Jerusalem Kosher News

30 Kislev 5774
December 3, 2013

The following excerpt is Chapter 14 (page 74) of the annual Chodosh Guide released by Rabbi Yoseph Herman, addressing “Israel”.

Words that are in “bold” or “italics” are emphasized by Rabbi Herman, not JKN.

For readers in Israel, this is the information you need regarding product codes to determine if your American cereal or other products are chodosh or yoshon.

14.1 Food exported by Israel

Food produced in Israel under hashgochos considered reliable for kashrus are also always Yoshon. In addition all items produced under the hashgocho of the Badatz of Yerushalayim are also always Yoshon, even if they are packed outside of Israel.

14.2 Food imported to Israel
Many of the American-brand-name food items that are sold in Israel and other countries are produced under contract outside of the USA. The information printed in this Guide should not be assumed to apply to any food items purchased outside of the USA, unless you have a clear indication that that item was indeed produced in the USA. This Guide cannot vouch for the relevance of information printed in the Guide for
such items produced in other countries.

ב General Mills. According to the O-U, all wheat used in General Mills cereals is always Yoshon, with the possible exception of wheat germ that could be Chodosh stating with a packing date of Aug 9. Wheat starch is not a problem of Chodosh (see preface.) Barley (but not barley malt) may be Chodosh stating with a packing date of Aug 15. Oats may be Chodosh starting with a packing date of Sept 19.

Therefore, all cereals, including Cheerios that contain wheat germ in the ingredients have a Chodosh date on the package of Aug 25 ’14 (372 days after packing.) All cereals without wheat germ but containing barley, such as Multigrain Cheerios, the Chodosh date is Aug 25 ’14. All cereals that contain oats, but no wheat germ and no barley, the Chodosh date is Sept 26 ’14.If the only questionable ingredient is malt, then the Chodosh code is Dec 22 2014.. (Note: These products are not formally under the hashgocho of the O-U for Yoshon. However, the O-U has verified that this information is correct.)

ד General Mills/Nestle cereals sold in Israel. These cereals sold in Israel have the same Chodosh code as given above for General Mills cereals. However this is only true if the box states General Mills, Minneapolis, MN and also has an O-U kashrus symbol. Cereals manufactured in Poland are NOT recommended.

Quaker cereals sold in Israel have the same codes and dates as the listing for the same items sold in the USA, as stated in Section 8.1 of this Guide. Quaker oats cereals made in England and sold in Israel and elsewhere in the world are Yoshon, under the hashgocho of the London Federation of Synagogues, if there is a KF symbol on the package. (Note: Some people in Israel use the term “Quaker” to refer to all hot
oats cereals that need to be cooked, regardless of the company which manufactures it. In this Guide, the term Quaker is used to refer only to products made by the Quaker Company, including cereals eaten with cold milk.)

ב Kelloggs cereals manufactured in Europe and sold in Israel and Europe, Some are Yoshon under the hashgocho of the Manchester (England) Beth Din. Cereals manufactured in Germany may be Chodosh. More information will follow.

א Morning Flakes oats cereal sold in Israel and Europe is Yoshon under the hashgocho of the
Manchester (England) Beth Din.

Rabbi O. Y. Westheim. Everything under his hashgocho is always Yoshon everywhere in the
world. This includes Bobbie’s fish products sold in Europe.

Kedassia, London. Everything with this hashgocho on it Yoshon everywhere in the world.

London Federation of Synagogues advised that to their knowledge all crackers and biscuits
produced in Europe are Yoshon. Obviously not all of these are under the hashgocho of the Federation. All packaged products with the Federation’s KF symbol are always Yoshon, whether sold in Israel or elsewhere.

IMPORTANT NOTE: As mentioned above, food produced in Israel itself under reliable hashgocho is always Yoshon. However, we have ample evidence that many packaged goods are being imported to Israel with no concern about the possibility that they may be Chodosh. Importers often paste their own labels, in Hebrew on such packages, describing the foreign kashrus organization that vouches for the kashrus, but not the Yoshon status, of the contents. The general public in Eretz Yisroel is more strict about Chodosh than the majority of people in Chutz L’Aretz. Nevertheless, this public is often not aware that some of the hashgochos in Chutz L’Aretz are not usually actively avoiding Chodosh. We are warning our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisroel about this problem and we urge our readers to also spread the word.

א=Yoshon with hashgocho, no checking of codes; ב=Yoshon with hashgocho must check codes
ד=No hashgocho, check codes; ח=Chodosh; ס=sofek, uncertain

For the new, full Guide to Chodosh, send an email message to chodosh@moruda.com. You will get the Guide by return email.