Urgent bulletin from the Guide to Chodosh

[Y. Herman]

*CHODOSH BULLETIN-8 Nov  07*

*From the Guide to Chodosh-Y. Herman*

*Chodosh telephone Hot Line 718-305-5133, email *yherman at earthlink.net 
<mailto:yherman at earthlink.net>**

* *

* *

* *

*THE FOLLOWING AS OF 8 NOV 07*

* *

*URGENT WARNING: GEFEN BARLEY*

The Gefen Company asked that an urgent bulletin be issued. Due to a 
production error, two batches of Gefen barley are NOT YOSHON. These have 
the codes of 10-22-09 and 10-29-09. All other batches of barley continue 
to be Yoshon under hashgocho, both those produced before these batches 
and those to be produced in the future. We thank the company for this 
alert that was issued as soon as the problem was discovered.

* *

*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.

We would like to express our appreciation to Rabbi Mordechai Kuber and 
Rabbi Mordechai Tarkieltaub who brought this matter to our attention.

CLARIFICATION OF KIC HASHGOCHOS IN LAKEWOOD

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

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

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

*OTHER ITEMS*

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

*/? /**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.

*? 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.

*? **Twizzlers, Twirpz* and other licorice made by Hershey or the Y. S. 
brand are from winter wheat and are Yoshon.

* *

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

* *

*THE FOLLOWING AS OF 5 Nov 07*

* *

*WARNINGS:*

* *

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.

*PRODUCT AND ESTABLISHMENT CHANGES*

*/? /**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.

*/? /**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).

/?/* 15^th Ave Food Corp**, also sold under the names Sterns**, Kohen**, 
and New York Ko**sher *All items are 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.

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

*/?/ 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 above.)

*/?/ 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. 
which have 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.

*? 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, 
baguettes, fries, square knishes. _Also excluded are anything that is 
fried *or breaded*.

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

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

*/? /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.

*/? /Kosherific* 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 pasties. 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. */? /**Liebers* soup mixes and soups in cups can not 
be recommended as Yoshon pending further clarification from the 
mashgiach, 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 2277 
(227=day of the year, 7=year). Under the of Rav-Weissmandl, and 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.

*/? /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.

*? Smackin Good *frozen pancakes are 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 
07228J (07=year, 228=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 can 
be definitely traced as being produced by Zomicks’s is Yoshon under the 
hashgocho of OK Labs.

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

*? 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.

? *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.

*ESTABLISHMENTS NOT CONFIRMED YET FOR BEING UNDER HASHGOCHO FOR YOSHON*

* *

The first issue of the Guide was published early in the season, before 
there was the opportunity to verify the Yoshon status of many 
establishments and products. Those establishments that were not yet 
verified were marked by an “*”. We had made an effort to established the 
Yoshon hashgocho status of all of these establishments. Unless noted 
below, all of these marked by an “*” were confirmed to be Yoshon. Those 
which are not yet confirmed are listed here. After this are listed new 
establishments that are Yoshon.

The following are *_not recommended yet at this time as Yoshon due to 
lack of confirmation of hashgocho:_*

IN BROOKLYN: M&M Bakery, 2610 Ave U. Presser Bakery 1720 Ave. M. Chadash 
Pizza, 1919 Ave. M. Dagan Pizza 6187 Strickland Ave.

DEAL NJ: Jerusalem II Pizza,

ALSO NOT RECOMMENDED YET DUE TO LACK OF INFORMATION: Dependable Foods 
products. Brown’s Best and Mashbia barley.

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

* *

* *

*THE FOLLOWING AS OF AUG 28 07*

I encourage you to download the complete PDF version of the Guide by 
sending a blank email message to ONE of the following:

chodosh at sefer.org <mailto:chodosh at sefer.org>

chodosh at moruda.com <mailto:chodosh at moruda.com>

It is also available, as usual, from our BBS.

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

* *

* *


  THE EMAIL MAILING LIST

Those who have access to email can have important corrections and 
updates sent to their email address automatically. To subscribe to this 
free service send a blank email message to:

Chodosh-subscribe at jif.org.il <mailto:Chodosh-subscribe at jif.org.il>

Those who have subscribed last year to the email distribution list do 
not need to renew this email subscription.

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


To send an E mail message to the Guide, please address it to: 
yherman at earthlink.net.

Before you discontinue using an E-mail service, please unsubscribe from 
this list by sending a message to:

chodosh-unsubscribe at jif.org.il.

Then if you wish to resume receiving these messages from your new 
service, send a message to:

chodosh-subscribe at jif.org.il <mailto:chodosh-subscribe at jif.org.il>.


CAUTION: Some new anti-spam filters require senders to respond to a 
challenge in order for their E mail to be received. This E mail 
distribution list can not provide such responses. Other filters 
eliminate all mass mailings such as this one. If you are using such 
filters, be sure to put these messages on the allowedlist of your 
filter, otherwise you will not receive the updates.

__________________________________________

Project Chodosh is an independent activity, not affiliated with any 
movement or organization. We thank the Jewish Internet Fund (JIF) for 
allowing us to use their E mail distribution services. The JIF provides 
free email and web hosting to Jewish education and outreach 
organizations. We also thank the sites moruda.com and sefer.org for 
allowing the public to use E mail to request copies from their 
facitlites of the Guides to Chodosh and the Mashgichim.