Bulletin from the Guide to Chodosh

[Y. Herman]

The third and final issue of the Guide to Chodosh has gone to the 
printer. We hope to mail the printed copies to the individual 
subscribers and the local distributors by Feb 18. Meanwhile, as usual, 
you can get a PDF file of the new Guide by email or the computer BBS. 
For email send a blank email message to ONE of the following addresses:
chodosh at sefer.org
chodosh at moruda.com

To get the Guide by having your computer dial directly into our computer 
and avoid internet-based email, call the Hot Line at 718-305-5133 and 
follow the menus for instructions.

Below is a summary of the new items in the forthcoming Guide:


    CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS TO THE SECOND ISSUE OF THE GUIDE

* *

*NEW MALT PROBLEM*

We were informed by the COR kashrus organization of Toronto that malt in 
cereals and other such products that are produced in Canada may be 
Chodosh starting with the unexpectedly early _packing date of Sept 21 
07._ We do not know yet how this earlier malt date affects Canadian 
beer. This new development was reportedly caused by the fact that many 
Canadian farmers who used to grow barley are now finding it more 
profitable to grow crops that can be used for conversion to automobile 
fuel. Consequently, there is a shortage of old-crop barley. The early 
malt starting dates are expected to be repeated in the future for 
Canadian malt.

Regarding products made in the USA, this Canadian development has a 
direct bearing on Kellog cereals some of which used Canadian malt. 
Therefore, the revised Chodosh code for malt in Kellog cereals in the 
USA is Sept 21 08. So far a we know, the Chodosh date for other USA 
companies remains Dec 15. However, we were warned by industry sources 
that the _next_ season, the fall on 2008, the Chodosh malt starting date 
in the USA may be significantly earlier than usual due to the unusually 
high demand this year for US grown barley to be used as animal feed 
overseas.

*USA SPELT PRODUCTS NOT CHODOSH*

The Guide had stated that spelt products in the _USA_ may be Chodosh 
beyond a specific cutoff date due to the fact that they may contain 
_Canadian spelt_ that was assumed to be mostly a spring crop. It turns 
out that that assumption was due to incorrect information given to us. 
With the corrected information as outlined below, it appears that there 
should be no Chodosh problem at all with _spelt products produced in the 
USA._

The correct facts are as follows:

   1. The spelt grown in the USA is always a winter crop and is Yoshon.
   2. About 80% of the spelt grown in Canada is a winter crop, only
      about 20% is a spring crop that may be Chodosh. Most of the spelt
      in Canada is grown in Ontario, which is on the eastern part of
      Canada. This spelt is almost 100% winter crop. The climate in
      Ontario can support either winter or spring crops. However the
      winter crops usually yield a much bigger harvest. So Ontario will
      only produce a spring spelt under the rare occurance of a failure
      of the winter crop. Factories that use spelt that are in the
      eastern half of the USA would most likely use either USA grown
      spelt or the spelt that comes from the nearby Canadian region of
      Ontario. In either case, this would be a winter crop. The 20%
      spring spelt is grown in Western Canada.

Therefore, our conclusion that the spelt used in products made in the 
USA can be assumed to be free from Chodosh problems is based on the 
following. As always, for halacha, check with your own Rav or Posek.

   1. It is quite likely that spelt products made in the USA should use
      locally grown spelt that is Yoshon.
   2. Even if they use Canadian spelt, 80% of that is a winter crop and
      is Yoshon.
   3. In the eastern part of the USA, it is probable that much more then
      80% of the imported Candian spelt should be Yoshon. This is
      because Ontario which is in the east part of Canada basically
      produces only winter spelt. The spring spelt is produced in
      Western Canada almost excusively.
   4. Even if the Canadian spelt should be a spring crop, it may be last
      years and would be Yoshon.

We would like to thank Rabbi Norman of the COR in Toronto and Rabbi 
Jaffee of the kashrus organization in Montreal who pointed out that our 
assumptions about Canadian spelt being mostly Chodosh may not be 
correct. We were able to confirm their information independently from 
industry and university sources.

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* *

* *

*WARNING:* ? *Beigels* whole wheat breads and bread doughs are all 
Chodosh. We have received reports of some frozen whole wheat doughs 
having a Yoshon label on them. That is an error, these are all Chodosh 
according to the company.

*REVISED 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._

*WARNING*: ? *Shindler* fish products*.* According to the Star-K of 
Baltimore, *Shindler* fish sticks and fish nuggets in _blue* *_packages 
are Chodosh until further notice. Shindler products in packages of other 
colors are still Yoshon.

*WARNING: *? *Streits* noodles are usually Yoshon under hashgocho. 
However, one batch of Streits noodles has been produced that is Chodosh. 
The bags of Chodosh noodles have a sticker warning that it is not 
Yoshon. All bags without such a sticker are Yoshon.

*WARNING: Weissmandl. * For items under the hashgocho of Rabbi 
Weissmadl, some listings in the previous issue of the Guide had to be 
changed due to the fact that we had not received necessary updates 
regarding their Yoshon status. Check the status of each individual 
listing in this issue of the Guide.

* *

* *

*? Adirim* pasta. The farfel is Yoshon all season. All other Adirim 
noodle and pasta products have a Chodosh code of 26 11 09 (26=day of the 
month, 11=Nov, 09=year+2). Under the hashgocho of Rabbi Shlomo Gissinger.

*Brewer’s yeast*. It is questionable whether this poses a Chodosh 
problem or not. Brewer’s yeast is listed as an ingredient in some foods 
such as some potato chips.

*? Dorset *cereals (made in England and sold in Israel and Europe). All 
cereals Yoshon except Apple & Raisin Porridge, Cranberry & Rapsberry 
Porridge and Berries Porridge. Under the hashgocho of the London Beis Din.

*? Dougies on the Run* in Baltimore is under the hashgocho for kashrus 
of the Star-K. It is not certified as Yoshon.

*? Fifteenth Ave Food Corp, *selling baked goods in groceries under the 
names of *Korn**, Sterns**, Kohen**, and New York Ko**sher* all baked 
items are Yoshon, with the exception of the 6-grain bread, bran muffins 
and items containing oats. The whole wheat bread and the 12-grain bread 
are also Yoshon. Under the hashgocho of the OK Kashrus.

*? Gefen: * The following items are made in Israel and are Yoshon: Soup 
mandlen, Whole wheat minimandlen, Whole wheat croutons, Onion Garlic 
croutons, Whole wheat bread crumbs, Whole wheat matzo meal.

*X Gefen *cookie, cake and other mixes not recommended due to lack of 
information.

*? General Mills Corn Chex* cereal, for the 16 ounce size the code is 
341 days after packing. Therefore, the Chodosh code for the malt in this 
cereal is Nov 20 08. For the 14 ounce size the code is 372 days, giving 
the malt date of Dec 21 08. The code for the Rice Chex cereal is also 
372 days.

*? Greenwald Caterers*, Lakewood, NJ. Yoshon available on request only. 
Under the hashgocho of Rabbi Gornish.

*?** HO REVISED LISTING * see Smart Balance.

*? Kedem* soups with noodles and pasta, Chodosh date Aug 16, code H16G 
(H=Aug in alph order, 16=day, G=2007)

*? Kellogs* cereals that contain malt but no wheat barley or oats, the 
malt may be Chodosh starting Sept 21 (code Sept 21 08).

*? Kemach* updates: _Grocery sizes_ of elbow _macaroni and spaghetti_ 
have the revised Chodosh code of Dec 1 2008. _Bulk, food service_ 10 lbs 
egg bows have the Chodosh code of 3357 (335=day of year, 7=year.) All 
flavors of _flat breads_ have the revised Chodosh code of January 1 
2009. Kemach _vegetable soup_ Chodosh code is1609 (160=day of the year, 
9=year+2). 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. However those with codes of Sept 19 
and Sept 21 still use oats that are 75% Yoshon and 25% Chodosh (for 
those who wish to be lenient for foods that are mostly Yoshon.) All 
_cereals_ have a _malt date_ of Feb 29 09 (1 year after packing.) Malt 
in crackers may be Chodosh starting with a package code of 7349 (7=year, 
349=day of the year.) The malt in the flour may be Chodosh, even with a 
Yoshon label, after the packing date of Mar 1 08, code Sept 1 09 (18 
months after packing.)

*? Kineret *chalehs produced in the USA are probably not Yoshon as of 
the purchase date of Nov 26, according to the mashgiach.

*? Kohen* baked products, see Fifteenth Ave Food Corp.

*? Korn* baked products, see Fifteenth Ave Food Corp. Local Korn 
Bakeries in Brooklyn are not under hashgocho for Yoshon. However, the 
Yoshon baked products they get directly from the Fifteenth Ave Food Corp 
are under hashgocho for Yoshon even without a Yoshon label.

*? La Choy* chow mein noodles have the Chodosh code of Feb 9 08 (6 
months after packing.)

*? Laromme** *baked products in Pathmark in Monsey. Always check the 
label. As situations change, the label will reflect whether the items is 
Yoshon or not. Under the hashgocho of Rabbi Shlomo Ullman.

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

*? Masbia* barley is not being produced any more. Any of this barley on 
the market is certain to be Yoshon.

*? Milk & Honey *had two listings in the second Guide, on 10^th Ave, 
Brooklyn. The second, Milk & Honey Restaurant 5013 10^th Ave should be 
deleted.

*? New York Kosher* baked products, see Fifteenth Ave Food Corp.

*X Pizza Mizza* in Brooklyn is no longer under the hashgocho of the 
Kehilah Kashrus. Therefore, it should be deleted from the Guide.

*? Smart Balance* cereals are all Yoshon. These cereals have been 
discontinued. All boxes still on the shelves were made in May 07 or 
earlier and are therefore Yoshon.

*? Sova* breads, hot dog buns and other products are probably Chodosh.

*? Sowa* see Sova above

*X** Stella D’Oro *cookies may be Chodosh at this time.

*? Stern’s* baked products, see Fifteenth Ave Food Corp

*?** Streits:* All Streits pasta as most other Streits products, are 
Yoshon. However, one run of these noodles were produced that are not 
Yoshon. Each bag of this batch has a sticker stating that it is not Yoshon.

*? Unger* pizza crust ,both 12 inch and 6 inch size, the revised Chodosh 
code is Apr 9 08. Under the hashgocho of the Bais Din of New Square.

*X Weinstock *noodles, farfel and other pasta can not be listed as 
Yoshon because to our knowledge they have no mashgiach for Yoshon and 
they have not provided any dating codes.

*? Wheatena* cereal uses winter wheat only.

*BE YOUR OWN YOSHON INVESTIGATOR!*

_What could you do if your favorate product does not have a hashgocho 
for Yoshon and is not mentioned in this Guide?_

_ _

Call the manufacturer and ask them how to interpret the dating code for 
items packed on or after the following cutoff dates:

    * If it contains oats, Jul 26 2007
    * If it contains no oats but does contain wheat or barley, Aug 9 2007
    * If it is noodles or pasta, Aug 16 2007
    * If does not contain oats, wheat, barley but does contain malt or
      barley malt, Dec 15 2007

_What could you do if your bakery, restaurant or other establishment is 
not listed in the Guide?_

_ _

Go to the store and ask them if they are Yoshon. If they claim to be 
Yoshon, ask them who is the mashgiach that certifies the Yoshon status 
(not just kashrus, but Yoshon.) Then check with that mashgiach to find 
out what items produced by that establishment are Yoshon under his 
hashgocho.

For more guidance to help with your own investigation, see Section 3 of 
this Guide.

Of course, you could also call the Chodosh Hot Line at 718-305-5133. 
However you may get faster results on your own, since we can not always 
immediately investigate all new product questions that are called in.
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