New York – Under a Congressional proposal introduced last week by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Congressman Joe Crowley (D-NY), the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 will be amended to require the Secretary of Agriculture to purchase and distribute more kosher and Halal foods to emergency food organizations, children’s agencies and charities.
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The ‘Kosher and Halal Food Act of 2012’ aims to increase the amount of kosher and Halal foods purchased from manufacturers with a kosher or Halal certification, provided that the cost for the food is comparable to those food manufacturers who do not have a proper certification.
The Gillibrand-Crowley legislation also mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture modify the labeling of the commodities list associated with the Emergency Food Assistance Act to help food bank operators identify which commodities to get from local food banks.
Gillibrand said this amendment and the change in labeling will enable more needy Jewish and Muslim families to access food which is prepared in keeping with their dietary restrictions. “With food insecurity in New York reaching disturbing, historic highs and food banks facing extreme shortages of kosher meals, many families are at risk of hunger and malnutrition,” Gillibrand told The Hill (http://bit.ly/TTEnwK). “We must take steps to help the neediest observant families and children get access to nutritious food during these difficult times.”
The provision “aims to increase the amount of kosher and Halal foods purchased from manufacturers with a kosher or Halal certification, provided that the cost for the food is comparable to those food manufacturers who do not have a proper certification.”. I assume that products with the OU will be included, but haimish brands which usually cost more will not. The costs of Glatt meat, Cholev Yisrael and pas Yisrael products are not comparable in price with regular grocry products.
Did it ever occur to you to simply say: “Thank you”
Of course not, that would be acting like a mensch- We Jews are always ready to kvetch, kvetch, kvetch, nothing is ever good enough when someone tries to help out. If my family and I found ourselves in an emergency situation, I would be grateful just to have food to put in our bellies as long as it was not pork or shellfish