New York – Ban Chinese Kosher Imported Food

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    Rabbi Martin Grunberg is one of a small group of kosher food inspectors who watches over factory workers in China, the world\'s fastest-growing producer of kosher-certified products. Here he is on a maintenance tour of a Chinese candy factory making kosher-certified toy candies, most of it for export to the U.S. and Israel. This photo is just an illustration of a china factory being under the watchful eye of a mashgiachNew York- In the past few days several stories have emerged from China about a Chinese firm involved in a deadly baby food safety scandal. Thousands of babies have reportedly been sickened, and so far five are reported to have died—the reason being a corrupt milk factory intentionally placing melamine chemicals in the formula.

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    Melamine is a toxic industrial chemical that can cause kidney stones and lead to kidney failure. It has no nutritional value but is high in nitrogen, making products with it appear higher in protein. Suppliers trying to cut costs are believed to have added it to watered-down milk to cover up the resulting protein deficiency.

    Luckily none of these baby foods have been exported to the U.S. But just now comes the news that Hong Kong authorities claim to have found the industrial chemical melamine in drinks, ice creams and yogurt from the same Chinese firm involved in the deadly food safety scandal.

    Over the past 12 months, China has battled many recalls for products made in their factories.

    Dozens of kosher companies import nosh and confectionery from China. While these companies may boast very good kosher certifications, thus rendering irresponsible any call for a ban of their products, the bad news in recent months and especially in the last few days, the question for any consumer remains: can we eat, or give to our children, nosh made in China? We might equally question if the recent spike of sick kids in our community might be linked to toxic chemicals in Chinese-made sweets.

    This is not an issue of kashrus. The issue is that Chinese factories cannot be trusted no matter how many mashgichim are placed: the lack of Chinese government oversight and safety laws is incomprehensible and unacceptable.

    At the same time, it’s the responsibility of all kosher food importers to assure their customers that the food items they bring in from Chinese factories are safe.


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    30 Comments
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    McCain-Palin 08
    McCain-Palin 08
    15 years ago

    ban anything coming in from communist china

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Having done business and been ripped off in China- I would not buy anything even with the best Hashgocoh from there-The Chinese mentality is to do the deal today and who cares what happens down the road- There’s a sucker born every minute-

    I wouldn’t trust them under my nose- how much more so past my nose!

    anon
    anon
    15 years ago

    just asking why the ou is continuing to give a hechsher on chinese products

    guy
    guy
    15 years ago

    The big food manufacturers have always blocked writing country of origin on fresh food products. It is voluntary.

    Kashrus Pro
    Kashrus Pro
    15 years ago

    Generally the OU and any other REPUTABLE agency only gives hashgocha in China to products that in reality don’t need hashgocha. If it is something that needs hashgocha they are on top of it much more than they are here in North America.

    Iviarta Hara Mikirbecha
    Iviarta Hara Mikirbecha
    15 years ago

    FYI most food coming out of China has toxic coloring and preservatives galore and you wouldn’t feed it to your dog. Wait, in China, they eat their dogs!!

    Rechel mechel
    Rechel mechel
    15 years ago

    why go to the ou most heimishe hechshers send mashgichim ro china we consumers have 2stop buying food from china they also eat cats and in general they dony wash good

    machem
    machem
    15 years ago

    WAS IT CHULOV STAM?

    Cant Believe IT
    Cant Believe IT
    15 years ago

    Kashrus Pro,

    Not being personal chas vshulem, Do you write what you know or know what you write?

    You have no clue what’s going on there! Enough said!

    AuthenticSatmar
    AuthenticSatmar
    15 years ago

    There is a simple solution.

    The OU should demand all the plants become Union plants or else they will remove the hashgocho.

    Chamira Sakanta
    Chamira Sakanta
    15 years ago

    A much greater issue is the raw Chinese ingrediants used by many different products. The manufacturers do not have to include this info. A great amount of what you eat has Chinese ingrediants. Maybe Genack will add a requirement to list country of origin.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    where is hechsher lo tzedek

    Robroy560
    Robroy560
    15 years ago

    This is actually a very serious problem. Check the labels of many of our “frum brands.” If they are canned fruit, they ususally say made in China. The kosher certified brands, Dole, Mott’s, etc. (I know they say Chasidishe Shechita Glatt on the can of peaches), also come from China. Many frozen fish products, sold all over Monsey, Brooklyn, etc., also come from China.

    China raises fish in “farms” that are contaminated with raw sewage. They grow produce on soil that has heavy metal deposits that are linked to cancer. Many articles have been written aboutt this.

    Folks, read your labels. Know what you are ingesting.

    Shana Tova.

    Safety First
    Safety First
    15 years ago

    I do not buy any food from China.

    I forgo much cheaper frozen fish and other food.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I thought I was the only sane person upset at all the Chinese (poison) food with hechshers. Is is obvious that the chinese are totally dishonest and have no scruples. They can knock off any seal or hechsher and 9 out of 10 times will not get caught.

    Eating chinese food products means risking your life and eating treif.

    Eating chinese food products with a hechsher means risking your life and possibly eating treif.

    Cant Believe IT
    Cant Believe IT
    15 years ago

    Safety First…………….

    Close your mouth and don’t eat 90% of food. Dig deep, way deep and you’ll find out.

    Esther Malka
    Esther Malka
    15 years ago

    In my house anything ” MADE IN CHINA” is Banned for health reasons. I keep reading of the unsanitary conditions in the chinese plants. So people have seichel

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Before you eat another food product from China or with Chinese ingredients, be aware of what really goes on there. During the SARS epidemic in China a few years ago, the masgiach for a large US kashrus organization which certifies many Chinese products including industrial ingredients returned to the US. I spoke with him regarding his kashrus supervision there. I have lived among oriental peoples both here in the US and overseas, so I have some first hand experience in how they operate and their “moral” values. I asked the mashgiach if he was fluent in the Chinese language and could read Chinese? He said that he knew a little. Next, I asked him if the Chinese try to fool or trick him. He answered, “Avada.” I then asked if he ALWAYS caught them. He answered, “I do the best that I can.” Finally, I asked him if he believed that Yidden really wanted “emes-dig” kashrus rather than “the best you can” kashrus. He merely shrugged his shoulders. Now I ask all of you – Do you want “emes-dig” kashrus or “the best you can” kashrus? I am doubtful that one can really achieve “emes-dig” kashrus when dealing with the Chinese in China. Needless to say, I avoid all Chinese products and those with Chinese industrial ingredients. To do this, I avoid most “processed” food items in which these industrial ingredients may be found. In reality, we must begin to treat every day as Pesach; that is, use fresh fruits and vegetables, bake at home, and avoid processed foods as much as possible regardless of hashgocha.

    BMG_KTLR
    BMG_KTLR
    15 years ago

    Yes – food safety first. I am concerned about anything from China – at this time. If possible, buy local only.

    Wondering
    Wondering
    15 years ago

    If I would be Rabbi Gruenberg, I’d worry about his picture up here. Don’t think for a minute the chinese government dosen’t see these pages.

    They will bar him to enter the country. Just look at their past history vis-a-vis any type of critic.

    English teacher
    English teacher
    15 years ago

    I asked the manager of Fairway why they don’t carry certain fish products (a heimishe brand sold in many kosher stores) in their kosher section. He said that the owners will not sell fish from China, as a matter of principle.

    DK
    DK
    15 years ago

    they also eat woman’s placentas (after birth) beleive it or not. big delicacy there. this is the type we are dealing with.

    Nechamah
    Nechamah
    15 years ago

    Although it is very VERY difficult in today’s market, I try very hard to not buy anything from China, not just food. Believe me, it is very hard to find anything not made in CHina. But aside from the comments I read here, some of which I had no idea, especially the mashgiach conversation, just consider so many times there is chalila a life-threatening or deadly problem with their products.

    LIBERAL
    LIBERAL
    15 years ago

    SO WHAT IS THERE A KASHRUS ISSUE WITH EATING PLACENTA! DO NOT INSULT OTHER CULTURES CUSTOMS JUST BECAUSE YOU MAY BE DIFFRENT!

    iowhiw
    iowhiw
    15 years ago

    “This is not an issue of kashrus.”

    what? Poisoned food is now Kosher?

    common sense
    common sense
    15 years ago

    somehow i cant imagine that placenta can be kosher and if you want to eat it you need a psych eval!

    bigwheeel
    bigwheeel
    15 years ago

    LIBERAL 1:39PM. First, calm down [or up]. Then, learn English [Spelling]! Third, some people may be DIFFRENT (different)! and they still don’t eat “Placentae”, because that’s Cannibalism! Fourth. I’ll bet you’re not Jewish –and anti-Semitic–!!!

    yankel
    yankel
    15 years ago

    bigwheel is probably right, it’s not a jewish comment.

    The end
    The end
    15 years ago

    If you want to understand what is going on in China read “The river runs black” . After that you will know more then the OK and OU and 99.999% of everyone else.

    Kosher and China are for the most part, distant cousins.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    China is on it’s way, but it does not have to be at the expense of our health or the freedom of Tibetan Monks who are now living as refugees.

    It may be impossible to eleiminate or boycott all products of Chinese manufacture, but it is within reason that we can remove ourselves from any type of co-sponsorship in what the Chinese government sanctions.

    We Jews should leave all of our business concerns in China, sell for a profit if they can, or, break even if that is the best they can do… I would even suggest a loss, if the individuals can still sustain themselves…Otherwise, I fear our very souls are in jeapordy.

    In my eyes, there is plenty of evil afoot in China and that moniker of evil should not belong to us.