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.
September 17, 2022 - from the FDA:
Salon Technologies International. Inc. is voluntarily recalling one lot of Antica Ocean Citron Hand Sanitizer (alcohol) Gel 65%, Lot 1166A. Expiration 6/18/2023 to the consumer level. Firm lab testing has found the product to contain benzene.
512 bottles of Antica Ocean Citron Hand Sanitizer (alcohol) Gel 65%, Lot 1166A, Expiration 6/18/2023 was distributed in the Seattle, Washington area.
Salon Technologies International. Inc. has notified its distributors by email and is arranging for return of all recalled products. Consumers that have product which is being recalled should stop using and return unused product to where it was obtained.
Consumers with questions regarding this recall can contact Salon Technologies International. Inc. by phone number ( 407-248-2948 ) or e-mail address salontechnologiesint@gmail.com , Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm , EST.
September 20, 2022 - from Matzav.com:
"After concerns were raised regarding the ability to bring daled minim into Canada for Sukkos this year, the CJHQ has announced that whatever issues there were have been resolved and that Yidden will be able to obtain daled minim without any issues."
September 19, 2022 - from the i24:
"Israel’s largest chocolate manufacturer, Strauss Group, announced on Monday that its plant in northern Israel resumed operations five months after traces of salmonella were found there, triggering the largest-ever recall in the country’s history, Ynet reports.
"The company said that its plant in Nof HaGalil is already back manufacturing its Parra chocolate bars and Mekupelet candy bar, and will gradually reintroduce more products of its Elite chocolate brand under the supervision of the Health Ministry."
August 28, 2022 - from the i24:
"Israel’s Health Ministry announced on Sunday that the Strauss Group Elite factory was authorized to gradually resume its activities after a salmonella outbreak.
The decision was made after a health and technological audit had been carried out. The ministry said audits would continue until the factory is cleared to fully resume operations."
August 19, 2022 - from the Food Safety News:
"Strauss Group’s profit has been heavily dented by a chocolate recall because of Salmonella and the related closure of a production plant in Israel.
"The company showed growth in some areas but this was offset by a decline in sales in the confectionery division and the Sabra hummus business, both of which operated on a partial scale in the half-year. The firm also reported a decline in operating profit.
"The company is preparing to gradually resume operations at the confectionery production site in Nof Hagalil, Israel. It has performed cleaning and invested in infrastructure to ensure improved quality and food safety standards.
"Permission for a restart is still pending from the Israeli Ministry of Health. The agency suspended the plant’s approval for three months after an inspection in April. Investigators were trying to clarify whether 21 patients of various ages were linked to the contamination.
"From 300 samples, about 30 positives were found. Salmonella was detected on a production line and in the liquid chocolate used to make finished products."
September 9, 2022 - from FoodDive
September 12, 2022 - from FoodProcessing.com
"Corn, wheat and beef markets are all suffering from droughts that will impact productivity, according to the latest report from Rabobank.
"The quarterly Rabobank Agribusiness Review notes that in late July, some 54% of the U.S. cattle herd was under from drought conditions. As a result, cow slaughter is on pace to reach 13.5% this year – the highest culling rate on record. Even with the extra slaughtered beef coming on the market, prices for fed cattle are up 20% so far, in recognition of the fact that fall slaughter is likely to be smaller.
"Corn crop conditions are the worst they’ve been since a widespread drought in 2012. The corn yield is projected to be below 170 bushels per acre, which would bring the total yield below 1 billion bushels, the second-lowest on record.
"The wheat market is being affected by drought and the war in Ukraine. A recent agreement to allow grain shipments through Ukraine’s ports will ease some of the pressure, but high temperatures and low rainfall will continue to depress the U.S wheat crop.
"'Without significant rainfall in the next 30 days, the 2023 U.S. hard red winter wheat crop will be planted in dust,' the report says. 'A recipe for another tough crop production year and a strong support for prices.'"
September 8, 2022 - from FoodDive
September 6, 2022 - from Jewish Press:
"The Ministry of Agriculture, in a step that it says is intended to protect Israeli agriculture, has prohibited forbidden the bringing into Israel sets of the “Arba Minim” (the four species on which Jews make a blessing on the days of the upcoming holiday of Sukkot) from foreign countries.
"However, visitors may bring with them one Etrog per person – the citron which looks like a lemon and has both a scent and a taste. The remaining 3 species have 1 with no taste or smell, 1 with just taste, and 1 with a scent but no taste. These species cannot be brought into Israel for fear that they are infected with pests that could harm local agriculture and will therefore be confiscated upon entering the country.
"If visitors to Israel do bring their own Arba Minim, the Ministry of Agriculture will provide them with a set of the 3 not allowed for import that were grown in Israel, free of charge.
"srael, as do most countries, prohibits individuals from bringing fresh produce into the country to prevent the possible spread of foreign pests. These pests may damage the local crops and thus cause irreversible damage to agriculture and even lead to the extinction of entire branches of agriculture."
August 26, 2022 - from the Food Industry Executive:
"Food-at-home prices are predicted to increase a total of 10 to 11% this year, and then slow to a 2 to 3% increase next year, according to the USDA’s latest Food Price Outlook. Food-away-from-home prices will show a slightly different pattern, increasing 6.5 to 7.5% this year and 3 to 4% in 2023.
"Food prices have increased steadily and significantly since the start of the pandemic. In both 2020 and 2021, food-at-home prices increased 3.5%, driven largely by the meat categories. In July of 2022, the food-at-home index increased 1.3% month-over-month, bringing the 12-month increase to 13.1%. This marked the largest yearly increase since March 1979.
"The USDA has revised its predictions upward for all food categories, with some categories expecting very high increases. For example, egg prices are predicted to increase between 24.5 and 25.5% for the year.
"However, the agency also notes some factors that may reduce food prices, such as decreased costs for agricultural commodities (corn, soy, and wheat prices fell by 8.5%, 11.4%, and 22.7%, respectively, between June and July 2022) and increasing interest rates.
August 20, 2022 - from the eJewishPhilantropy:
"In February, a baby formula production facility in Sturgis, Mich., run by Abbott Laboratories, was shut down over reports of bacterial contamination. Combined with record inflation and supply chain issues, by May roughly 40% of baby formula products were out of stock across the U.S.
"Among the Americans hit hardest by the formula shortage are members of the Orthodox Jewish community, which has more than double the average U.S. birth rate and only uses kosher-certified formulas (deemed to be in accordance with Jewish dietary law) – meaning, more mouths to feed with fewer choices of formula.
"But soon came a way for the OU to ease the pressure on Orthodox Jewish families: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which traditionally blocks most baby formula imports, relaxed its rules to allow companies to bring in formulas from overseas to address the shortage.
"Kosher certification takes about 2-3 weeks, with rabbis checking both the ingredients of the formula, and what other ingredients are handled by factory equipment to avoid contamination with non-kosher material.
"After the ingredient check, rabbis do a physical inspection of the production facility to make sure their information is accurate, and to check any other issues that may come up. Once the OU’s requirements are met, the plant receives the certification. Companies pay a fee for the certification.
"For all the effort going into certifying overseas baby formula plants, it isn’t clear how long that certification will be relevant to the U.S. market. The FDA may restrict imports of baby formula once it feels the shortage is over."
September 1, 2022 - from the USD:
"The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending a key funding flexibility in the WIC program that has allowed state agencies and their infant formula manufacturers to work together to provide more options for WIC families in need of formula. Under this flexibility – which is now extended through the end of October– USDA is covering the added cost of non-contract formula to make it financially feasible for states to allow WIC participants to purchase alternate sizes, forms, or brands of infant formula."
August 29, 2022 - from the Phys.org:
"The global dairy industry is changing. Among the disruptions is competition from food alternatives not produced using animals—including potential challenges posed by synthetic milk.
"Synthetic milk does not require cows or other animals. It can have the same biochemical make up as animal milk, but is grown using an emerging biotechnology technique know as "precision fermentation" that produces biomass cultured from cells.
"Unlike synthetic meat—which can struggle to match the complexity and texture of animal meat—synthetic milk is touted as having the same taste, look and feel as normal dairy milk.
"Synthetic milk is not a sci-fi fantasy; it already exists. In the U.S., for example, the Perfect Day company supplies animal-free protein made from microflora, which is then used to make ice cream, protein powder and milk."
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