CHIEF RABBINATE SAYS OU NOT GOOD ENOUGH ON STUFF SOLD AT OSHER AD

FROM JANGLO

Kashrut alert at Osher Ad
In the most recent Rabbanut kashrut newsletter a warning is released regarding imported products at Osher Ad.

The warning regarding imported products found in Osher Ad is that they have not been granted any kashrut approval/confirmation by the Rabbanut, as per the law.

Examples referenced in the alert are Kirkland brand dried plums that bear the OU certification but nothing from the Rabbanut. Another example is General Mills brand granola bars and other snacks that bear both the OU certification as well as Badatz Agudas Yisrael, but no Rabbanut.

This is another example of the question that arises – when you know a product is kosher and you are familiar with, and trust, the originating hechsher (OU, in this case), does the fact that it does not bear the Rabbanut certification make it not kosher or not reliable?

Of course not, but the law requiring Rabbanut on imported products is to protect people who don’t know the originating hechsher on any given product, and to protect from kashrut fraud.

HERE IS WHERE THE WRITER’S EDITORIAL BEGINS:
Osher Ad should definitely go through the proper channels and obtain the necessary approvals and certifications. If they don’t just because some of their clientele are familiar with their imports and find it unnecessary, then others won’t as well in situations where it is perhaps more necessary. But once it has already been done, I don’t think this makes it “not kosher”. If you trust the original hechsher that is on the package, you can continue to do so even though OA didn’t get the necessary approvals…
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The last paragraph is lacking in logic. If the Chief Rabbinate were so worried that people would not recognize the OU or other such symbol, they would simply allow their imprimatur to appear on the label, without a charge. However, that is not the case, and the rabbinate charges for their added second, and some times third, hechsher to appear on the label.

What makes the Chief Rabbinate think that when the OU, the Star-K, the O-K the Triangle K, the Kof-k, etc appear on a product, they need to protect us “from kashrut fraud?”

No, the way we see it, this is just yet another example of the money grubbing attitude and corruption of the Chief Rabbinate.