Jerusalem Kosher News

27 Teves 5774

December 30, 2013

Corrections to the Guide to Chodosh

(Note: Each item below is preceded in parentheses with the date on which that item was written. The intent is to make it easier for you to skip items that you saw already and concentrate on the new additions.)

General Cautions

(revised 29 Dec 13) The general guidelines mentioned in the Guide to Chodosh apply only to products manufactured in the USA or other specified countries. They do not necessarily apply to items made elsewhere such as China. Examples are that winter wheat and spelt are always Yoshon, or the general cutoff dates given in the Guide.

(revised 29 Dec 13) Some companies produce many items that are Yoshon. Also, many mashgichim provide hashgocho for many items that are Yoshon. That does not mean that ALL items from that company or mashgiach are Yoshon.

Section 4.1 Cakes, cookies and crackers

(revised 26 Dec 13) Kemach oatmeal cookies have a Chodosh code of 12 10 14.

Section 5.1 Noodles and Pasta

(revised 29 Dec 13) Gefen noodle and pasta products are Yoshon under the hashgocho of the O-U only for those package where there is both an O-U hashgocho and a Yoshon label on the package. So far as we know, the Yoshon status of the other products, which do not have the O-U and are claimed to be Yoshon, have been checked only by the company and not an outside hashgocho authority.

Section 6.1 All-purpose white flour

(revised 26 Dec 13) Kansas Diamond Flour: White and whole wheat have a Chodosh code of 3230 (3-year, 230 – day of year).

Section 8.1 Beakfast Cereals

(revised 26 Dec 13) General Mills cereals including all Cheerios, made in the USA under the O-U hashgocho, all wheat ingredients are Yoshon, with the possible exception of WHEAT GERM. The Chodosh package date for items containing wheat germ in the ingredients isAug 18, package date of Aug 25 14. For items that do not contain wheat germ, but do contain oats or barley (grain not barley malt) the Chodosh packing date is Sept 18, package date of Sept 25 14. In particular, the O-U certified that this Chodosh date applies to the following: Cheerios, Apple Cinnamon Cheerios, Chocolate Cheerios, Multigrain Cheerios (even though this contains barley grain), Honey Nut Cheerios, and Fiber One.

(revised 26 Dec 13) Kemach Cereals: All cereals containing oats have a Chodosh Code of October 1, 2014 such as Toasted Oats, Honey Nut, Bunch O’ Krunch, Honey Crunch, Fruit Whirls, and Corn Crisp. Sugar Puffed Wheat has a code of November 17 2014. Please note that Toasted Oats and Honey Nut Toasted Oats have the same Chodosh date.

(revised 29 Dec 13) Norman yoghurts with granola or other cereals added cannot be recommended as Yoshon. The dating codes on the packages refer to the date that the yoghurt is made. The granola may be Chodosh, stored from weeks or months before.

 (revised 27 Dec 13) Quaker oats packed in Aug 21 or later may be Chodosh. The table on page 38 has an error. Oats and 540 days should have a package Chodosh date of Feb 12 15. In addition, the wheat date in that table for 540 days should be Feb 9 ’15.

 Section 9.3 Soups and Soup Mixes

 (revised 26 Dec 13) Liebers soups in cups the Chodosh code should be 19013 not 18913.

9.5.1 Beer

(revised 26 Dec 13) The guidelines in the Guide to Chodosh and the dates only apply to conventional beer made from barley malt. Some beers that are made from wheat or other possibly Chodosh grains may have an earlier Chodosh date.

Section 12.1.3 Retail bakeries, New York City

(revised 26 Dec 13) Weiss Bakery in Brooklyn is listed in the “aleph” section of the Guide, but it was left out of the index at the end of the Guide.

Section 12.1.7 Riverdale

(revised 26 Dec 13) Grandma’s Pizza. Muffins are not Yoshon. Other items are the same.

Section 15.5 Australia

(revised 27 Dec 13) The wheat in Australia is planted after pesach from May to June of each year. The harvest of the wheat is in the October-December period. Therefore wheat products produced in Australia from October to pesach may be Chodosh.