December 2, 2016 from the Kof-K:
Please note that effective immediately Flavor Sciences, Lenoir, NC is no longer underthe supervision of the KOF-K. Product received prior to December 1 2016 may be used as kosher certified.
November 30, 2016 from the COR Detroit:
MANY ICINGS, FROSTINGS, ETC. NOW DAIRY: [For Bakeries, Foodservice and Commercial establishments]
Due to changes in manufacturing procedures, some bakery ingredients that have been OU Pareve for many years have recently changed their status to dairy, and now bear OU-D on their labels. The products that have changed status include some (not all) icings, frostings, glazes, toppings, fudge bases, crème bases, buttercremes, donut and batter fillings, and possibly other items, from the following brands: Brill, BakeMark, Westco, Henry & Henry, Karp’s, Dunkin Donuts, Costco and others. Additional changes may occur in the near future, in particular regarding fruit fillings. The label of every individual container must always be checked to determine its correct status
Kosher Alert - H.C. Brill Icing is no longer Pareve
September 23, 2016 from the Kosher Atlanta:
Many of the local bakeries are experiencing pareve icing shortages for icing pareve cakes. The icing they used to get from H.C. Brill (CSM Bakery) has switched its formula to OU-D. The bakeries will have difficulties icing pareve cakes until they can find a pareve supplier.
November 29, 2016 from the OU:
GFS Blue Cheese Dressing (1 gallon jars), Gordon Food Service, Wyoming MI: The Orthodox Union does not certify GFS Blue Cheese Dressing. Some labels were printed with an unauthorized OU mark. Corrective actions are being implemented.
Kashrus advisory on Efe Eyup Sultan Sekerleme ve Gida Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi
November 21, 2016 from the OK Kosher Certification:
"Please be advised as of September 1st 2016 the company
Efe Eyup Sultan Sekerleme ve Gida Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi
is no longer certified by OK Kosher Certification. Any product produced after this date is not under OK certification."
October 20, 2016 from the FDA:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local officials are investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A illnesses linked to frozen strawberries in smoothies served at Tropical Smoothie Café locations.
The FDA, CDC and state and local officials are investigating hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections linked to frozen strawberries in smoothies served in Tropical Smoothie Cafe restaurant locations.
As of October 20, 2016, CDC reports 134 people with hepatitis A linked to this outbreak have been reported from 9 states (AR, CA, MD, NC, NY, OR, VA, WI and WV).
Nearly all ill people interviewed report eating smoothies containing strawberries at Tropical Smoothie locations in a limited geographic area. Preliminary traceback information indicates that the frozen strawberries served in these Tropical Smoothie Café locations were imported from Egypt. Tropical Smoothie Café has stopped using these strawberries nationwide.
If you think you’ve gotten sick from eating a smoothie containing strawberries from a Tropical Smoothie Café, contact your health care provider. At this time, we do not have information to suggest that there is an ongoing risk of hepatitis A virus infection at Tropical Smoothie Cafes. Illnesses are largely limited to Virginia and neighboring states.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state and local officials are investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A illnesses linked to frozen strawberries in smoothies served at Tropical Smoothie Café locations.
As of October 20, 2016, CDC reports 134 people with hepatitis A linked to this outbreak have been reported from 9 states (AR, CA, MD, NC, NY, OR, VA, WI and WV). Among people with available information, 52 people have been hospitalized. Nearly all ill people reported drinking a smoothie from Tropical Smoothie Café in the month before illness started. Of the 54 ill people who were interviewed about the type of smoothie, all reported eating a smoothie containing strawberries. These ill people purchased smoothies at cafés located in a limited geographical area, including Virginia and neighboring states. The ill person in Oregon had purchased smoothies containing strawberries from a Tropical Smoothie Café location in Virginia while traveling.
The FDA’s preliminary traceback investigation indicates that the strawberries served in Tropical Smoothie Café locations where ill people reported drinking smoothies were imported from Egypt. Tropical Smoothie Café reported that they stopped using Egyptian frozen strawberries in their locations in Virginia and neighboring states by August 8, 2016. Additionally, on August 19, 2016, the firm reported that they removed Egyptian frozen strawberries from all cafes nationwide.
The FDA’s investigation into the source and distribution of the strawberries is ongoing; and the agency has been in touch with the Egyptian International Health Regulations National Focal Point to discuss the investigation. FDA is working to identify other parts of the relevant supply chain and will take appropriate action as necessary. However, FDA is prohibited by law in most situations from releasing publicly certain confidential commercial information about supply chains.The FDA has initiated increased surveillance of imported strawberries and will provide more information as it becomes available.
November 1, 2016 From "FoodSafetyNews:
"The statement from the Egyptian producer/exporter suggested only one distributor is involved in the U.S."
"In an abundance of caution, Sysco immediately halted shipments and placed all frozen strawberries with a Country of Origin of Egypt on hold on Aug. 19, as soon as questions were raised regarding its quality,” the spokesman for Houston-based Sysco said Monday."
“Prime Time Produce has issued a voluntary product recall for certain lots of cucumbers, delivered to multiple locations in Bakersfield, due to potential salmonella contamination."
"Thousands of public school students, as well as hospital patients, may have been served fresh cucumbers that are under recall because of potential Salmonella contamination."
Ed. note: This is the first notice of a recall that is likely to grow. BJ's is one of the places that received these infected cucumbers.
Aspen Hills, Iowa is recalling cookie dough that it sold to Blue Bell Creameries and other food companies because it may be contaminated with listeria. "Aspen Hills' cookie dough was implicated in last month's Blue Bell recall because the Texas-based ice cream-maker said its tests confirmed the presence of listeria in the product." "The recall includes 22,000 cases of cookie dough made between July 15 and September 30."
October 7, 2016 from the OU:
Supremo Italiano Mozzarella Cheese, Restaurant Depot, Jetro, College Point NY: The Orthodox Union does not certify Supremo Italiano Mozzarella cheese. Some boxes were printed with an unauthorized OU mark. Corrective actions are being implemented.
September 29, 2016 from the OM Kosher Twitter Feed and confirmed by the OU:
This is a fake certificate listing oil products from Muzzel Services SDN BHD Malaysia
