WE TAKE ISSUE WITH THE OU- YET AGAIN

THE FOLLOWING APPEARED ON KASHRUT.COM AS QUOTED FROM AN ARTICLE BY THE OU:

“The Finish Jet Dry Rinse Agent (these exact words), is certified kosher even when not bearing the OU symbol.
It is generally assumed that dishwashing detergents are not edible entities, and Halachically they do not have a non-kosher status even if they contain non-kosher ingredients, as is often the case. Nonetheless, some Poskim maintain that it has been the established Minhag Yisrael (Jewish custom) to use kosher detergents on plates, pots and utensils as they come in contact with food. An OU on a detergent insures the kosher status of that product. That said, if one used non-certified dishwashing detergent, Bidieved (after the fact), the kosher status of the utensils would not be compromised.”
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We have, essentially, two issues here. Number one, there is no established “Minhag Yisrael” concerning using certified cleaning agents on kosher dishes. As the third sentence points out there is no issue. To say that it is the custom of Israel (ie, the Jewish community) to only use certified kosher detergents, etc, is to over state the case. The overwhelming majority of Jews do not know that they can use non kosher soaps and detergents. To take that and turn it into something else is to be guilty of misleading people.

Second, the last sentence says, “… if one used non certified dishwashing detergent, Bidieved (after the fact), the kosher status of the utensils would not be compromised.” Well, duh. BUT, why say “after the fact?” Even from the get-go, it would not be an issue. Once again, the wording is bad, if not downright misleading.

Many years ago, we phoned the OU and asked why washing machine detergent had the OU on it. The rabbi (who shall remain anonymous to protect him) said, “Should we tell a baleh bustah who puts her kosher food on the spotless white table cloth every shabbat and yom tov that she need not wash that table cloth- the one on which she puts her kosher dishes and food- in kosher washing machine detergent?” And that is an exact quote. We recorded it at that time for posterity.

Yet another example of Orthodox street religion, and how it has abandoned halacha for sociology. Just like some other, non Orthodox, movement.