Kashrus alert on various Planters Nut Products & Kosher alert reminder on Snapple from Kashrut.com 1/4/17

Click on picture 

Slurpee Info from CRC

Slurpees Slurpees Everywhere, Nor Any Drop To Drink?

By: Rabbi Sholem Fishbane

Click here for Updated Slurpee List

The Slurpees have taken over! Enough Slurpee drinks are sold in the United States each year to fill 12 Olympic-size swimming pools, and more than 40% of those are sold during June, July and August, according to the Slurpee Headquarters. The question is not, “Why do people drink Slurpees?” That has an easy answer: because they’re good. However, “Are kosher consumers drinking Slurpees?” does not have such an easy answer.




Traditionally, the cRc has provided a list of the Slurpee syrups that bear a reliable kosher certification. We have always left the decision of purchasing and drinking the Slurpees to the discretion of the consumers. However, Slurpees have been under intense kosher scrutiny and kosher consumers are growing uncomfortable with the idea of unsupervised machinery. We have therefore responded to these concerns by actually certifying (free of charge) the Slurpee machines in the 7-11 located on Touhy which is in the Jewish neighborhood in Chicago. For those that do not have the luxury of purchasing Slurpees from certified machines I am going to ask and try to answer four important Slurpee questions, and, in so doing, I hope to address some of the pressing concerns in our communities regarding the delightful icy beverage.


Is the Slurpee I’m drinking kosher?


A Slurpee is made from carbon dioxide, water and syrup. As of today, most Slurpee syrups are certified kosher, both pareve and dairy, with some varieties not certified at all. This first question stems from an increasing anxiety that 7-Eleven franchises, independently owned and operated, are allowed to contract the use of generic-brand syrups for their Slurpees. Owners might want to do this in order to save a few dollars. Rest easy, kosher consumers—the franchises have a contract with corporate 7-Eleven: if an independently owned and operated franchise uses generic brand syrups, they must place a hand-written flavor sign on the machine. This alerts consumers and corporate representatives, who visit regularly, that the particular store is adhering to its contract with corporate 7-Eleven. If it is not in keeping with the contract, that franchise has much greater problems than kosher.


This, of course, is only a concern in franchised cities and states (like in Chicago, Detroit, Boston, New York, New Jersey, etc). The states with corporate-owned stores (like Texas, Utah, Colorado, etc) do not even have the option of the generic brand. John Ryckevic, Slurpee Category Manager in Texas, says they are working to eliminate generic brand flavors completely: “I’d be surprised if there were five places left still using the off-brand flavors.” 7-Eleven stores are allowed to rename the flavors (for example, Fanta Grape may be called, “Grape-A-Liscious”), but the signs will be professional, designed signs. Somewhere on it, it should even have the name brand. Consumers must look for these signs and be careful to notice that the name change is simply a name change, and that the kosher status has not changed at all.


Keeping abreast of the syrup flavors is important for kosher agencies and consumers alike. Just recently, I visited a local franchise. I was escorted to the back to confirm the flavors’ kosher status, and I noticed a suspicious ingredient on the label of a certified syrup. It took a few days to clarify that it was, indeed, kosher, but it did catch the kashrus agency by surprise.


Is there a problem with the Slurpee machines?


Operating with the knowledge that almost all known Slurpee syrups are kosher, it is still important to relay that the minute amount of dairy or non-kosher in the flavors would not change a machine’s status to dairy or non-kosher. Not only is the machine itself set at 28° Fahrenheit, it is highly unlikely that the Slurpees would sit in the machine for anything close to the 24 hour kosher deadline of when, at that point, flavors may be absorbed into the walls of the utensil holding it. Here’s why: the barrel of the machines holds 92 ounces of finished Slurpee product, and 7-Eleven’s top-selling Slurpee cup is 22 ounces, which means that approximately 4.5 large cups of Slurpee are held in the machines. Obviously, the Slurpees in the machines are replaced constantly. Consequently, the cRc can safely and confidently announce that there are no problems with the Slurpee machines.


Now, what if 7-Eleven puts a kosher pareve flavor in a machine that previously held a non-kosher or dairy flavor? What if leftover non-kosher or dairy syrup infiltrates my pareve flavor? While certainly not the common occurrence, it is a possibility because, generally, stores do not clean the machines between flavors. As a matter of fact, they claim that kids love getting mixed flavors. While this might happen on occasion, the many poskim that I spoke to on this matter all agreed, for various Halachik reasons, one does not have to worry about the small amount of leftover dairy or non-kosher flavor.


Bottom line, Rabbi—What should I do?


There are three possible options that the cRc recommends for enjoying your Slurpees and in turn, scoring brownie points with the kids:


1) Best Case Scenario –Ask your local franchise to seek certification on their Slurpee machines. This way, the kosher agency personally supervises all ingredients, and ensures that what’s in the back of the store is oh-so-thrillingly oozing out into the monster cups. They will also make certain that no non-kosher (and in some communities –no dairy) syrups will even enter the store.


2) Second Best Choice –Before purchasing the Slurpee, ask to see the actual flavor boxes that feed the machines. If they check out all right, you should feel 100% confident buying and slurping them.


3) Final Choice –Continue as status quo. You have good reason to slurp worry-free, since there is very little chance that there is anything in the machines other than what is portrayed on the genuine Coke or other brand-name signs. Remember, we have also established that the machines are Halachically acceptable.


Oh, by the way, how dairy is the Diet Pepsi Slurpee?


The challenge of the Slurpee is to get it to pour out at 28° Fahrenheit. In the regular (non-diet) Slurpees, the sugar lowers the freezing temperature, allowing it to give the Slurpee the right slushy consistency. Diet cola products, as we all know, lack sugar, so the flavor chemists must be creative.


Diet Pepsi syrup is sweetened with a combination of 3 sugar substitutes: sucralose (Splenda), tagatose (dairy) and erythirtol. Incidentally, the Diet Pepsi syrup was the first item in the United States in which tagatose was used successfully. Erythritol and tagatose are known as bulk sweeteners, and their primary role is to replace the sugar’s magical function of lowering the freezing point. Sucralose is the high intensity sweetener.


So, how dairy is the slurpee with the tagatose? Can you drink it after eating a roast beef sandwich? Well, it is important to Slurpee Corporate that tagatose does not affect diabetics or those who are lactose-intolerant. However, being safe for lactose-intolerance does not necessarily mean Halachically non-dairy.


A small lesson in digestion: When we digest dairy foods, our bodies use an enzyme, called lactase, to properly break down the lactose in our systems. Lactose is a disaccharide, a molecule containing two simple sugars called glucose and galactose. The human body, whose lactase supply is diminished as it ages, must use its lactase enzymes to split the lactose into its individual sugars before the individual sugars can be digested. In the case of tagatose, the manufacturer splits the lactose and processes the galactose into tagalos. Finally, then, tagatose does not require the breakdown system that lactose requires, but tagatose is still very much dairy.


Although the amount of tagatose in the whole Slurpee mixture is small enough to be considered botul (nullified) in Halacha, it is not that simple, and in this particular case it may not be botul. The very fact that it plays an important role in the Slurpee’s consistency may render it Halachically significant. Logic would tell us, that an ingredient can not be botul (meaning, as if it wasn’t there) if without it, the end product would either look or taste different. I have asked many poskim on this and, indeed, received opinions on both sides of the issue. But HaRav Gedalia Dov Schwartz, our Av Beis Din, is of the opinion that tagalos does retain its dairy status, and therefore a dairy Slurpee should not be slurped by those who’ve just finished a roast beef sandwich.


So, the Slurpee situation slushes on. Surely, shuls and schools can rest assured—with summer sidling into Skokie, and the certification certain and strong, Shlomos and Shiras should slurp their ways through the long, sizzling season.


Rabbi Sholem Fishbane is cRc Kashruth Administrator

Questions or comments about this article? Send to fishbane@crcweb.org


Source


http://www.crcweb.org/kosher_articles/slurpees.php

Status of Advil & Motrin

Email sent to CRC & Star K on 4/16/15 (response below)

Are Motrin Caplet/Tablets and or Advil Caplet/Tablets free of animal ingredients?

Which one is ok to take, getting conflicting information online (see below)?

   

1) Star K - Lists Motrin as ok but doesn't list Advil as ok

http://www.star-k.org/cons-appr-medicine.htm

2) CRC - Doesn't list either Motrin Caplet/Tablets or Advil Caplet/Tablets as ok

http://www.crcweb.org/OTCMedicineReport.pdf

3) Star-K - "In tablets, the most common possibly non-kosher ingredients are magnesium stearate, calcium stearate, and stearic acid." (Below on the Muslim site it says Motrin has magnesium Stearate Tablets) 
http://www.star-k.org/kashrus/kk-medi-guide.htm

4) Says Motrin has Animal Ingredients

Motrin caplet is made with shellac coating which is dissolved in ethyl alcohol and The magnesium Stearate is made with non zabiha beef fat (Reference number 012174379H based on phone call). August 2012.

http://www.muslimconsumergroup.com/medicine.html

5) Says Advil has NO Animal Ingredients

Advil Ibuprofen Tablets 200mg Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer

Halal, No animal derived ingredients are used. Coating is made of lac resin and polyvinyl alcohol (Halal alcohol). Reference Number: Lauren 215522A dated March 5, 2014.

http://www.muslimconsumergroup.com/medicine.html

There is no kosher branded ibuprofen from what I see.

Response from Star K

From: Rabbi Dovid Heber [mailto:rabbiheber@star-k.org]
Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2015 12:19 PM
Subject: RE: Are Motrin Caplet/Tablets and Advil Caplet/Tablets Free of Animal Ingredients

Motrin tablets and caplets are fine. Any non-kosher is batel.

Advil coated tablets and caplets are fine. However, we have no info on film coated tablets.

Rabbi Dovid Heber

Star-K Kosher Certification

122 Slade Ave.

Baltimore, MD  21208

410-484-4110

Fax- 410-653-9294

RabbiHeber@Star-K.org

Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2015 12:56 PM
To: Rabbi Dovid Heber
Subject: RE: Are Motrin Caplet/Tablets and Advil Caplet/Tablets Free of Animal Ingredients

Hi Rabbi Heber,

Thank you for your fast response,

So Min Hadin they are both ok - thanks for that info

Also How come only Motrin is listed and not Advil on your list  ?

Although I'd rather not depend on leniency (or is Batel not a leniency but ok as if it was not there)  Le'Chatchila so I was hoping i can find an ibuprofen tab that for sure didn't have any animal Ingredients ( but doesn't exist yet i guess ) .................Is there any preference either way Between Advil or Motrin reg tabs/caps is there any info that one is more recommended than the other ?  

Thank you

ps: i only brought up the hallal thing at the end as they claim Motrin for sure has a beef ingredient   - so all things the same i guess that may lean me more towards Advil but your site only says Motrin is ok and docent mention Advil

From: Rabbi Dovid Heber [mailto:rabbiheber@star-k.org]
Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2015 1:05 PM
Subject: RE: Are Motrin Caplet/Tablets and Advil Caplet/Tablets Free of Animal Ingredients

Advil may have something else batel, we never had it on and only recently after much discussion matir it.

Almost all pill contains stearates. They can be veggie or animal and are typically batel. Almost every pill contains it – if you want to machmir on it, you basically can never take any pills unless they have a hechsher - something rare in the world of medicine.

Rabbi Dovid Heber

Star-K Kosher Certification

122 Slade Ave.

Baltimore, MD  21208

410-484-4110

Fax- 410-653-9294

RabbiHeber@Star-K.org

Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2015 1:07 PM
To: Rabbi Dovid Heber
Subject: RE: Are Motrin Caplet/Tablets and Advil Caplet/Tablets Free of Animal Ingredients

ok thanks,

so just to confirm there is no preference either way between Advil or Motrin that the star k knows of correct?

  

From: Rabbi Dovid Heber [mailto:rabbiheber@star-k.org]
Subject: RE: Are Motrin Caplet/Tablets and Advil Caplet/Tablets Free of Animal Ingredients

Motrin is better.

Rabbi Dovid Heber

Star-K Kosher Certification

122 Slade Ave.

Baltimore, MD  21208

410-484-4110

Fax- 410-653-9294

RabbiHeber@Star-K.org

Response from CRC

From: Dovid Aronin [mailto:daronin@crcweb.org]
Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2015 10:34 AM
Subject: RE: Are Motrin Caplet/Tablets and Advil Caplet/Tablets Free of Animal Ingredients

Good morning,

Thank you for your excellent question.

The cRc position is that all pills and caplets (except gel caps and liquid-gels) are recommended. This is why the specific brands you are asking about are not listed on our list.  It is because they fall under the general leniency of pills mentioned in the introduction to our list.  This is true even if the pill may contain non-kosher ingredients (such as magnesium stearate which may be from a non-kosher source). This is because the cRc considers all pills to be inedible. As such, the non-kosher ingredients to not pose a problem. Of course, this may not follow the rules of hallal, but we don’t claim to know about hallal guidelines.

Have a nice day.

Rabbi Dovid Aronin

Chicago Rabbinical Council

773.465.3900 X 119

daronin@crcweb.org

Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2015 11:51 AM
To: Dovid Aronin
Subject: RE: Are Motrin Caplet/Tablets and Advil Caplet/Tablets Free of Animal Ingredients

Hi Rabbi Aronin,

Thank you for your fast response,

So Min Hadin they are both ok - thanks

Although I'd rather not depend on leniency Le'Chatchila so I was hoping i can find an ibuprofen tab that for sure didn't have any animal Ingredients .................Is there any preference either way Between Advil or Motrin reg tabs/caps is there any info that one is more recommended than the other?  

Thank you

PS: i reason I brought up the hallal thing at the end as they claim Motrin for sure has a beef ingredient   - so all things the same i guess that may lean me more towards Advil

From: Dovid Aronin [mailto:daronin@crcweb.org]
Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2015 2:26 PM
Subject: RE: Are Motrin Caplet/Tablets and Advil Caplet/Tablets Free of Animal Ingredients

We have no additional information, as for our sake, it is not relevant.

Have a nice day.

Rabbi Dovid Aronin

Chicago Rabbinical Council

773.465.3900 X 119

daronin@crcweb.org

Liquid medications that contain food grade glycerin which is often derived from animals and is therefore, treif.

The following kashrus alert are from Rabbi Bess on March 9, 2015

Many liquid medications contain food grade glycerin which is often derived from animals and is therefore, treif. This is especially a problem with children’s medications that are quite palatable.
The following liquid medications do not contain any animal ingredients. The glycerin is vegetable based:

• Advil Infant’s Suspension White Grape Dye-Free [Artificial flavor]
• Advil Children’s Suspension [All flavors including Dye-Free] [Artificial flavor]
• Tylenol Infant drops - Cherry or Grape [Artificial flavor] NOT Dye-Free
• Tylenol Children’s Suspension - Cherry Blast or Grape [Artificial flavor] NOT Dye-Free
   
• Motrin Infants’ Drops - Berry and Dye-Free Berry
• Motrin Children’s - Berry and Dye-Free Berry

The following liquid medications do contain animal ingredients. The glycerin is animal based:

• Tylenol Infant Drops - Cherry Dye Free
• Tylenol Children’s Suspension Cherry Blast - Dye-Free Benadryl Children’s Allergy Liquid Benadryl children’s Allergy Plus Congestion Liquid

Store brands of Suspensions should not be used since glycerin is commonly derived from animal sources.

Kashrut.com has year-round information for Over the Counter Medications, Nutraceuticals and Vitamins at www.kashrut.com/articles/medicine_list

Status Glycerin in Sensodyne® toothpastes

Please Note: All of the products listed above that are free of animal-derived ingredients are only as of the date of this letter. Because GSK sourcing of ingredients and/or the ingredients themselves may be subject to change in the future

Source:

From: Consumer Relations [mailto:consumer.communications@gsk.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2016 11:09 AM
Subject: Thank you for contacting GSK Consumer Relations regarding Sensodyne® toothpaste

Ref: CASE-04507624 Thank you for your e-mail message regarding Sensodyne® toothpaste. Sensodyne® toothpaste does not have any animal derivatives. The glycerin is derived from vegetable source. We obtain our Glycerin from different suppliers. All are vegetable oil based to include palm oil and vegetable oils which may be derived from maize, corn or rapeseed. These may contain coconut. We recognize our consumers to be a very valuable asset and appreciate your taking the time to contact us. If we may be of future assistance, please call us at 1-866-844-2797 weekdays from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. E.T. Sincerely, Joseph Customer Service Representative Consumer Relations GSK 184 Liberty Corner Road, Warren, NJ, 07059, United States

Two Colgate Products that may contain gelatin, glycerin or other ingrediants made from a non kosher animal.

Disclaimer: While it may or may not be Halachically ok to use toothpaste and other such stuff that may contain non kosher ingredients such as Gelatin or Glycerin made from a pig or non kosher beef etc ( ask your Local Rabbi ) (and also see CRC on toothpaste ) but in case you would rather use a Colgate brand/type that also doesn't have any animal ingredients at least according to the mfg 

The two products pictured below Colgate Max Fresh Toothpaste, and Colgate Wisp may contain Animal Ingredients according to Colgate.

From: Colgate-Palmolive Consumer Affairs

All Colgate Toothpastes and Toothbrushes that are marketed in the U.S., with the exception of Colgate Wisp and Colgate Max Fresh with Mouthwash Beads, are free of any animal-derived ingredients. All glycerin used in our Toothpastes comes from only synthetic or vegetable sources.

Please Note: All of the products listed above that are free of animal-derived ingredients are only as of the date of this letter below. Because Colgate's sourcing of ingredients and/or the ingredients themselves may be subject to change in the future

Source: See email Below

From: colgate@speedymail.com
Sent: 4/21/2015 1:01:37 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: In response to your Colgate inquiry. 

From: Colgate-Palmolive Consumer Affairs
Subject: Response to Your Email

Dear
One of Colgate's three global values is Caring, especially for our consumers. One of the most important ways we demonstrate that value is by providing consumers with information to help them choose the right products to meet their specific needs. We appreciate this opportunity to provide information regarding animal fats used in Colgate-Palmolive products sold in the United States.

All of Colgate-Palmolive Company's bar soaps contain tallow-derived ingredients. The tallowates used in these soaps are obtained only from beef tallow. In addition, the glycerin in these soaps is certified as pork free. The following bar soaps contain no pork or lard and, therefore, are pork-free:
Palmolive Gold
Palmolive Classic
Cashmere Bouquet Beauty Bar
Irish Spring Bar, all variants

All Colgate Toothpastes and Toothbrushes that are marketed in the U.S., with the exception of Colgate Wisp and Colgate Max Fresh with Mouthwash Beads, are free of any animal-derived ingredients. All glycerin used in our Toothpastes comes from only synthetic or vegetable sources.

The following Personal Care and Household Surface Care products are also currently free of all animal-derived ingredients:

HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
AJAX Cleanser with Bleach
MURPHY OIL SOAP Products
PALMOLIVE, AJAX, DERMASSAGE and Crystal White Octagon Dish Liquids (Except Palmolive Scrub Buster)
PALMOLIVE Gel Machine Dishwasher Detergent

PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS
Speed Stick Gel and Lady Speed Stick Gels and Teen Spirit Antiperspirant Sticks
Lady Speed Stick 24/7 Antiperspirant Sticks
Lady Speed Stick Antiperspirant Soothing with Aloe Stick
Speed Stick 24/7 Antiperspirant Sticks
Speed Stick Pro Antiperspirant Sticks and Gels

Softsoap Brand Foam Works Liquid Hand Soap
Softsoap Brand Ensembles Liquid Hand Soap
Softsoap Brand Liquid Hand Soaps except Shea Butter, Pomegranate & Mango, Milk
Protein & Honey and Kitchen Fresh Hands

Softsoap Brand Body Wash - Body Butter Coconut Scrub, Body Butter Apricot Scrub
and Nutra-Oil

Softsoap Brand Body Wash for Men - Ocean Fresh
Irish Spring Brand Body Wash - Cool Relief Scrub

Skin Bracer® After Shave
Afta™ After Shave Skin Conditioner
Afta™ Pre-Electric Shave Lotion

Colgate seeks to provide consumers with the most accurate and up-to-date product information possible. All of the products listed above are free of animal-derived ingredients as of the date of this letter. Because Colgate's sourcing of ingredients and/or the ingredients themselves may be subject to change in the future, however, please contact Colgate's Consumer Affairs Department toll-free at: 1-800-221-4607 or log onto www.colgate.com if you have a question about a product on this list or if you have a question about a Colgate product not listed here.

Sincerely,




Kaleena K Kirtley
Consumer Affairs Representative
Consumer Affairs

AFKKK1NA/cl

050765180A