[Chodosh] Chodosh Update Bulletin #5
URGENT CHODOSH BULLETIN FROM THE GUIDE TO CHODOSH Yoseph Herman, 1 Feb 17 CHODOSH PROBLEMS WITH WINTER WHEAT PRODUCTS, Update #5 REVISED UPDATED SUMMARY OF THE WINTER WHEAT PROBLEM (See new information at the end of this note) AGRICULTURAL FACTS The US produces 2 wheat crops. Winter wheat is planted before pesach and harvested after pesach. After the harvest winter wheat is always Yoshon. Spring wheat is mostly planted after pesach. It is Chodosh from its harvest in the July-September time frame until the following pesach. Spring wheat is higher in protein, winter wheat is lower in protein. The protein is the “glue” that hold the dough together. Spring wheat is used for chewy products such as breads, rolls, challahs, bagels and pizza. Spring wheat is also used for noodles and pasta. Winter wheat has been used when we do not need a chewy product, such as matzos, crackers, many cakes and cookies. It is also used where protein is not important, since it is cheaper. Until recently we took advantage of the rules of thumb developed over many decades of which products are always made from winter wheat and therefore have no problems of Chodosh. Apparently over the recent years the protein level of winter wheat has been steadily dropping due to agricultural conditions, until foods that used to be produced from pure winter wheat can no longer be produced unless some spring wheat is added to fortify its protein level. The Guide to Chodosh was not aware of this change until a very short time ago. The problem we face is that many old rules in this area are no longer necessarily valid. We have no idea yet of how broad is the problem of spring wheat being added to the winter wheat. Some mashgichim have also not known about this. Therefore we face the formidable and time consuming task of exploring which food categories are at issue and if they are, which brands of packages may be using some spring wheat. ITEMS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM All foods that have always used spring wheat are not affected. Therefore, all Yoshon bakeries and pizza shops will continue to produce Yoshon using the arrangements in place from before. This includes breads, rolls, challahs, bagels, pita, pizza, etc. All noodles and pastas also have not changed. For all these items, the Guide to Chodosh should still be valid. FOODS AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM We still do not have an idea of broad are the categories of products affected by this problem. However, the known scope continues to expand. At this point each item has to be examined individually. This is such a formidable task that it can take a long time, perhaps beyond pesach, until we start to have handle on what to recommend. Even items with a Yoshon hashgocho need to be checked to make sure that the mashgiach has been aware of this change. Here is a partial initial list which needs to be investigated: matzos, matzo meal, items using matzo meal such as gefilte fish, breaded items, meat loaf and other applications where flour or matzo meal is used as a filling and binding agent. Baking flour, both flour produced for home baking and for baking cakes, cookies, crackers and pretzels professionally. Candies that contain flour. MEANWHILE: DO NOT ask or write us for halachic guidance. Do not ask us at this point whether a specific item in your house or store has this problem. Even if your posek is machmir, do not throw out any foods. As mashgichim respond to this appeal for information, we will add to the list of items known to have or not have this problem. PRELIMINARY LIST OF ITEMS USING ONLY YOSHON WHEAT: All items made in Israel under any reliable kashrus hashgocho GEFILTE FISH: A, Ungar, Freunds, Dagim, Mrs. Adlers, Manischewitz, Mothers, Rokeach. MATZOS AND MATZO MEAL: Streits, Manischewitz, Horowitz Margahrettin, Rokeach, Mishpacha, Kemach. MATZOS FOR PESACH: Several hand matzo bakeries that we have contacted say that they are adding spring wheat to their winter wheat flour. However they make sure that the spring wheat is Yoshon from last year. We hope to have a list of such bakeries compiled before pesach. BAKING FLOUR: Gold Medal flour from factory KC (KC next to the date), All Kemach flours, all purpose and high gluten. BAKING FLOUR WITH ADDED SPRING WHEAT: Bob’s Red Mill “100% hard red winter wheat” flour contains some spring wheat. ** *The following added 1 Feb 17* For the following it has been confirmed that what was assumed before as being only winter wheat has no spring wheat added: General Mills cereals-all wheat ingredients winter wheat only General Mills Pureasnow bakery flour Heckers flour Heimishe Lukshon Matzo Meal Ardent Mills and Snavely’s all purpose bakery flour. In Long Island establishments: Zomniks, Shloimy’s Bakery, Gotta Getta Bagels, Cravings. Masbia flour with Yoshon label Shoprite Deli and Fish Dep’t in the following New Jersey locations: Aberdeen, Bound Brook, East Brunswick, East Windsor,
[Chodosh] Chodosh update bulletin
GUIDE TO CHODOSH-YOSEPH HERMAN, HOT LINE 718-305-5133, EMAIL yher...@earthlink.net CHODOSH BULLETIN AS OF 11 SEPT 16 DRAFT OF THE PRELIMINARY GUIDE TO CHODOSH COMING The Guide to Chodosh is published in two editions. The Preliminary Guide is due to be released soon, the full Guide for the season after sukkos. The *draft* of the Preliminary Guide is ready. It is still incomplete and has some errors, mostly typographical. I hope to send all of you this preliminary draft later today. You should be able to use it to get the Chodosh code for most packaged products. You will note that most information that depends on mashgichim is missing. Their information has not yet been forwarded to us. If you find any errors or confusing entries, please drop me a note to yher...@earthlink.net. I will not be able to answer each email, but will appreciate your feedback. UPDATE OF HOME BAKING FLOUR Heckers and Ceresota flour will be from winter wheat all season as in the past. I am still waiting for clarification for Gold Medal flour from factory KC. * THE FOLLOWING AS OF 2 SEPT 16 THE NEW PROBLEM WITH FLOUR A few weeks ago a very large amount of Gold Medal flour was recalled because of salmonella contamination. As a result, the normal supply chain of wheat to mills has been upset, as mills are trying to get wheat to make up the shortfall. For the Yoshon consumer, this means that the rules that have helped us for the past many years may not be relied on, at least temporarily. This affects national brands such as Gold Medal flour from KC and Heckers and Ceresota flours. It may also affect some of the Jewish brands. Therefore, until further notice, any flour purchased in groceries for home baking can NOT be assumed to be Yoshon unless (1) they have a Yoshon label under hashgocho or (2) have a dating code to indicate that they were packed before Jul 29 ’16. Some sample codes are given below. WARNING ABOUT BARLEY: The O-U has warned that significant amount of worm contamination has been found recently in pearled barley. We have been warning in the Guide for years that barley must be checked for worms before use, all year around. PLEASE NOTE that this is not a Yoshon-related problem, since the worms have been reported even before the Chodosh season has started and no barley has yet been stored for Yoshon use. NOTE TO MASHGICHIM: The revised Chodosh packing date for the Bay State flour mill in Clifton, NJ is Aug 22, not Aug 28. SELECTED DATING CODES FOR *ALL PURPOSE* FLOUR Gold Medal (all mills) Feb 7 ’18. Heckers and Ceresota Jan 29 ‘18 Pillsbury Jan 29 ‘18 Shoprite July 29 ‘17 Stop and Shop Jul 29 ‘18 For other brands and other types of flour, modify the code in last year’s Guide as detailed below, or call the Hot Line. THE FOLLOWING AS OF AUG 28 ‘16 In general, if you have last year’s Guide, you can use the package cutoff code for any item given in last year’s Guide and modify the date to conform to the packing dates given here for each type of grain, spring wheat, oats or barley. Just change the date and the year. If you do not have last year’s Guide, you may get it by sending email to chod...@moruda.com. To change the date, change the year in last year’s Guide by adding 1. For oats (except those listed below) subtract 6 from the date, for wheat (not noodles and pasta) subtract 3 from the date, for pasta subtract 2 days, for barley, add 7 days. Note that any package with a Yoshon label is Yoshon, with the possible exception of some items where the hashgocho for kashrus in the Volover Rav. THE FOLLOWING IS A STARTING SET OF CUTOFF DATES OR CODES AS THEY APPEAR ON PACKAGES BY MANUFACTURER. THESE DATES ARE TENTATIVE AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE (MOST LIKELY CHANGE TO A LATER DATE) -Quaker oats (hot cereals) Chodosh PACKAGING date Aug 31. Date on the package Feb 22 18. -General Mills cereals, including all Cheerios. Oats Chodosh PACKAGING date Aug 31. Date on the package Sept 6 17. Wheat in all General Mills cereals is Yoshon. (Note that the OU is working to arrange that all Cheerios sold in Israel should be Yoshon till pesach. This is to be confirmed later.) -Nature Valley Granola Chodosh PACKING date of Aug 31. Date on the bars (the date on the individual bars, not on the outside box) Sept 6, ’17. -Post cereals. Chodosh PACKAGING date for oats Aug 31, date on the package for oats is Aug 31 17. -Shoprite oats Jan 20 ‘18 -Village Farms, Sturms oats Jul 20 ‘18 -Kemach, Taanug oats Jul 20 ‘17 THE FOLLOWING OF INTEREST TO BAKERIES AND THEIR MASHGICHIM (IT RELATES TO BAKERY FLOUR, NOT THE FLOUR YOU BUY FOR HOME USE). The mills listed here may continue to produce Yoshon after these dates by special arrangement. -General Mills flour from Buffalo, NY may be Chodosh starting from Aug 29. -Ardent Mills in Albany may be Chodosh starting Aug 12. -Bay State Milling Clifton may be Chodosh Aug 22.
[Chodosh] Chodosh Update Bulletin
CHODOSH BULLETIN-25 OCT 15 UPDATES AND CORRECTIONS TO THE PRELIMINARY GUIDE TO CHODOSH *Section 4.1 Cakes, Cookies and Crackers* *ב** B’Gan* cookies are Yoshon except for cookies containing oatmeal, Under the hashgocho of Rabbi Teitelbaum, the Nirbarter Rov *ב Liebers* cookies, crackers and snackers made in the *USA* without oats are Yoshon at least until malt becomes a problem after Dec 15. From *Israel* are always Yoshon. Whole wheat crackers from *Brazil* are Yoshon. The malt in these items may be Chodosh if *purchased* after Jan. 15. Snackers from Brazil are Yoshon. Whole Wheat Snackers are Yoshon. Under the hashgocho for Yoshon of Rabbi Weissmandl. *א** Min Bites* fancy cookies and cakes under the Hashgocho of the PCK - Passaic-Clifton Kashrus. *א **Mishpacha* matzos, regular and whole wheat matzo meal, Graham Cracker Pie Crust, Chocolate Graham Cracker pie crust, and Tam Tams are all Yoshon under the hashgocho of Rav Aaron Teitelbaum, the Nirbater Rav. Matzos will also have a Yoshon label. *א Bloch* cookies are Yoshon under the hashgocho of Rabbi Weissmandl. *א Fourre *cookies Yoshon under the hashgocho of Rabbi Weissmandl. *א ** Gross *cookies are Yoshon under the hashgocho of Rabbi Weissmandl. *א Kineret Brownies* are Yoshon under the hashgocho of Rabbi Weissmandl. *א Sabra *pretzels and humus are Yoshon,, under the hashgocho of Rabbi Weissmandl. *Section 4.2 Pretzels and Potato Chips* *א** Liebers pretzels* Yoshon Under the hashgocho or Rabbi Weissmandl, even those containing premixed oats and Honey Wheat Pretzels, includling the malt. *Section 4.5 Ice Cream Cones* *א** Liebers* cones are Yoshon under the hashgocho of Rav M. Weissmandl. *Section 4.6 Matzos* *אּ** Gefen* matzos from Israel are Yoshon, including the whole wheat matzos, lightly salted matzos and onion poppy matzos. *א **Mishpacha* matzos and matzo meal, regular and whole wheat, are all Yoshon under the hashgocho of Rav Aaron Teitelbaum, the Nirbater Rav. Matzos will also have a Yoshon label. *Section 5.1 Regular Noodles, Pasta, Mandlen, and Croutons* ב *B’Gan* noodles and pasta Yoshon only with a Yoshon label, under the hashgocho of Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum, the Nirbarter Rav. Chow Mein noodles are Yoshon as well. ד* Hodgson Mills* all noodles and other pastas including whole wheat Chodosh code 02 15 18 (02=month, 15 day, 18=year, 30 months after packing). *א **Mishpacha* noodles and pasta, *including whole wheat items, tri-color noodles, lasagna and egg noodles* are all Yoshon, Packages will also have a Yoshon label. Under the hashgocho of Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum, the Nirbater Rav. Note that the Yoshon label may be written in English on the back of the packages. (Chow Mein is NOT Yoshon, See Section 5.2 below.) *Section 6.1 All Purpose White Flour* *ד Bay State Bouncer Flour* Chodosh code of AA AA080215, (aa mill code 08 month 02 day 15 year). This is the production date. *א Mishpacha *white baking flour is Yoshon, including the malt, under the hashgocho of Rav Aaron Teitelbaum, the Nirbator Rav. Product will also have a Yoshon label. *Section 6.2 Whole Wheat Flour* *א **Mishpacha *whole wheat flour and white whole wheat flour are Yoshon, including the malt, under the hashgocho of Rav Aaron Teitelbaum, the Nirbator Rav. Product will also have a Yoshon label. *Section 6.3 High Gluten or Bread Flour* *א Mishpacha *high gluten flour has a Yoshon label and is Yoshon, including the malt under the hashgocho of Rav Aaron Teitelbaum, the Nirbator Rav. *Section 6.5 Cake and other mixes * *א B’Gan Cake Mixes* are Yoshon under the Hashgocho of Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum. *Section 6.6 Baking Sprays* *ד Glick’s Baking Spray* with flour has a code of 21415. These are numbers 9-13 of the code. (214-day of year, 15-year). *א Mishpacha *baking spray with flour is Yoshon under the hashgocho of Rav Aaron Teitelbaum, the Nirabator Rav. Product will also have a Yoshon label. *Section 7.1 Barley* *א B’Gan barley* is Yoshon the entire season. It is packed in 1 pound packages and is available primarily to food service customers, very limited amount to grocery sales. Yoshon hashgocho, Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum, the Nirbarter Rav. *א Gefen *barley is Yoshon under the hashgocho of Rabbi Friedman. (Rabbi Friedman only supervises the Yoshon aspects of the barley. His name does not appear on the package.) ד* Unger Barley* Chodosh code 08 02 17 (2 years after packing). *Section 7.3 Soy, teriyaki and other sauces* א *Mishpacha Soy Sauce* is Yoshon under the Hashgocho of Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum, The Nirbater Rav. *8.1 Breakfast cereals* *ב** Kemach* cereals containing oats, Chodosh date is Oct 1 16 (1 year after packing). Under Rav Nussen Horowitz. *ד** Quaker* oats that you cook, made in Canada and sold in the US, Chodosh date on the package March 19 ’17 (540 days after packing. *Section 9.1 Frozen and other Packaged Foods* *ב Bodek* croutons and crackers in the Bodek lunch box Yoshon, under the hashgocho of
