true for _real_ matzo meal. However, at least one brand of “fake” 
matzo meal is being sold under the brand name of Kerry. This product, 
which is under the kashrus hashgocho of the Kof-K, is really made from 
bread crumbs which may be Chodosh. We do not know at this time if there 
are other such “fake” matzo meals on the market. Neither do we have 
information yet on which products may use the Kerry “matzo meal”. We 
will publish any new information that we uncover via the usual email 
updates and Hot Line News recordings.

************************************

*/? /**Bagel Munch*, 200 Main Ave, Passaic. Yoshon under the hashgocho 
of the Vaad of Passaic.

*/? /**Café Eilat* 12519 Burbank Blvd. Yoshon under the hashgocho of the 
Kehilla Kosher of Los Angeles.

*? Empire Bagel Shoppe, * 2234 Warrensville Center Rd., University 
Heights, OH, 216-382-5138. Yoshon under the hashgocho of Cleveland Kosher.

*? Fallsburg Bagels & Bakery*, 401 Rt 59, Monsey, 845-517-4800. Yoshon 
under the hashgocho of Rabbi Yechiel Steimetz.

*/? /**Greenspun Bagels* made in Baltimore, Yoshon under the hashgocho 
of the Vaad Hakashrus of Baltimore (Star-K).

*/?/ Grill Point*, 69-54 Main St, Flushing, NY Yoshon under the 
hashgocho of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens.

*/? /** Love Bakery*, 17519 Burbank Blvd. Yoshon under the hashgocho of 
the Kehilla Kosher of Los Angeles.

*/? /** Rosendorff’s *bakery products made in Baltimore, Yoshon under 
the hashgocho of the Vaad Hakashrus of Baltimore (Star-K).

*? **Superior Caterers*, 54 Ave O, Brooklyn is Yoshon under the 
hasghocho of Rabbi Yechiel Babad only for catering done in halls. The 
hashgocho does not cover catering done in Yeshivas and other institutions.

***************************************

/?/* 15^th Ave Food Corp**, also sold under the names Sterns**, Kohen**, 
and New York Ko**sher *Most items are Yoshon even without a Yoshon 
label. The following are NOT Yoshon: the six grain breads, the bran 
muffins and the oatmeal cookies. There are retail bakeries in Brooklyn 
under the Korn name. These bakeries are not certified as being Yoshon. 
Under the hashgocho of the OK Labs.

*?** Adirim* pasta. The farfel only is Yoshon under the hashgocho of 
Rabbi Sholomo Gissinger. We have no information regarding other pasta 
from Adirim.

*? **Bagel Nosh* 380 Clifton Ave, Lakewood. Bagels and danishes only are 
Yoshon. Under the hashgocho of the KCL. Donuts are not under hashgocho 
for Yoshon.

*/?/ Beigel’s Bakery*, 189-09 Union Tpk, Fresh Meadows. Queens. All 
cakes, danishes and challehs baked on premises are Yoshon. However 
Tibeca rolls are not Yoshon on Tuesday and Thursday. Under the hashgocho 
of the Vaad Harabbanim of Queens. (Note: This is different than the 
wholesale Beigel’s Bakery listed in the wholesale section.)

*/? /**Ben Yehuda Pizzeria**, *pizza, calzones and panninis are Yoshon 
under the hashgocho of the Rabbinical Council of Greater Washington. 
Sandwiches and rolls are NOT Yoshon.

*/?/ Benjy’s Pizza*, 78-72 Main St. Flushing, NY pizza only is Yoshon, 
under the hashgocho of the Vaad Harabbanim of Queens.

*?** Chai Pizza*, 94 Rt. 59, Monsey. Yoshon except fried potatoes and 
possibly other fried items. Under the hashgocho of Rabbi Chaim Yaakov 
Horowitz.

*/?/** Chuster and Landau pasta* products produced by the Chuster Co. 
with a Yoshon label are Yoshon under the hashgocho of Rabbi Abraham Z. 
Glick. However, soup mandlen are NOT Yoshon.

*?** Dagim** *frozen products are Yoshon, if there is an O-U plus a 
Yoshon label on the package.

*? **Dependable Foods *update: All consumer high gluten flour in brown 
bags of size 5, 6 and 7 pounds are Yoshon. The following are commercial 
size items. The following lot number are Yoshon: Dough 7221 and 7228. 
All pasta are Yoshon. Noodles: fine up to and including lot #292, medium 
and wide up to and including #266. Egg barley #2687 and 1647. Pearled 
barley up to and including #108/081. High gluten bakery flour All Trumps 
up to and including 8/15/07. Dependable High flour up to and including 
#AL248 or marked Yoshon. Fantastic up to and including #AL248 or marked 
Yoshon. Patent flour: Dependable Bakers up to and including #AL248 or 
marked Yoshon. Full Strength up to and including 8/15/07.Superlative up 
to and including 8/15/07. Whole wheat fine and coarse up to and 
including 10/6/07 or marked Yoshon. Wraps, plain, whole wheat and tomato 
in industrial sizes are Yoshon only with the date of Nov 12 2007. Under 
the hashgocho of Rabbi M. Klein and Rabbi B. Taub.

*? Eden Cafe* at Owings Mills JCC, 3506 Gwynbrook Ave. 410-356-0010. The 
following products are Yoshon: pizza and pita. Must inquire as to the 
Yoshon status of all other items.(Star-K)

*? Eden Cafe* at Park Heights JCC, 5700 Park Heights Ave., 410-542-5185. 
The following products are Yoshon: pizza and pita. Must inquire as to 
the Yoshon status of all other items. .(Star-K)

*/? /**Eilat Bakeries*, at 350 N. Faifax Ave, 9233 W. Pico Blvd, and 
12109 Santa Monica Blvd of Los Angeles are all Yoshon except muffins and 
pasta, under the hashgocho of the Kehilla Kosher of Los Angeles.

*/? /**Essex on Coney**, *1359 Coney Island Ave., Brooklyn, 
718-253-1002, The American side is Yoshon, including the noodles and 
pasta, but _excluding the egg rolls, hamburger and frankfurter buns, 
fries, square knishes. _Also excluded are anything that is fried *or 
breaded*. Under the hashgocho of Kehilla Kashrus.

*? **European Homemade Kosher, *Rt. 59, Monsey. All items Yoshon except 
items with egg rolls. Under the hashgocho of Rabbi Chaim Yaakov Horowitz.

*? **Heimishe Bakery* in Lakewood. All breads, rolls and challehs are 
Yoshon under the hashgocho of the KCL except 6-grain bread.

*/? /Hoffman & Co. *catering, made in Baltimore, Yoshon available on 
request under the hashgocho of the Vaad Hakashrus of Baltimore (Star-K).

*? J2 Pizza**, *1700 Madison Ave, Lakewood. Pizza, calzones, cheese 
pretzels are Yoshon, under the hashgocho of the KCL.

*/? /Jerusalem Pizza, * 17942 Ventura Blvd. Pizza only Yoshon under the 
hashgocho of Kehilla Kosher of LA.

*? KEMACH UPDATES*: COOKIES AND CRACKERS: _Bread sticks_, sesame, whole 
wheat and garlic, both consumer size and the 5 pound food service size 
are Yoshon all season, including the malt. _Kemach spelt matzos_ from 
Israel are Yoshon. All _cookies_ except those with oatmeal are from 
winter wheat. _Oatmeal _cookies may be Chodosh starting with the packing 
date of Jul 26, code 7207 (7=year, 207=day of the year.) Also from 
winter wheat are _Kem Kem_ crackers, whole wheat & Bran crackers, 
_Snackers_, Grahams and _sandwich_ cookies. This includes crackers made 
from whole wheat and graham. _Malt _may be Chodosh starting Dec 15 (code 
7 349, where 7=year, 349=day of the year). _Flat bread_ (including whole 
wheat) may be Chodosh starting with the code of Jan 1, 2009 (13 months 
after packing.), Kemach _Egg noodles,_ _noodle cuts, bowties and 
farfel_, in small grocery size packages are Yoshon up to January 1 even 
without the label, although there should be a Yoshon label in any case. 
_After January 1_ it should be considered Yoshon _only when marked 
Yoshon_. Code for _other pasta_: for 1 pound grocery size packages, not 
the large bulk packages, for _spaghetti_ and _elbow macaroni_ 10/31/08 
(1 year after packing). For _lasagna_ the code is 10/31/09 (2 years 
after packing). For the _10 pound bulk packages_ where the code ends 
with the letter Z, the Chodosh date is Oct 31, code 3047 31 Z 304=day of 
the year, 7=year, 31=not important, Z=factory. Large _20 pound_ packages 
of pasta have a Chodosh date of Sept 4 07, code 09/04/09 (2 years after 
packing. _Chow Mein_ noodles have a Chodosh date of Aug 11, code 1007H 
(10=date, 07=year, H=month in alph. order). _All cereals that contain 
malt_ may have Chodosh malt starting with the code Dec 15 2008 (1 year 
after packing). _Whole Wheat Flakes_ (like Total), Raisin Bran and Bran 
Flakes are from winter wheat. Also the wheat products in Cocoa Munchies 
is also from winter wheat. Sugar Puffed Wheat has the Chodosh code Oct 1 
08 (1 year after packing). Toasted oats, Honey Nut Toasted Oats, Fruit 
Whirls, Honey Crunch (like Honeycombs), Corn Crisps (like Kix), Bunch ‘O 
Krunch, all have a Chodosh date of Sept 1 08. All _soups_ with noodles 
Chodosh code is 2289 (228=day of year, 9=year+2). Soups with barley but 
no noodles or pasta have the Chodosh code of 2219. Vegetable soup 
Chodosh code is 1579. _Whole wheat flour__ _is Yoshon, as printed on the 
label. There is no malt in this flour.Under the hashgocho of Rabbi 
Nussen N. Horowitz.

*/? /Kosherific/Kineret* fish sticks have a Chodosh code of 6 Tishrei 
5768. Onion rings have a Chodosh code of V7050202 (7=year, 05=month, 
02=date, 02 not important). Under the hashgocho of Rabbi Weissmandl.

*/? /Kosher Pizza Station,* 8965 W. Pico Blvd. Everything is Yoshon 
except whole wheat pita. Under the hashgocho of Kehilla Kosher of Los 
Angeles.

*/? /Kupel’s Bake and Bagel*, 421 Harvard St, Brookline. Only bread 
products are Yoshon, not pastries. Under the hashgocho of the Vaad 
Harabonim of Massachusetts

*/? /**Liebers *All* *cookies and crackers, regular, whole wheat or 
graham, _without oatmeal_, as well as pretzels, are Yoshon. *Liebers* 
cereals without oats are all Yoshon. At this time malt in the cereals is 
also Yoshon (last production was made some time ago.) Liebers may 
discontinue selling of cereals in the near future. Under the hashgocho 
of Rav Weissmandl.

/?/* Milk & Honey Bistro**,* 1777 Reisterstown Road, (410) 486-4344. 
Only the following items are yoshon: pizza, pasta, soups, cheese 
blintzes, french toast, and pancakes. Other items are available as 
yoshon upon request. Yoshon under the hashgocho of the Vaad Hakashrus of 
Baltimore (Star-K).

*/?/ Nanna’s Pizza*, pizza only is Yoshon, under the hashgocho of the 
Vaad Harabbanim of Queens.

*? **Old City Café *Macaroni and cheese has the Chodosh code for Aug 16 
is 2277 (227=day of the year, 7=year). Under the of Rav-Weissmandl, and 
the OU.

*? **Pita House** *products: Iraqui Pita (Pizza size-Lafah)*, *Mini Pita 
(Small Size)*, *Pita Party Plain (Very Very Small Size), White Pita 
(Regular Size), Zahatar Pita (Regular Size), Mini Sesame, White pita, 
Whole wheat pita.* *Yoshon under the hashgocho of the OU.**

*?** Pitaland*, Rt 59 at College Road, Monsey. Yoshon except fried 
potatoes and possibly other fried items. Under the hashgocho of Rabbi 
Chaim Yaakov Horowitz.

*? Pizza Plus*, 241 4^th St., Lakewood. Only the following are Yoshon: 
pizza, calzones, garlick nosh, knishes. Under the hashgocho of the KCL.

*/? /Samuel Adams* beer Chodosh code is March 1 08 under the hashgocho 
of the Vaad Hakashrus of Baltimore (Star-K).

*?** Sea Diamond** *frozen products are Yoshon, if there is an O-U plus 
a Yoshon label on the package.

*/? /Seven Mile Market* challehs made in Baltimore, Yoshon under the 
hashgocho of the Vaad Hakashrus of Baltimore (Star-K).

*/? /Shindler fish* products Yoshon under the hashgocho of the Vaad 
Hakashrus of Baltimore (Star-K) only if there is Yoshon label on the 
package.

*/? /Sienna’s Café*, 11417 Woodglen Drive, Rockville, MD. Pizza, 
calzones and foccacia are Yoshon under the hashgocho of the Rabbinical 
Council of Greater Washington. Rolls, subs, and sandwiches are NOT Yoshon.

*? Smackin Good *frozen pancakes have a Chodosh code of 07160 (07=year, 
160=day of the year). All other Smackin Good products are Yoshon. Under 
the hashgocho of Rabbi Weissmandl.

*/? /Taam Eden Bakery, *New Square. Everything Yoshon except whole wheat 
or 6 grain bread. Under the hashgocho of the Bais Din of New Square.

*? ** **Unger *frozen pie crust and tart shells have a Chodosh code of 
07319J (07=year, 319=day of the year.) */? /** **Unger *bread crumbs are 
Yoshon under the hashgocho of New Square Rabbinical Kashrus Council 
Under the hashgocho of New Square Rabbinical Kashrus Council.

*?** VegiCheff *frozen products are Yoshon , if there is an O-U plus a 
Yoshon label on the package.

*?** Zomick’s Bakery**, *444 Central Ave, Cederhurst. Any bread, even 
unwrapped and without a Yoshon label sold in the Zomick’s Bakery or was 
produced by Zomicks’s and sold in other stores is Yoshon under the 
hashgocho of OK Labs.

***************************

*? Apollo Filo dough* by Athens Foods Chodosh code for Aug 9 is 2217 
(221=day of year, 7=year.)

*? Aunt Gussie’s* cookies that contain wheat have a Chodosh code Feb 9 
08 (6 months after packing.) Those that contain spelt are probably 
Chodosh starting with a package code of Feb 26 08. Those that contain 
oats but not wheat or spelt, may be Chodosh starting a with the package 
code of Jan 26 08. For crackers flats the code is 12 months after packing.

*? Beechnut baby cereals*. Oats cereal in boxes new Chodosh code Oct 26 
08 (15 months after packing.) Oats cereal in jars, new Chodosh code Jul 
26 09 (2 years after packing.) Barley cereal in boxes new Chodosh code 
Aug 9 09 (2 years after packing.)

*? General Mills* Coco Puffs and Cheerios Oats Cluster Crunch cereals 
the package date is 372 days after packing. The General Mills cereal 
table has a typographical error. The oats code for the middle row 
starting “Reeses Puffs” should have been Jul 1 08 NOT Jul 1 07.

*? Goya barley* new Chodosh code 080910 (3 years after packing.)

*? Maltex cereal* new Chodosh code Aug 9 08 (1 year after packing.)

*? Maypo cereal*, new Chodosh code Jul 26 08 ( 1 year after packing.)

*? Pillsbury flour* codes: _All purpose_ and _bread_ flours code Feb 9 
09 (18 months after packing.) _Whole wheat_ and _self rising_ flour code 
Aug 9 08 (1 year after packing.) Pillsbury all purpose flour is now only 
made in Buffalo, NY and not Kansas. Therefore that above codes are 
always relevant.

/? /*Quaker* oats cereals made in Canada and sold in the USA have a 
revised Chodosh packing date of Ocr 4. The table in the Guide should be 
changed to reflect this: 180 days=Apr 1 08, 270 days=Jun 30 08, 300 
days= Jul 30 08, 360 days=Sept 28 08, 540 days=March 27 09.

*/? /Tofutti Cuties* have a Chodosh code of Aug 9=2217 (221=day of the 
year, 7=year.)

? *Unger* cereals with oats the code is Jul 26 08 (1 year after 
packing).. For wheat or barley but no oats, code is Aug 9 08. If the 
corn flakes list wheat starch, then the code is Aug 9 08. If the cereal 
also has a Malt-O-Meal label, use the above date or the one given for 
Malt-O-Meal, whichever is earlier.

*? Wheatena cereal* new Chodosh code Feb 9 09 (18 months after packing.)

*******************************

*/?/** Bodek* croutons are Chodosh according to the company.

*********************************************

*X Gefen *crackers and cookies not made in Israel can not be listed as 
Yoshon due to lack of information from the company. Gefen soups and soup 
mixes can not be listed as Yoshon due to the lack of information from 
the company.

X *J&J *Ice cream sandwich. Insufficient information.

X *Kitov *products such as flat bread are probably Chodosh.

X*/ /** **Liebers* soup mixes and soups in cups can not be recommended 
as Yoshon pending further clarification from the mashgiach, Rav Weissmandl.

*X Mehadrin cookies and cream* ice cream product. Insufficient information.

*X Tofuti cuties.* Insufficient information.

********************************

*END OF CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS TO THE GUIDE*