THIS SECTION IS FOR NEWS AND INTERESTING STORIES RELATED TO FOOD, NUTRITION AND FOOD PROCESSING. THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY RELATED TO KOSHER BUT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO THE KOSHER CONSUMER, MANUFACTURER OR MASHGIACH.
June 20, 2023 from the CPSC:
CUPKIN Double-Walled Stainless Steel Children’s Cups have been recalled> The stainless-steel cups contain levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.
Consumer Contact: Soojimus toll-free at 888-721-0096 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT, email at CPSC@Cupkin.com, or online at https://www.cupkin.com and click on “Voluntary Recall of our Kids Cups” at the top of the page for more information or https://www.cupkin.com/pages/recall and click on https://www.cupkin.com/pages/recall-refund to fill out the Recall Refund Request form and click “Submit Form” at the bottom of page when you have completed the form.
Description: This recall involves improperly manufactured 8 oz. and 12 oz. models of CUPKIN Double-Walled Stainless Steel Children’s Cups sold in pairs. Both sizes of the recalled cups were sold in 12 different color combinations including a matching straw: blue and green, pink and purple, blue and gray, peach and teal, black and white, coral and yellow, green and pink, polignac and potpourri, brown and peach, rust and salmon, aqua and periwinkle, and cobalt and mint. "Cupkin" is printed on the front bottom of the cups.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the cups away from children and stop using them. Contact Soojimus for a full refund. Soojimus and Amazon are contacting all known purchasers directly.
Sold At: Online at Amazon.com and Cupkin.com from January 2018 through March 2023 for about $20.
July 12, 2023 - from the Nosh.com:
"Perfect Day has laid off roughly 15% of its workforce as it moves to exit its consumer-facing business, The Urgent Company (TUC), in order to focus solely on its B2B ingredient sales and nth bio “consulting” precision fermentation business.
"The TUC division houses four brands: Modern Kitchen (cream cheese), Brave Robot (ice cream), California Performance Company (whey protein) and Coolhaus (ice cream and frozen novelties).
"When asked why the company chose to shutter the consumer business rather than just sell it to begin with, the spokesperson said that the company had explored that option, but, rather than continue to support a large team, the company decided to stop devoting resources to the business. Some of the impetus to do so may have also come from investor pressure.
"Parallel to TUC’s development, Perfect Day was focused on two B2B efforts: serving as an ingredient partner to brands such as Nestlé and Graeters, and helping external companies across categories develop products utilizing precision fermentation via its nth Bio arm. The spokesperson attributed the company’s success with ingredients as another reason for TUC’s closure, noting some larger CPG organizations didn’t want a Perfect Day-owned company creating competing products."
June 30, 2023 - from the Yeshiva World:
"Nearly all Rabbonim in Chicago have issued a message to its Community, to only engage in and purchase food from, home businesses with reputable kosher supervision.
"This proclamation follows the lead of an earlier Kol Koreh signed by the leading Poskim in North America outlying similar guidelines. What is unique about the Chicago Kol Koreh is the willingness to work with any home business owner to financially help with guidelines that a Rav Hamachshir might require to meet his standards.
"One common example is to help build a separate area or entrance where proper supervision can be conducted.
"The Chicago Rabbonim have also committed to not allow any products that are being sold without proper hashgacha into their Shuls. It their hope that other Communities will follow this initiative, and in doing so, will increase the level of kashrus standards worldwide."
July 2, 2023 - from the YNet:
"Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich temporarily removed the import tax on milk on Sunday following a market-wide shortage in Israel.
"'To handle the shortage, the minister offers to remove the import tax for a three-month period until October,' The minister’s office said in a statement."
Article in Hebrew from Israel HaYom is here.
"According to sources in the Treasury and the Tax Authority, the expectation is that the milk will be imported from European countries, among others from Poland, and it is about importing kosher - Chalav Yisrel."(Translation by Google Translate).
June 28, 2023 - from the Food Matters Live:
"Molecular farming food ingredient company Moolec Science has successfully developed a technology which can grow pork protein in soybeans.
"Using its new technology called ‘Piggy Sooy’, Moolec’s team was able to grow up to 26.6% of total soluble porcine protein in soy seeds, which is four times more than the company had initially projected. As a result, the soybeans have a visible pink hue that matches the colour of real pork meat.
"Moolec says the recent achievement proves plants have the potential to operate as ‘animal protein factories’.
"Following the success of Piggy Sooy, the company plans to file a new patent for its molecular farming-based technology, which should help to make the regulatory pathway more straightforward in the future.
"Founded in 2020, Moolec Science has been working for several years to develop meat proteins in plants, which can be used to improve the taste, texture, appearance, and nutritional profile of meat alternatives. In addition to soybean, it is figuring out ways to grow animal protein in safflower and pea. It says the enhanced functionality of plants means they could potentially be used for applications in the traditional meat processing industry."
June 27, 2023 - from the Jewish Press:
"Matzah bakeries in New York City that use wood or coal as fuel for their ovens could be facing an expensive new requirement to attach emissions-control devices to the equipment.
"NYC Department of Environmental Protection drafted new rules requiring traditional wood-burning and/or coal-burning ovens installed prior to May 2016 to reduce emissions by up to 75 percent.
"In addition, it would be necessary to hire an engineer or architect to install the needed emissions-control device.
"At least some of the matzah bakeries in Brooklyn are fueled by wood or coal.
"Many of the city’s decades-old, top pizzerias use coal or wood-fueled ovens to bake their pies, and so do at least some of the city’s matzah bakeries.
"Residents living in the Williamsburg neighborhood have complained for years about smoke wafting from a local matzah bakery run by Satmar Hasidim. The oven at the bakery is fueled by coal.
"Another Brooklyn matzah bakery, this one also allegedly run by Satmar Hasidim in the Bushwick neighborhood, also uses a coal-burning oven – and neighbors have complained this year about the smoke from that one as well. The bakery is not operating at present – it closed right after Pesach – but it’s expected to start up again to produce its handmade shmurah matzah sometime this winter, ahead of the Passover holiday."
June 26, 2023 - from the Jewish Press:
"Alternative for Germany – AfD – a right-wing populist political party known for its opposition to membership in the EU and to immigration, on Sunday won a district council election in the district of Sonneberg, Thuringia, in central Germany.
"With about 57,000 residents, Sonneberg is one of the smallest districts in Germany, but the AfD victory––the first ever in its history––is seen as a major breakthrough for the party.
"In March 2021, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) placed AfD under surveillance as a suspected extremist group, but the courts blocked it. In 2022, the BfV was allowed to monitor AfD as a suspected extremist group, and the party’s appeal was dismissed by the court over “sufficient factual indications of anti-constitutional efforts within the AfD.” And so, to date, the AfD is under constant surveillance, its phones are tapped and probed, and it is definitely the boogeyman of German politics. And on Sunday the party won an election for the first time.
"According to Politico, AfD supports a ban on circumcision for non-medical reasons for underage individuals, suggesting that the practice composes a “serious violation of fundamental rights.”
"And according to the Jerusalem Post, AfD supports a ban on kosher slaughter in Germany, as well as on the 'import and sale of kosher meat.'"
"Björn Höcke, the AfD’s leader in Thuringia, said the win demonstrated the party’s momentum, and promised: “And then we’ll prepare for the state elections in the east, where we can really create a political earthquake.” He was, referring to state parliament elections in the eastern states of Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg."
June 22, 2023 from the CPSC :
Boost The Mood Ceramic Mugs are mislabeled as microwave safe. If microwaved, the metallic print on the mug can spark, posing a fire hazard.
Consumer Contact: Michael Giordano International toll-free at 833-870-6579 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, email at information@mgiordano.com or online at www.ceramicmugrecall.com for more information.
This recall involves 10-ounce ceramic mugs in navy blue with a gold metallic handle and “Boost The Mood” in gold lettering. A white, round label on the bottom of the mug describes it as “microwave safe.” The recalled mugs were sold as part of a promotional set including socks, hand cream and foot cream. Only the mug is affected by this recall.
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled ceramic mugs and contact Michael Giordano International to receive a $10 cash refund for the value of the ceramic mug. Consumers will be directed to dispose of their mugs after successfully registering for the recall.
Sold At: Exclusively at Ulta Beauty stores nationwide and online at www.ulta.com as part of a promotional set, including socks, hand cream and foot cream from October 2022 through March 2023 for about $16.
June 20, 2023 from The Food Dive:
"Around 40% of the U.S. beef herd still remained under drought conditions as of the week of June 6, according to the USDA. However, recent rainfall and lower feed prices have allowed production to increase at a faster-than-expected rate.
"The USDA raised its beef production outlook in June, although production is still expected to decline more than 8% in 2024. Packing plants will need to compete for a smaller supply of slaughter-ready cattle to fill their schedules, the agency said."
June 21, 2023 - from the CNN Business:
"Cultivated meat, also known as lab-grown meat, has been cleared for sale in the United States.
"Upside Foods and Good Meat, two companies that make what they call “cultivated chicken,” said Wednesday that they have gotten approval from the US Department of Agriculture to start producing their cell-based proteins.
"Good Meat, which is owned by plant-based egg substitute maker Eat Just, said that production is starting immediately. Cultivated or lab-grown meat is grown in a giant vat, much like what you’d find at a beer brewery.
"Last week, Good Meat and Upside said they had received approval for labels for its product from the USDA. In March, Good said it had received a so-called “no questions” letter from the Food and Drug Administration. That letter states that the administration is satisfied that the product is safe to sell in the United States. The FDA issued a similar letter Upside Foods in November.
" Good Meat, which has been selling its products in Singapore, advertises its product as “meat without slaughter,” a more humane approach to eating meat. Supporters hope that cultured meat will help fight climate change by reducing the need for traditional animal agriculture, which emits greenhouse gases.
"The company had previously announced that it was partnering with chef and restaurateur José Andrés to bring the item to a Washington, DC restaurant. It is working with his team on a launch but doesn’t have specific information on timing at this point, according to a company spokesperson. As production ramps up, Good Meat may consider partnering with other restaurants or launching in retail, he added."
June 14, 2023 - from the PR News:
" UPSIDE Foods, the leading cultivated meat, poultry and seafood company, announced today that it obtained label approval for its cultivated chicken from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). With an approved label in hand, UPSIDE Foods is now working with USDA to obtain a Grant of Inspection (GOI) for its Engineering, Production, and Innovation Center (EPIC), the last remaining item in the pre-market regulatory process before the company can commercially produce and sell its cultivated chicken in the United States. The label uses the term 'cell-cultivated chicken.'
"As a cultivated meat product grown directly from real animal cells, UPSIDE's Chicken is subject to the same labeling requirements as conventionally-produced meat products. UPSIDE Foods has now demonstrated full compliance with all pre-market requirements for labeling and can begin commercial production and sales as soon as it obtains a GOI from USDA. UPSIDE's chicken will proudly bear the USDA mark of inspection on its packaging after it passes USDA inspection.
"After completing the next and final regulatory step, UPSIDE's cultivated chicken will be launched in limited quantities through select restaurant partners.
" In addition, UPSIDE will continue its work with FDA and USDA to bring its next consumer products to market, including sausages, nuggets, and dumplings."
November 16, 2022 - from the FDA:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) completed its first pre-market consultation for a human food made from cultured animal cells. We evaluated the information UPSIDE Foods submitted to the agency and have no further questions at this time about the firm’s safety conclusion. The firm will use animal cell culture technology to take living cells from chickens and grow the cells in a controlled environment to make the cultured animal cell food.
The FDA's pre-market consultation with the firm included an evaluation of the firm’s production process and the cultured cell material made by the production process, including the establishment of cell lines and cell banks, manufacturing controls, and all components and inputs. The voluntary pre-market consultation is not an approval process. Instead, it means that after our careful evaluation of the data and information shared by the firm, we have no further questions at this time about the firm’s safety conclusion.
More information is here
November 16, 2022 - from the FoodDive:
"Upside Foods and the U.S. have both reached a milestone with this approval. Not only is Upside Foods a step closer to selling cultivated chicken, but the U.S. could soon have a new kind of meat available for consumers to choose.
"Upside Foods, founded in 2016 as Memphis Meats, was one of the first companies in the cultivated meat space.
"It also is the one that’s closest to being able to produce meat at scale. Just over a year ago, Upside opened a 53,000-square-foot facility in the San Francisco Bay Area that will be able to make 400,000 pounds of meat a year — enough to serve some restaurant customers.
"Through this approval, the FDA is showing its commitment to supporting innovation in the food supply. The statement stressed that the FDA’s first priority is safety. Food made with cultured animal cells, the agency wrote, must meet the same stringent requirements as other food regulated by the FDA.
"For meat and poultry products, the FDA ensures products are produced in a safe manner. After the meat is harvested from the bioreactor, it enters the USDA’s jurisdiction — just like any animal meat product."
| The information posted is from secondary sources. We cannot take responsibility for the accuracy of the information. |
| Comments to webmaster@kashrut.com
© Copyright 2024 Scharf Associates |
|
|||||||||||