From the Desk of Rabbi Sholem Fishbane
cRc Kashrus Director

We at the cRc receive countless calls a week from consumers looking for information on various kosher symbols. We have therefore decided to post a Directory of Reliable Kashrus Agencies and their symbols on our website. As there are close to 750 Kosher agencies worldwide, it is nearly impossible to list all of them. Therefore any symbol that is not posted does not indicate that it is an inferior Hechsher. 

Please call our office for further information on those symbols in question. For clarification on why some symbols are recommended and others are not, you may read the article on our website titled “Understanding the Reliability of Kosher Agencies”. 

       The cRc Kosher Consumer
          Another cRc service in the world of Kosher

The Slurpee flavors listed below, either already in the stores, or due to be released soon, ARE NOT CERTIFIED KOSHER!:

·        STRAWBERRY TWIZZLER 

·        MONSTER BLACK ICE

·        GATORADE GRID IRON ICE

·        PINA COLADA

·        TROPICANA GRAPE WILD STRAWBERRY

Dill Pickle flavored sunflower seeds under the Dakota Valley brand, Willow Lake, South Dakota, bears an unauthorized cRc. Corrective measures are being taken.  

The “D” Dairy designation was inadvertently omitted on Streit’s brand “Lower East Side Mix”, a candy and nut mix. The product is certified cRc dairy (Cholov Stam), as indicated on the ingredient panel.  

Please be advised that A & W Root Beer Float and Sunkist Orange Float are NOT certified kosher. The Regular varieties of both, including the diet version, continue to be kosher.

The following alert was sent by Blue Ribbon Kosher of Minnesota:

May 7, 2008

KOSHER ALERT

The following 6 "Earl of Sandwich" bread varieties, under Blue Ribbon Kosher supervision and bearing the Blue Ribbon Kosher symbol, are mistakenly labeled as "D Stam". They are in fact "Parve". Future packaging will be revised.

The breads, sold both commercially and retail, were distributed nationally during April and during the first week in May. Since they are shipped frozen they could turn up for several months, yet.

White Sourdough, Jewish Rye, Caraway Rye, Marble Rye, Eight Grain and

Pumpernickel Rye.

It is Blue Ribbon Kosher’s policy not to certify breads as dairy.

The cRc no longer certifies Heaven’s Best Butter, even when the package bears a cRc on the label.

Anyone seeing this product still bearing the cRc are asked to contact the cRc office at 773-465-39200 ext. 117.

The following alert was sent by the Kof-K:

Coombs Family Farms Organic Apple 7 Cinnamon Pancake Mix was mislabeled Kof-K pareve. The product is Kof-K Dairy. Corrective measures are being taken.

Recoverite Glutamine Fortified recovery Drink, distributed by    Hammer Nutrition, bears a plain cRc logo, mistakenly omitting the “D” dairy designation. The product is indeed dairy, as indicated in the ingredient panel. Corrective measures are being taken.

The following alert was sent by the COR of Toronto.

Please note that the following products:

Compliments Phyllo Pastry, Presidents Choice Phyllo Pastry,

Safeway Select Phyllo Pastry

which bear the COR 454were produced by a

Jewish owned company that did not sell their chometz before Pesach.

Please be advised that the above products should not be purchased until further notice.

Additional information will be made available shortly.

*********************************

The following alert was sent by the Kof-K

Funnel Cake Mix, manufactured by Good Food, Inc., Honey Brook, PA was mislabeled “Kof-K Pareve” The product is Kof-K Dairy. Corrective measures are being taken.

The Orthodox Union certifies and wholly stands by Solomon's Ground Buffalo meat and all of Solomon's Finest Glatt Kosher Meats (fresh and frozen) are Glatt kosher. A limited amount of frozen non-kosher meat was substituted for kosher meat by an outside distributor and sold in Solomon's packaging. The non-kosher product is identifiable by the following: 1) The inner plastic wrap does not contain a plastic OU seal. 2) The meat is on a black Styrofoam tray. Consumers spotting the mislabeled product are requested to contact the Orthodox Union at 212-613-8241 or at kashalerts@ou.org. This notice is meant to clarify the policy of the cRc regarding honey.All honey sold in retail or foodservice packaging requires a reliable hashgacha. This is due to the fact that the kashrus status of the bottling process for these honeys may be compromised due to the possibility of non-kosher products being packaged on the same equipment. The following alert has been sent by the COR of Toronto: COR certification of the following Omstead brand frozen vegetables has been removed for the Shmitta year 2008 and part of 2009. 21181 Natural Whole Petite Carrots 21183 Natural Whole Petite Carrots 22118 Prince Edward Classic Blend 22124 Prince Edward Classic Blend 22135 Prince Edward Classic Blend Packages will not bear the COR symbol and/or will state NON-KOSHER ****************************** The following alert has been sent by the Kof-K: Krinos Feta Cheese bears an unauthorized KOF-K Emblem. The product is NOT certified kosher. The company apologizes for the error and is recalling the affected items. Several stores sell salads under the Orval Kent and/or Chef’s Solutions label, and many of these salads bear a cRc kosher symbol. There are very similar salads being sold in the same stores, with seemingly identical packages, but do not bear the cRc logo.  Only those salads in containers bearing the cRc logo (or other reliable certifications) should be purchased, as not all are produced under rabbinical supervision.   This rule is true with most products requiring hashgacha. The consumer should always look for a reliable hashgacha on each package being purchased, as not all are made in the same facility or under the same circumstances Effective February 15, 2008, “ONLY 8” soft serve frozen yogurt is no longer being certified by the cRc. Ferrara Pan brand Fruit Snacks Lemonhead & Friends bear an erroneous UMK symbol and are not kosher. Corrective action is being taken. Please note; Chewy Lemonhead & Friends are kosher even when not bearing a UMK symbol. Publix Homestyle Mashed Potatoes distributed by Publix Supermarkets, Lakeland, FL, contains dairy ingredients as listed on the ingredient panel, but erroneously bears the OV-Pareve symbol. Future packaging will be revised to correctly bear the OV-D symbol. Asora White truffle Oil bears an unauthorized OU symbol and is not certified kosher by the Orthodox Union. Corrective action is being taken. Consumers spotting this product are requested to contact the Orthodox Union by phone at 212-613-8241, or via email at kashalerts@ou.org.   FAIRLEE GRAPE JUICE in the 114 ml size bears an unauthorized COR corrective measures have been taken. Gift tins being distributed by Hamakor Judaica of Skokie, IL containing an assortment of chocolate covered cashews and raisins, bear a sticker with the cRc logo. Please be aware that this product is dairy, cholov stam. Gourmet Hot Cocoa Pot and Frother Set (with cocoa and marshmallows) from Samme Hudson Inc.-China - sold in Linens-N-Things retail stores, bears an unauthorized OU symbol and is being withdrawn from the marketplace. "The Grove" brand Berry Berry Almond Mix bears a cRc logo with both a pareve and a ‘D’ on the label. The product is indeed dairy, non-cholov Yisroel. Future labels are being corrected. For those visiting Chicago’s downtown area, please note that Spertus Cafe by Wolfgang Puck on 618 S. Michigan Ave. is now open and is kosher under the cRc. Please call 312.322.1718 for times and directions. Please note that Southern Comfort is not recommended as kosher by the cRc even when bearing “Product of USA and Ireland”. Please be aware that recent packages of Today’s Temptation cakes erroneously have non fat dry milk listed as an ingredient, although the label correctly bears a “cRc pareve”. Please note that the new Slurpee flavors Cranberry Splash Freeze and Sour Patch Kids - are kosher pareve. Blue Cheese Stuffed Manzanilla Olives sold by Collins Brothers bears an unauthorized KOF-K. The item is not certifed by any kosher agency. Please be advised that the OK Kosher Certification no longer certifies the Elie Baking Corporation, West Roxbury, MA. Beigel's Wholesale Bakery whole wheat challah frozen dough are not yoshon under the Vaad of Detroit, even if they mistakenly have a paper stuck into the dough stating "yoshon". Please note that Rabbi Gissinger has removed his hashgacha from Kyo Restaurant in Monsey, NY. It is now certified by Rabbi Zuche Blech with the approval of the local rabbinate. Earth’s Best Organic Dinner Variety Pack (For Babies 6 Months & Older) The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. containing: Sweet Potato and Chicken, Summer Vegetable, Vegetable Turkey, Rice & Lentil have been distributed with an unauthorized OU symbol on the outer tray. The individual jars within the tray are correctly labeled. Consumers spotting this product are requested to contact the Orthodox Union. Please note that Kenning’s Circle K is a non-kosher restaurant and caterer in Cincinnati, OH. It is no way affiliated or certified kosher by the “OK”. Crafty’s Cooking Kits-Crayola Happy Hanukah Cookie Kit sold by Brand Castle bears an unauthorized KOF-K. The product is not certified by the KOF-K. Ferrara Pan brand Fruit Snacks Lemonhead & Friends bear an erroneous UMK symbol and are not kosher, corrective action is being taken. Please note; Chewy Lemonhead & Friends are kosher even when not bearing a UMK symbol. Due to Kashrus violations, as of Dec. 6, '07, Pizza Mizza, 3005-3007 Avenue K, Brooklyn, NY, will no longer be under Kehilah Kashrus hashgacha." Crayola Hanukkah Cookie Kit distributed by Brand Castle, certified by the Star-K, lists dairy items in the ingredient panel. The item is, in fact, Pareve. The ingredient list is incorrect. A limited number of Paesana Vodka Sauce was mislabeled KOF-K Pareve. The product contains dairy ingredients. The product has been recalled by the company. Future product will be labeled as Kof-K Dairy. Please note that King’s Pizza in Great Neck, NY, is no longer certified by the Star-K. Unger’s Frozen Pie Shells and Unger’s Frozen Tart Shells are Yoshon when bearing one of the following 3 codes: 07316J, 07317J, 07318J. Please note that Unger's Pizza crust bearing the code “BEST BEFORE APRIL 08 2008” is Yoshon. Suntree Chocolate Nut Mix and Suntree Trail Mix contain dairy ingredients as listed on the ingredient panel but the OU dairy designation has been inadvertently omitted. Future packaging will be revised. The Wilder Spice Company Assorted Spice Products (including Ground Cinnamon, Pure Black Pepper, Espresso Rub, and Parsley Flakes) bear an unauthorized OU symbol. Consumers spotting any Wilders’ products whose labels bear the OU symbol are requested to contact the Orthodox Union Until further notice, SHINDLER'S FISH STICKS and SHINDLER'S FISH NUGGETS under the Star-K in retail blue packaging, sold in the New York area, are not yoshon even when the package says Yoshon. The problem will be corrected in the near future. Please be advised that the OK no longer certifies Fruit A Freeze. Please be advised that MAOZ VEGETARIAN 38 Union Square NY is NOT certified by the OK. Publix Homestyle Mashed Potatoes contains dairy ingredients as listed on the ingredient panel, but erroneously bears the a Pareve symbol. Future packaging will be revised to correctly bear the OV Dairy symbol. Bellagio French Vanilla Hot Cocoa contains dairy ingredients as listed on the ingredient panel but the OU dairy designation has been inadvertently omitted. Future packaging will be revised. Stone Ridge Creamery Sherbet contains dairy ingredients as listed on the ingredient panel but the OU dairy designation has been inadvertently omitted. Future packaging has been revised. Kellogg's Stuffing Mix is a pareve product that was erroneously distributed while bearing an OU-D symbol. Babka Bites Cinnamon from Thou Shall Snack Company is mislabeled as OU-D. The product is certified by the OU and is pareve. Please be aware that the Spanish label of Nestle La Lechera Flakes distributed in Mexico contains a non-certified cappuccino bar, but the outer box bears an OU-D symbol. Only the cereal is certified as OU-D. Orthodox Union policy requires the removal of the OU symbol when a non-certified sample is inserted into the package. Please note that all Selection Unlimited brand instant coffees and hot chocolates, marked with a BVK (Buffalo Vaad), are Dairy even though there is no D next to the symbol. New labels are being printed that will rectify this problem. Please be aware that Skittles & Starburst Variety Pack from Canada containing: Skittles Original Fruit, Skittles Sours, Starburst Original Fruit. Starburst Mixed Fieldberries, and Starburst Sours erroneously bears an unauthorized OU-D symbol and is not certified kosher by the Orthodox Union. Effective immediately, the Vaad of Flatbush is no longer responsible for the kashrus of Kosher Bistro Grill at 1320 East 19th St., Brooklyn, NY 11230. Urgent bulletin from the Guide to Chodosh: The Gefen Company asked that an urgent bulletin be issued. Due to a production error, two batches of Gefen barley are NOT YOSHON. These have the codes of 10-22-09 and 10-29-09. All other batches of barley continue to be Yoshon under hashgocho, both those produced before these batches and those to be produced in the future. Due to an error, the O.U.D. symbol was omitted from Godiva Chocolate Liqueur labels. These products continue to be certified without change as follows: Godiva Chocolate Cream Liqueur, White Chocolate Cream Liqueur, Cappuccino and Caramel Milk Chocolate Liqueur are Kosher and Dairy. However, Godiva Chocolate Liqueur is Kosher and Pareve. Please be advised that the OK Kosher Certification does not certify Fattal's Pita Pockets produced by Fattal's Bakery, Patterson, NJ. Packaging bearing the OK symbol is unauthorized. Sam's Club Pumpkin Pie has no dairy designation next to the Kof-K symbol. The pie contains dairy ingredients as indicated on the label. Future packaging will be corrected. Kraft Marshmallow Fluff is kosher - pareve even without the OK on the label. There was a printing error and new packaging will have the OK symbol. Deluxe Brand 1/2 gallons of Rocky Road Ice Cream has mistakenly been labeled as Kosher. Kehilla Kosher (California-K) is correcting this error so that all future production of the Rocky Road flavor will not carry the Kosher mark. All other flavors bearing the California-K kosher mark are correct as labeled.   As of October 24, 2007, Sheryl's Chocolate Creations located at 587-591 Middle Neck Rd, Great Neck, NY, is no longer Star-K or Star-D certified. Knorr Blue Cheese Dressing is erroneously marked with the South African Beth Din Logo. This product is not kosher. To receive email kashrus alerts, send your name and email address to: alerts@crcweb.org   The cRc would like to welcome the following companies into our family this year: Acacia Spice Company   Waukegan, IL Alga Technologies   Kibbutz Ketura, ISRAEL  Allied Custom Gypsum    Bessie, OK Amcol International    Arlington Heights, IL  Arizona Pepper    Mesa, AZ Belfonte Ice Cream    Kansas City, MO  Bulkmatic   Chatanooga, TN  Bulkmatic   Decatur, IL  Bulldog Bakery   Chicago, IL  Carry Transit Terminal    Stockton, CA  Chef Gourmet - Flavor Shakes    Romeoville, IL  Chicago Sweeteners    Des Plaines, IL  Colorado Kosher    Commerce City, CO Cott     San Antonio, TX  Cott     Wilson, NC  Debelis    Kenosha, WI  Dlish-The Grove-Anton    Westchester, IL  Edible Oil     French Camp, CA  FCI SAS    Europe  Greenfield Mills    Howe, IN  Harmony Dairy    Edgar, WI  Hydrite     Mundelein, IL  IBC Bakery    Chicago, IL  Johnson Matthey    Sevierville, TN  Joseph Antognoli    Chicago, IL  Larry Bowman Trucking    Monett, MO  Leelanau Coffee     Glen Arbor, MI Martins    Peoria, IL  Milestone Mills    La Porte, IN  Mitchel Enterprises    Bluffton, IN  MSC    Boscobel, WI  Newly Weds    Springdale, AR  Newly Weds     Gerald, MO  Newly Weds     Mt. Pleasant, TX  Newly Weds     Watertown, MA  NK Chemical     China  Northwest Gourmet    Seattle, WA  Prairie Farms Mid State Dairy    Hazelwood, MO  Pullman Sugar    Chicago, IL  Rore    Mardeuil, France  Rovey Seed    Farmersville, IL Salud    Chicago, IL  Sanders Candy    Baldwin Park, CA  Sara Lee    Harahan, LA  Schaefer Fisheries    Thomson, IL  Silbrico    Hodgkins, IL  Silesia De Mexico    El Salto, Jalisco Spertus    Chicago, IL  Ultra Additives    Clover, SC  Uptons    Skokie, IL  US Gypsum    Fort Dodge, IA     US Gypsum    River Rouge, MI  US Gypsum     Shoals, IN  US Gypsum     Southard, OK  Vosges Haut    Chocolat Chicago, IL  Westin   Wheeling, IL    Western Truck Wash    LaHabra, CA  University of WI    Madison, WI

Add me to cRc - EMail Kashrus Alerts 
Please include name, city, state.