Houston Kashruth Association

July 7, 2010
The Sunbeam and Nature’s Own kosher breads now have the letters HKA ink jetted after the expiration date. Be sure to check each loaf before purchase.

May 28, 2010
The HKA would like to inform you about some significant kashrut changes made in recent weeks.
PACE PICANTE SAUCE
One that many of us will miss is Pace Picante Sauce as it is no longer certified as Kosher.  I guess we will have to buy those products that are made “innn Neww Yoork City”!

From the COR 
This is to advise that Chocolate Signatures Inc — COR 669- is no longer under COR certification.  Certification has been terminated due to kashrus violations. Any product manufactured from March 29, 2010 and after, should not be used even when bearing a COR symbol. 

From the OU

Williams-Sonoma Mixes
Brands: Williams-Sonoma
Products:
1. Lounge Mix (Assorted Nuts)
2. Classic Sugar Cookie Mix
Company: Williams-Sonoma – San Francisco, CA
Issue: These certified products contain dairy ingredients as listed on the ingredient panel but the dairy designation has been inadvertently omitted. Future packaging will be revised.

Bouchon Bakery Waffle Mix
Brands: Bouchon Bakery
Products: Cinnamon Pecan Waffle Mix
Company: Williams-Sonoma – San Francisco, CA
Issue: This certified product was manufactured using dairy equipment, but the dairy designation has been inadvertently omitted. Future packaging will be revised.

From recent personal experiences of the author.

 A caterer brought in 2 boxes of unbaked dough rolls.   One had an OU and the other had a Tablet-K.  He insisted that he had used both “for years”.   The Tablet-K is not approved and he had to go back to the supplier for OU approved product.   Lesson learned:  Even if you have used something “for years” the Hechsher can change or even disappear, as in the next recent incident, and one should periodically check all items periodically, that you buy.

Hechsher “disappeared”.   A facility was using sliced jalapenos for years, there was a tiny – and I mean tiny – OU on the label.  But to make things more complicated the label had a pattern of polka dots that made the hechsher hard to find in the first place.  A new shipment had recently come in and I was making one of my regular “confirm the hechshers” days so I looked at the jars.  The OU was no longer on the label.  Of the 3 jars, one still had the hechsher, the other 2 had to be returned.

Remember to re-register at the website for future bulletin.

Please feel free to relate your own stories about changes in Kashruth, they may constitute an important “Kashruth Alert” for the other members of our community.  Submit them on the website to the Infoline.

Please consider joining HKA or making a donation at the website, as the charges for supervision do not cover the costs of bringing Kashruth to the community.

March 18, 2010
Kosher for Passover regular and diet coke are available in Houston area stores. They have a yellow cap with OU-P on the cap.

The confectioner’s sugar sold by Wal-Mart under their Great Value brand is mistakenly labeled as being kosher for Passover. The product, although certified kosher for year-round use by United Mehadrin, is NOT certified for Passover use.

March 11, 2010
Notice from the Jewish Diabetic Society:
Pesach (Passover) Guide for those with Diabetes is available at the Jewish Diabetes Association website. Even if you don’t need this personally, pass this valuable guide on to others who may need it.

February 26, 2010
Kosher for Passover Coke and Kashruth Alerts
Coke products for Passover will be available in Houston again this year. A future announcement will provide more details.

The national kosher organizations have informed us that KSA certified products are now acceptable but only if product is from USA/Canada.

Several KC Masterpiece, Hidden Valley, and HV Manufacturing brands of sauces and marinades will no longer be certified and the OU symbol has been removed. As always, consumers are urged to verify the presence of the OU symbol when purchasing products.

Alert sent out by the Scroll K: Hammond Assorted Chocolates Gold Square Gift Box,and Assorted Chocolates Red Square Gift Boxs included non-certified candied almonds. These boxes have been incorrectly labeled with a Scroll K D. Corrective measures were taken: the labels are being changed for current orders to be without the Scroll K D. These 2 gift boxes should NOT be used.

Alert from OU: Michele’s Maple Creme Syrup, Honey Creme Syrup, and Butter Pecan Syrup bear an unauthorized OU symbol. Corrective action is being taken.

All products manufactured by Dakota Valley, Willow Lake, South Dakota, are no longer certified by the cRc, even when bearing the cRc on the label. Products packaged under their “Peanotz” label include roasted nuts, soybean nuts and corn.

OU-certified Williams-Sonoma Lounge Mix (Assorted Nuts) and Classic Sugar Cookie Mix contain dairy ingredients as listed on the ingredient panel but the dairy designation has been inadvertently omitted. Future packaging will be revised.

OU-certified Williams-Sonoma’s Bouchon Cinnamon Pecan Waffle Mix was manufactured using dairy equipment, but the dairy designation has been inadvertently omitted. Future packaging will be revised.