IKC Reliable?

[kangaroo]

I was on my way to the mountains and stopped off at the Valero on the NJ17. They have a RedMango franchise under the hashgacha of Rabbi Zev Schwarcz from International Kosher Council, http://www.ikckosher.com/

I have never heard of him, was wondering if anyone here did and if they know it is a good hechsher. I called his number and it is a google voice number which is odd.

Thank you.

[Galitzyaner]

I was on my way to the mountains and stopped off at the Valero on the NJ17. They have a RedMango franchise under the hashgacha of Rabbi Zev Schwarcz from International Kosher Council, http://www.ikckosher.com/

I have never heard of him, was wondering if anyone here did and if they know it is a good hechsher. I called his number and it is a google voice number which is odd.

Thank you.

IDK if this will answer your q., but (IIRC) most (if not all) of the eateries he certifies are open on Shabbos!

[skyguy918]

IDK if this will answer your q., but (IIRC) most (if not all) of the eateries he certifies are open on Shabbos!

Probably not going to answer it for most people, it's a complicated issue. For example, the Dunkin Donuts in 5T is under the Vaad. But the Vaad in Queens won't give a hechsher to places that are open on Shabbos. In fact, there's a Red Mango in Queens under Rabbi Asher Shechter's hashgacha, and I think he basically makes his living on places that the Vaad won't give a hechsher to because of Shabbos.

[LeeW]

How good of a hechsher do you need for an all natural frozen yogurt place? You obviously are not specific in eating only cholov-yisroel. In which case, as long as there is minimal supervision of the place that should suffice. I can't think of anything that can happen in a frozen yogurt place that requires a real hechsher. They have no meat there, so there's np problem of basar and chalav.

[kangaroo]

How good of a hechsher do you need for an all natural frozen yogurt place? You obviously are not specific in eating only cholov-yisroel. In which case, as long as there is minimal supervision of the place that should suffice. I can't think of anything that can happen in a frozen yogurt place that requires a real hechsher. They have no meat there, so there's np problem of basar and chalav.

why cant  the workers eat there lunch there? besides about 6 feet away are the roasting hot dogs and other meat products that the gas station sells.

[LeeW]

why cant  the workers eat there lunch there? besides about 6 feet away are the roasting hot dogs and other meat products that the gas station sells.

I'll be honest, I have no idea about the particulars of that specific RedMango. I was just assuming that a national franchise would not allow any employees to just eat their own lunches at the counter where it could get into their product. Any national franchise cares about its reputation and product. As far as the hit dogs six feet away, what are you trying to say? How does that impact the kashrus of the frozen yogurt?

[kangaroo]

I'll be honest, I have no idea about the particulars of that specific RedMango. I was just assuming that a national franchise would not allow any employees to just eat their own lunches at the counter where it could get into their product. Any national franchise cares about its reputation and product. As far as the hit dogs six feet away, what are you trying to say? How does that impact the kashrus of the frozen yogurt?

there is meat in the immediate vicinity.........think about an ice cream store with a good hechsher, one of the employees brings a meat lunch in and sits at the table at the far far end of the store.......does the rav hamachshar care? i believe he would.

[shiframeir]

My ortho rabbi said it is ok. in any event, your fear of someone eating meat nearby and dropping it into the food doesnt apppear to be a true halachic concern, as it would make the product worse and the guy would get in trouble.  i assume the rabbis are aware of this possibility.

[ushdadude]

Anyone have any current info. I've had Papabubble candy at a Bar Mitzva (they hired them and had their own mashgiach) and it was fantastic. They have a retail store under the IKC and I would love to get some.

[PlatinumGuy]

My ortho rabbi said it is ok. in any event, your fear of someone eating meat nearby and dropping it into the food doesnt apppear to be a true halachic concern, as it would make the product worse and the guy would get in trouble.  i assume the rabbis are aware of this possibility.

Also might not treif up the food anyway

[jensays]

My Rav says it is not reliable.  Just recently a veggie chinese place opened in Queens and there are rave reviews about the food.  But it's IKC, as is a 16 Handles Frozen Yogurt place in the Queens Mall (that used to be under Rabbi Mehlman).  As far as frozen yogurt places, aside from the concern about employees eating their lunch in the same area, there is also the issue of toppings.  For example, the Red Mango in Rego Park will tell you the are kosher because the yogurt packages themselves have a hechsher.  However, they do use non-kosher toppings and who's keeping track that the kosher M&M's aren't getting mixed in with the non-kosher whatever.  Plus, once the package is openned, the certification is no longer valid in an establishment that is not kosher itself.

BTW, R' Schector no longer gives his hechsher to the Red Mango referred to above.

[Palm5]

I know it’s old but I’m in PHL now and many restaurants have this certification. Has anything changed? Is it reliable? You can PM me as well if not suitable to post publicly. Thanks?

[PlatinumGuy]

Unreliable.

[ReadsTheT&C]

IKC aside, main problem with a froyo place is the workers might pick up treyf toppings by mistake. Think marshmallows and such.

[Palm5]

Was looking at more of a vegan place

[ushdadude]

Was looking at more of a vegan place

Listen to this. Be interviews head of ikc 37 minutes in


https://www.podbean.com/eu/pb-qtvux-7de3a0


I would not eat anything he certifies based on this

[JuryDuty]

There's a place heyhummus in Philly under the ikc but has a mashgiahc temidi and apparently is glatt. Anyone know about this?

[G11600]

There's a place heyhummus in Philly under the ikc but has a mashgiahc temidi and apparently is glatt. Anyone know about this?

I know that their hummus + chicken is good

[TheAsh]

He  now certified the infamous 2nd Ave Deli, which uses Hebrew National, and is owned famously by a Jew, making it very hard to rely on Shtar Mechira. That should let you know his standards

Though unlike Cupk (Rabbi Israel Mayer Steinberg, the previous hechsher), he does seem to have some mashgichim, so it is an upgrade for the restaurant.