Kosher, Kashrus and Hechsherim Master thread

[avromie7]

Source?

I am aware that Rav Belsky a"h was opposed to the OU practice of not having a mashgiach temidi for other kinds of fish, but do you have a source saying that he didn't accept the color as a סימן מובהק for salmon?

As far as I was able to ascertain, the only non-kosher fish that might have a similar color would be swordfish, which isn't farmed and is much larger than salmon. There would be absolutely no economic incentive or reason (or supply) to replace salmon with swordfish.

A highly regarded kashrus expert told me that he has a mashgiach temidi at a plant that makes only lox, despite the fact that he believes that even without a mashgiach temidi there is no חשש.

I believe @aygart is saying that R' Belsky did accept it.

[aygart]

Source?

I am aware that Rav Belsky a"h was opposed to the OU practice of not having a mashgiach temidi for other kinds of fish, but do you have a source saying that he didn't accept the color as a סימן מובהק for salmon?

As far as I was able to ascertain, the only non-kosher fish that might have a similar color would be swordfish, which isn't farmed and is much larger than salmon. There would be absolutely no economic incentive or reason (or supply) to replace salmon with swordfish.

A highly regarded kashrus expert told me that he has a mashgiach temidi at a plant that makes only lox, despite the fact that he believes that even without a mashgiach temidi there is no חשש.

I believe @aygart is saying that R' Belsky did accept it.

Correct. He did accept it. I heard it from him personally. I did also see it documented as OU policy, but I would need to search for that.


ETA: here are some links
https://www.ou.org/news/ask_ou_kosher_may_2011_nothing_fishy_about_ou_fish_standards/

https://oukosher.org/content/uploads/2013/02/Daf-11-8.pdf
https://oukosher.org/blog/consumer-kosher/the-kashrus-of-skinless-salmon/
https://oukosher.org/blog/consumer-kosher/can-skinless-salmon-assumed-kosher/

[monoso]

 To add a small consideration there is a good chance the swordfish is kosher either way

[koplonko]

Is there a list of which wine Hechsherim/companies are makipd on ראיית נכרי?

[yfr bachur]

From what I remember, the reason R' Kuber felt it was urban legend is due to the possibility of unscrupulous fish farmer/merchants artificially coloring a cheaper non kosher fish to make it look like salmon. BLN I'll check it with him.

[aygart]

From what I remember, the reason R' Kuber felt it was urban legend is due to the possibility of unscrupulous fish farmer/merchants artificially coloring a cheaper non kosher fish to make it look like salmon. BLN I'll check it with him.

This is discussed by the OU in those articles. They feel the coloration concern is the urban legend.

[Thingywingy]

Anyone know anything about SHK under a Rabbi Barzilay?

[avromie7]

Anyone know anything about SHK under a Rabbi Barzilay?

Not on CRC or Kosherquest list. The only additional detail I found is that it's from Germany.

[myi]

I remember seeing a sign hanging someone that the meats, chicken from KJ, Rav Aaron Tietlebaum   now before pesach might now have the KP symbol, and they are all certified for Pesach.

 Anyone have that sign or a picture of it, a link.
 I think it could have been a picture someone showed me that was hanging in BMG.

[Thingywingy]

https://www.star-k.org/articles/articles/1168/the-mitzvah-of-tevilas-keilim/

Does anyone have experience with a non-Kuerig coffee machine? Will it get ruined if toiveled? Is it halachically identical to a Kuerig? This OU article explains R' Belsky's opinion regarding a Kuerig. He permitted without tevilla because it is all plastic aside from the heating element and the two metal pins which picture holes into the K-cup. The heating element does not require tevilla and he considered the pins insignificant. Does a regular coffee matching have any other metal parts aside from the heating element?

[moko]

[lubaby]

Oops!

This is why some people don’t use any processed foods on Pesach. KFP on a label / box apparently doesn’t mean anything.

[AsherO]

Oops!

This is why some people don’t use any processed foods on Pesach. KFP on a label / box apparently doesn’t mean anything.

It doesn’t mean anything because a mixup happened?

At least they are upfront about it. My guess is it might have to do with the cleaning of the equipment before the Pesach run or an ingredient (possibly Kitniyos) that got in.

[Kobe Bryant]

It doesn’t mean anything because a mixup happened?

At least they are upfront about it. My guess is it might have to do with the cleaning of the equipment before the Pesach run or an ingredient (possibly Kitniyos) that got in.

I believe you misread this.

[JlmBoi]

It doesn’t mean anything because a mixup happened?

At least they are upfront about it. My guess is it might have to do with the cleaning of the equipment before the Pesach run or an ingredient (possibly Kitniyos) that got in.

Read the letter it's a packaging issue. Whatever it says on the inside wrapper is accurate.

[Kobe Bryant]

Read the letter it's a packaging issue. Whatever it says on the inside wrapper is accurate.

Correct. Which is why it’s so important to double check everything one buys, even if it’s from the “Pesach aisle”

[moko]

The problem in this scenario is that the package is wrapped in paper then boxed. The box stated kfp while the wrapper did not. So even if a consumer checked, they could have had an issue after they opened the box.

[AsherO]

Correct. Which is why it’s so important to double check everything one buys, even if it’s from the “Pesach aisle”

Double check how? Not every items inside package is manufacturing-stamped KFP

[Euclid]

This is why some people don’t use any processed foods on Pesach. KFP on a label / box apparently doesn’t mean anything.

Why does this reason not apply to year-round kashrus of processed foods? Do they also not eat processed foods during the year?

[AsherO]

Why does this reason not apply to year-round kashrus of processed foods? Do they also not eat processed foods during the year?

Because nullifying Chametz isn’t the same, and because there are reasons to be more Machmir on Pesach.