Kosher, Kashrus and Hechsherim Master thread

[imayid2]

So you're agreeing that the popcorn is kosher? I thought you said the popcorn is treif.

I’m not familiar enough with the industry to know how much of a concern for treif oil there is. I’m commenting only in regards to incorrect statement that you need to know the whole history of the machine.

[aygart]

Right. I’m not talking about that, that’s not the reason the people quoted gave.

What reason did they give?

[Ver hut gazugt]

I’m not familiar enough with the industry to know how much of a concern for treif oil there is. I’m commenting only in regards to incorrect statement that you need to know the whole history of the machine.

you would also need to know that there was nothing still in the machine ( I dont think they get cleaned that often or how well they clean it )

[Moshe123]

Your hergeshim don't change the halacha.

Being a kal isn't hergeshim.

[avromie7]

you would also need to know that there was nothing still in the machine ( I dont think they get cleaned that often or how well they clean it )

Or rely on bittul.

Being a kal isn't hergeshim.

Is it kosher or not? If it is, what's wrong with eating it? The fact that you wouldn't feel comfortable eating it is just hergesh.

[imayid2]

What reason did they give?

without knowing the full history of the machine, there is no way they see it to be allowed, current kosher product notwithstanding.

[imayid2]

you would also need to know that there was nothing still in the machine ( I dont think they get cleaned that often or how well they clean it )

Good point. But I assume that any remnants of non kosher oil would be battul in the kosher oil.

[imayid2]

The fact that you wouldn't feel comfortable eating it is just hergesh.

Or am aratzus or קרוב למינות

[chinagel]

Is it kosher or not? If it is, what's wrong with eating it? The fact that you wouldn't feel comfortable eating it is just hergesh.

So you eat "Chalav Stam"?

[imayid2]

So you eat "Chalav Stam"?

That is a machlokes if it’s kosher.

[chinagel]

That is a machlokes if it’s kosher.

This may be as well. That wasn't the point. The question would apply even if you'd fully rely on RMF and others.

[thaber]

I'm not going to post publicly, but everyone is free to PM me.

ETA: If and who allows it is not really important here, all that matters is that Rabbi Abadi has the sources and shoulders to support his psakim.

I want to clarify, I have only tremendous respect for rabbi Abadi, and I'm old enough to remember when everyone else did too. But the fact is that some of his psakim were not niskabel by the vast majority of poskim.

@aygart et al -
My query was prompted by reports that frum, yeshivish families are buying churros in Disneyland and popcorn at the imax, which was very surprising to me. When I asked someone they sent me an article (which appeared to be secular) that quoted all the things that are kosher in Disneyland, including churros and popcorn. I had asked specifically about the churros, and sent the link.


Answer #1 was "Hello. Cannot imagine how one can eat the churros w/o proper monitoring"

Answer #2 was "My information is that the churro machine is for churros, any type and any brand. It is not restricted even by understanding that they need to use the ou certified product. If a person can eat a cold churro, or they want to buy it from the box and heat it later, that would seem to be the only way to use it. Please ask about the popcorn in movie theaters as well. I do not see how either one can be considered kosher as oil and flavoring are used. It could be that at the moment it is kosher, but it is produced hot and we have not information on past use of the  machine. In theory hot popped popcorn without anything could be used, but I have not hear of anyone using such a product."

[yitzgar]

Why do some people find the need to lekatchila rely all the time on the most kulos for kashrus, for extras?

Anything above my standards is a(n unnecessary) chumra and anything below my standards is a Kula one would only rely on because they are a baal taava fresser that doesn't care about anything else

[imayid2]

I do not see how either one can be considered kosher as oil and flavoring are used. It could be that at the moment it is kosher, but it is produced hot and we have not information on past use of the  machine. In theory hot popped popcorn without anything could be used, but I have not hear of anyone using such a product."

Past usage is irrelevant. Also I don’t follow the last sentence. If he’s worried about past usage who cares if it’s plain popcorn?

[imayid2]

This may be as well. That wasn't the point. The question would apply even if you'd fully rely on RMF and others.

What’s the makom machlokes here?
What question would apply?

[S209]

Past usage is irrelevant. Also I don’t follow the last sentence. If he’s worried about past usage who cares if it’s plain popcorn?

Suggesting a possible instance where popcorn can be eaten- in a machine that never uses oil.

[thaber]

Past usage is irrelevant. Also I don’t follow the last sentence. If he’s worried about past usage who cares if it’s plain popcorn?

You're lshitaso against the establishment with Starbucks. I'm not arguing (or agreeing) with you, but it's the same positions here.

Suggesting a possible instance where popcorn can be eaten- in a machine that never uses oil.

+1

[avromie7]

So you eat "Chalav Stam"?

What I do is not up for discussion.
No, I don't look down at anyone who eats something that is kosher l'chatchilah like C"S.

[imayid2]

You're lshitaso against the establishment with Starbucks.

This specific case is even better. If it’s a vadai eino Ben yomo what in the world is the tzad lhachmir??
(Starbucks consists is a combination a factors, none which are an explicit Gemara though)

[avromie7]

You're lshitaso against the establishment with Starbucks. I'm not arguing (or agreeing) with you, but it's the same positions here.

It's odd that a couple of kashrus agencies became "the establishment" here. Is it anywhere near universally accepted? The psak I got is everyone can buy coffee at non-kosher establishments l'chatchilah. Regardless, even the machmirim say it's muttar when traveling, so it's clearly kosher.