Kosher, Kashrus and Hechsherim Master thread

[Buruch]

Is Badatz Lyon, France under Rabbi Teboul a good hashgacha?

[NTorch]

Nuts Factory sells product in Aron's Kissena Farms which is a store under the Va'ad of Queens. Some of their product is pre-packed with an Israeli hashgacha on the label while others are available to scoop and weigh on site.

Nuts Factory just opened a concession inside the Shoprite in New Hyde Park (Long Island) which appears to be the same products as at AKF but under National Kosher (R' Mehlman). Like at AKF there is some prepack with the same Israeli hashgacha, some prepack with nothing on the label, and the ability to scoop and weigh on site. The Teudah indicates that everything sold there is covered by the National Kosher supervision.

Does anyone know whether Nuts Factory uses different products based on location (they have other stores in Roosevelt Field and NYC as well) or if its the same product regardless of where you buy it?

[ExGingi]

https://mishpacha.com/step-up-to-the-plate/

[yelped]

https://mishpacha.com/step-up-to-the-plate/

Thank you for sharing. I feel like this should be stickied in many threads on DDF.

[jose34]

[EliJelly]

https://mishpacha.com/step-up-to-the-plate/

Rabbi Yakov Teichman, the rabbinical coordinator responsible for the operations of the Food Service Department at OK Kosher Certification, relates how OK head Rabbi Don Yoel Levy a”h decided to pull fresh liver off the shelves of a particular kosher supermarket. Liver has to be broiled within three days of shechitah in order to be considered kosher, and when this store began selling the fresh livers, Rabbi Levy, the rav hamachshir, decided to take a survey of the women in his office to see if they knew the proper procedure for kashering the livers.

When only one woman knew the appropriate method, the agency first tried putting instructions on the packages and posting signs next to the product. When even that didn’t work out, they insisted that the store stop selling it. Rabbi Teichman saw the results immediately.

“The next week,” he relates, “a woman came into the store while we were present and asked why livers were no longer available. We asked her how she had previously prepared the livers, and from her answer, it was clear that she had been doing so in a manner that did not properly clean out the blood, and in all probability left the livers treif,” he said.

By that logic, fresh blackberries and raspberries shouldn't be sold either at heimishe supermarkets. It always pains me to see at Bingo and other stores these fresh berries displayed so temptingly, most likely to be consumed by a yid who has no idea that these are infested with no way to get rid of it's infestation. (Strawberries and blueberries are a pain in the the neck to clean them too, but unlike raspberries, there's a way to do it and hopefully the consumer follows it).

[Euclid]

By that logic, fresh blackberries and raspberries shouldn't be sold either at heimishe supermarkets. It always pains me to see at Bingo and other stores these fresh berries displayed so temptingly, most likely to be consumed by a yid who has no idea that these are infested with no way to get rid of it's infestation. (Strawberries and blueberries are a pain in the the neck to clean them too, but unlike raspberries, there's a way to do it and hopefully the consumer follows it).

https://matzav.com/crc-fresh-blueberries-no-longer-need-extensive-washing-and-checking/

[EliJelly]

https://matzav.com/crc-fresh-blueberries-no-longer-need-extensive-washing-and-checking/

Wow, good to know that for blueberries at least. On the Star-K website they still require the full process, perhaps it's not updated.

[Moshe Green]

By that logic, fresh blackberries and raspberries shouldn't be sold either at heimishe supermarkets. It always pains me to see at Bingo and other stores these fresh berries displayed so temptingly, most likely to be consumed by a yid who has no idea that these are infested with no way to get rid of it's infestation. (Strawberries and blueberries are a pain in the the neck to clean them too, but unlike raspberries, there's a way to do it and hopefully the consumer follows it).

many use berries in shakes where grinding them up will matir them.

[jye]

many use berries in shakes where grinding them up will matir them.

That still would not be matir raspberries and blackberries which are muchzak bitolaim. With regard to strawberries a shake would be ok but most consumers would pick up frozen strawberries in the freezer section for that. The more expensive fresh strawberries in containers are largely sold to be eaten as is, and only a fraction of consumers at best clean them properly. I remember years ago watching a yungerman from BMG demonstrate by examinomg  random pints of strawberries purchased in Shoprite, after they had been thoroughly washed in water with soap, pointing out a host of crawling aphids that remained on the berries. They really don’t belong being sold fresh in a heimish supermarket.

[moko]

That still would not be matir raspberries and blackberries which are muchzak bitolaim. With regard to strawberries a shake would be ok but most consumers would pick up frozen strawberries in the freezer section for that. The more expensive fresh strawberries in containers are largely sold to be eaten as is, and only a fraction of consumers at best clean them properly. I remember years ago watching a yungerman from BMG demonstrate by examinomg  random pints of strawberries purchased in Shoprite, after they had been thoroughly washed in water with soap, pointing out a host of crawling aphids that remained on the berries. They really don’t belong being sold fresh in a heimish supermarket.

you can peel strawberries or use a brush.

[Essen est zich]

you can peel strawberries or use a brush.

To be realistic, no one does that.

I have a hard time trying to explain to my friends about to need to properly check berries and I feel there is a lot of denial in our community in that regard.

We are all humans and forget, it would be beneficial for each community to make a yearly refresher class for Kashrut (and no only that, we do it for holidays and taharas mishapcha) why not for Kashrut as well.

As our kids starting being more active in the kitchen, they don't know anything, they just follow what the parents do.

[moko]

To be realistic, no one does that.

I have a hard time trying to explain to my friends about to need to properly check berries and I feel there is a lot of denial in our community in that regard.

We are all humans and forget, it would be beneficial for each community to make a yearly refresher class for Kashrut (and no only that, we do it for holidays and taharas mishapcha) why not for Kashrut as well.

As our kids starting being more active in the kitchen, they don't know anything, they just follow what the parents do.

I know many who brush and quite a few who peel

[aygart]

I know many who brush and quite a few who peel

They won't look nice to put on a platter but will still be perfect for that strawberry shortcake.

[jye]

I know many who brush and quite a few who peel

I do too but then again my sphere consists largely of those who are very cognizant and up to date in halacha. I would be willing to wager a considerable sum of money that over 90% of those who pick up a fresh pint of strawberries in the heimishe supermarket to eat fresh are not consuming them according to halacha.

[ExGingi]

By that logic, fresh blackberries and raspberries shouldn't be sold either at heimishe supermarkets. It always pains me to see at Bingo and other stores these fresh berries displayed so temptingly, most likely to be consumed by a yid who has no idea that these are infested with no way to get rid of it's infestation. (Strawberries and blueberries are a pain in the the neck to clean them too, but unlike raspberries, there's a way to do it and hopefully the consumer follows it).

Indeed. And same goes for brussels sprouts (and possibly artichokes, broccoli and cauliflower).

[jye]

People just don’t look and they make assumptions.I see lots of run of the mill Lakewood yeshivaleit buying products at random off the shelves of Bingo, some with chug chassam Sofer hechsher, some with even lesser standard Israel hechsheirim. These same people would only eat the 4 or 5 widely held hechsheirim when they go to Israel but if it’s on the shelf in Bingo it must be up to Lakewood standards.
🤷🏻‍♂️

[ExGingi]

People just don’t look and they make assumptions.I see lots of run of the mill Lakewood yeshivaleit buying products at random off the shelves of Bingo, some with chug chassam Sofer hechsher, some with even lesser standard Israel hechsheirim. These same people would only eat the 4 or 5 widely held hechsheirim when they go to Israel but if it’s on the shelf in Bingo it must be up to Lakewood standards.
🤷🏻‍♂️

IME Bingo (and Osher Ad in Israel) definitely carries products with Hechsherim that many wouldn't find acceptable.

[avromie7]

People just don’t look and they make assumptions. I see lots of run of the mill Lakewood yeshivaleit buying products at random off the shelves of Bingo, some with chug chassam Sofer hechsher, some with even lesser standard Israel hechsheirim. These same people would only eat the 4 or 5 widely held hechsheirim when they go to Israel but if it’s on the shelf in Bingo it must be up to Lakewood standards.
🤷🏻‍♂️

You just went from accusing anyone who picks up a container of strawberries of not cleaning them properly (which may or may not be true) to accusing anyone who eats something that isn't Badatz of essentially eating tarfus. SMH

[ExGingi]

You just went from accusing anyone who picks up a container of strawberries of not cleaning them properly (which may or may not be true) to accusing anyone who eats something that isn't Badatz of essentially eating tarfus. SMH

I didn't see that in @jye's post