Kosher Alert: Cosmo Bakery

From BCK:

June 19, 2009

KOSHER ALERT

Please be advised that as of July 1, 2009 Cosmo Bakery will no longer be certified kosher by the Orthodox Rabbinical Council of British Columbia (BC Kosher). For more information, please contact Rabbi Lando at (604) 731-1803 ext 103.

Kosher Alert: Mix it up

From BCK:

October 10, 2008

KOSHER ALERT

Please be advised that Dan-D-Pak Ranger Mix contains dairy (Not Cholov Yisroel) ingredients as listed on the ingredient panel but the dairy designation has been inadvertently omitted. Consumers finding this product are asked to contact BC Kosher at (604) 731-1803 or by email.

No shrimp, Sherlock

A new kosher alert:

Full Circle Assorted Frozen Shrimp Products, Topco Associates LLC- Skokie, IL:
These products are bearing an unauthorized OU symbol and are not certified kosher by the Orthodox Union. Corrective action is being taken. Consumers spotting these products are requested to contact the Orthodox Union at 212-613-8241 or via email at kashalerts@ou.org.


*gasp* The OU doesn't certify shrimp?? Simply shocking.

If you think it's Kosher, but it's not

According to BC Kosher: Kayan Mediterranean Cuisine, located at #202-777 West Broadway in Vancouver, has been representing themselves as a kosher restaurant. The restaurant is in fact not certified kosher.

Always ask to see the Certificate of Kashrut if you are not familiar with a kosher restaurant. And remember, sometimes the misrepresentation is not malicious; a lot of people honestly - albeit naively - think they're kosher, based on their own misunderstanding of what kosher actually means.

Cashrewt Alert

From BCKosher:

And to think, we almost bought these...

May 18, 2008 - Please be advised that TRADER JOE’S brand CASHEWS marked product of Thailand bear an unauthorized BCK symbol of Kashrus. Consumers finding this product are asked to contact BC Kosher at (604) 731-1803 or by email info@bckosher.org.

Starch your salmon, Sir?

From BCKosher:

March 19, 2008: "With Passover coming up shortly BCK would like to inform the public to be aware that it is common practice among salmon manufactures to dip raw salmon in a corn starch bath. This is especially important for those careful not to consume kitniyos on Passover. Please verify that the fish you are purchasing has not been treated as mentioned and is certified kosher for Passover."

Seven Seas usually offers kosher for Passover fish each year. We'll post info as soon as we hear when they're taking orders.

Peel it off. Peel it all off.

That seems to be the answer to the issue presented here.

A small sign hanging above the produce in a local supermarket reads, “Fruits and vegetables have been coated with food-grade vegetable, petroleum, beeswax, and/or lac-resin based wax or resin to maintain freshness… No fruits or vegetables have been coated with animal-based wax”. The sign is the result of efforts by citizens groups demanding disclosure of ingredients in coatings used on fresh produce. The produce industry, citing the impracticality of constantly changing signs and claiming that disclosure would compromise the confidentiality of coatings ingredients, resisted these demands. The FDA regulation that emerged in 1994 is the result of a compromise between the two groups. Although the sign does disclose some information, it only tells part of a much larger story.

The sign is not required by law to declare the additives put in coatings, some of which raise kashrus concerns. That doesn’t mean that coatings on fresh produce are not acceptable. This article will present information relevant to evaluating the kashrus of coatings.

Regardless of kashrut, this is all just gross enough to make us peel. Everything.

Or better yet, buy local and organic, then you don't have to worry about bug wax at all. AND you support your local farming community. Tikkun olam, baby.

Parting is such spicy sorrow

If you want to get your Israeli falafel fix, awesome veggie lasagna fix or just a good ol' motzei Shabbat fix, and have it all with a hechsher, better get to Spice before Tuesday, May 1. According to BC Kosher, they will no longer be certifying Spice Restaurant and Catering, starting on that date.

It's a sad day for Vancouver kosher consumers.

*Please note: we do not know why Spice will no longer be certified, so please don't start any rumours. If you want more information, please contact Rabbi Lando of BC Kosher at 604.731.1803.

Kosher Alert. We almost got too excited.

Because we loves our pasta sauce, and really wish there was a kosher cheesey pasta sauce:

from BC Kosher
February 12, 2007

KOSHER ALERT

We have been informed that Hunt's Thick & Rich Premium Pasta Sauce
Four Cheese (680 ML) was erroneously labeled with the OK symbol.
The product is NOT certified by the OK and is NOT kosher

Kosher Alert - and it's local

From BCK:

December 08 2006
“KASHRUTH ALERT”
Please be advised that BOTTICELLI products imported by Dynamic Chocolates, of Delta, BC, Canada, bears an unauthorized BCK symbol and are being withdrawn from the marketplace.
Orthodox Rabbinical Council of British Columbia
Rabbi Eli Lando
www.bckosher.org

Kosher alert:Whoops, here's another one

You know, we really didn't intend to become all about kosher alerts. Really. And we only post those that we think affect Vancouver. And are important.

Like the following:

The following kashrus alert is from the Kashruth Council of Canada on August 15, 2006.

The Kashruth Council of Canada (COR) wishes to advise that Natures's Blend Cheddar Cheese Bagels were labeled with an unauthorized COR 153. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT KOSHER CERTIFIED. Please note that COR 153 is presently inactive and should not appear on any products.

Sorry if you got all excited about cheddar cheese bagels being available at a regular ol' store.

Kosher alert:Not all Starbucks products are created equal. Or by Starbucks.

The following kashrus alert is from the Chicago Rabbinical Council on August 9, 2006 and confirmed by Pepsi^*.

Unlike other varieties of Starbucks bottled drinks, the Frappuccino Strawberries & Crème in the 9.5oz bottle is NOT certified kosher.

^* Yep. Bottled Frappuccinos are manufactured by Pepsi. Disillusion lives on.

Bragg's Kosher alert

This one affects Vancouverites, so check your bottle codes:

The following kashrus alert is from Kosherquest.org and confirmed by the KSA on July 24, 2006.

Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar with the following bottle codes bear an unauthorized KSA: 12046, 13046, 14046, 17046, 11056, 12056, 18056, 19056.

Kosher Alerts: Ah, technology

Here's a different kind of Kosher Alert. Presenting, the technology category:

The following refrigerator Sabbath mode alert is from the OK Kosher Certification on March 6, 2006.

A service call is necessary to correct the Sabbath Mode feature in the 30" and 36" Viking all Fridge refrigerators Model #VCRB304, DDRB304, DFRB304, VCRB364, DDRB364, or DFRB364 manufactured after May 1, 2005.

Consumers who have purchased this product are urged to contact their retailer to set up a no-fee service call.

Please contact Star-K at 410-484-4110 or www.star-k.org/cons-appl.htm for a complete listing of currently certified Sabbath Mode appliances.

Kosher Alerts:Hurry! Run, run as fast as you can

to the nearest store and stock up on Hostess Twinkies while you still can!

Kashrut.com announced that Interstate Bakeries Corporation is discontinuing their kosher certification of Hostess Twinkies distributed in the Northeast as of December 27, 2005. You can reach IBC at 800.483.7253. (This product was previously certified by the Triangle K).

Now, this may not affect western region Twinkies, but really, do you want to take that chance?

Kosher Alerts:Check your labels!

We'll have a real entry soon. Honest.

From the OU:
Fleischmann’s Original Margarine
This certified product contains dairy ingredients as listed on the ingredient panel. The product mistakenly bears an OU-Pareve statement on the outer carton. The individually wrapped margarine sticks correctly bear the OU-D symbol. Corrective action is being taken.

Kosher Alerts:Don't go breaking my hearts

From COR:

This is to advise that:

Sardo Marinated Artichoke Hearts
were inadvertently labeled with an unauthorized COR. This product is not kosher certified and is being recalled.

Hershey TopScotch Butterscotch Syrup
was inadvertently labeled with a DE designation and should have been marked "dairy"

Kosher Alert:Whipped Topping

Compliments Frozen Whipped Topping
From COR, November 4, 2005


The following products bearing COR 143
were inadvertently labeled without a "dairy" designation


COMPLIMENTS FROZEN WHIPPED TOPPING
COMPLIMENTS FROZEN WHIPPED TOPPING -- LIGHT

These products contain DAIRY ingredients and are dairy.

Kosher Alerts:Halloween Kosher Alert

Yes, we know Jews don't technically observe Halloween, but that doesn't mean we can't buy the candy, does it?

HERSHEY’S HALLOWEEN PACKS are labeled with the COR symbol on the outside of the package.

Please note: The package contains the following individually wrapped candies:

- Nibs
- Twizzlers
- Twizzler Sours
- Jolly Ranchers – not authorized

Please note that Jolly Ranchers are not kosher certified and were inadvertently put into the package.

So to those of you who may have gotten excited over thinking you could finally have a watermelon JR again: sorry.

Kosher Alerts:Trader Joe's beans

Posted: August 8, 2005
An unauthorized COR 386 has been put on the following products:

Trader Joe’s Chick Peas
Trader Joe’s Black Beans
Trader Joe’s Red Kidney Beans

These products are not kosher supervised.