As the Pesach season approaches, we have received several
inquiries for individuals and hotels who are concerned, as
the gedolei haposkim recommended, about the presence
of even small amounts of spices that were produced under an
enhanced "hetter mechirah".
According to the kashrus division of the Union of
Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (OU), the types of
foods that may contain these spices are: pickles, seasoned
snacks, pickled meats, pickling spice, soup bases, falafel
mix and balls, salad dressings, pizza sauces, spice blends,
frozen knishes, frozen quiche, barbecue sauce, egg rolls.
The gedolei haposkim of Eretz Yisroel said that even
though bedi'eved one can follow the principle of the
holchin achar horove since the amount of the
questionable spices is clearly a mi'ut, lechatchilah
if products that certainly do not contain the questionable
spices are known and accessible, then one should not rely on
the principle of holchin achar horove.
More than two months ago we asked the OU if they could
determine: "1] the first date that some of the Sde Eliyahu
products in question reached America; 2] the date of the last
shipment of Sde Eliyahu products in question to have reached
America; 3] a reasonable estimate of when the products will
have all worked their way through the system, subject to
whatever qualifications you want such as some manufacturers
not behaving like the "typical" food manufacturer."
Having this information would allow a concerned consumer to
determine that he or she had only products that do not
include the problematic spices, with a reasonable degree of
certainty.
So far we have received no answer at all to our inquiry,
though they told us they would have information at the
beginning of January.
We have contacted other supervisory services, to at least be
able to provide some information. Other supervisory agencies
have made sure that their products are free of this
problem.
Manufacturers or supervisory services with information are
invited to contact us at: Yated Ne'eman, POB 18191, Jerusalem
91181 ISRAEL, or email: yatedmp@netvision.net.il, or Fax: 972
2 538 3855.
