Comments on: Gefen Sardines Infested With Anisakis Worms

By: adar2

adar2 — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:04:05 +0000

Does anyone know about skinless and boneless Season brand imported from Morocco? According to OU alert it would appear to be no problem- bought dozens of cans from costco for pesach

By: apushatayid

apushatayid — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:47:00 +0000

The OU is not hiding about this. They issued their own alert 30 days ago about Geffen sardines from Portugal. Why do people cast aspersions?

http://www.oukosher.org/index.php/consumer/alerts/sardines/

This is the entire text of link (I hope OU has no issues with me copying and pasting this from their site).

Consumer Alerts
Kosher Alerts RSS Feed
January 11, 2011
Sardines
Issue:
There is an issue that has been observed (so far exclusively) in Gefen sardines from Portugal canned in 5769 and 5770. Several other brands from other countries have been checked and found to be clean. We have yet to observe the following concern in any other OU product.

OU Mashgichim checking the gut cavities of sardines have recently discovered small white worms around the internal organs of some sardines (not IN the stomachs, which is a separate issue regarding krill in the stomach of some sardines from Canada). These worms can be distinguished from various sardine blood vessels and sinews in that the worms maintain their shape fairly rigidly, even when agitated in water. They can be curled up or spread out, found most commonly on the underside of the ovaries. The Shulchan Aruch differentiates between parasites found in the flesh of fish (which are permitted) and those found in the stomach, head, behind the ears, etc (which are forbidden).

The easiest way to avoid all concerns about this issue is to remove all of the internal organs from the sardine. Some suggest looking at the walls of the gut cavity to confirm they are free from this concern as well.

In addition, skinless and boneless products are free from this issue.

The Orthodox Union continues to research the issue, and will advise further should we discover this issue in any other products.
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By: HaLeiVi

HaLeiVi — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 06:47:33 +0000

I just saw an alert today from the OU. They wrote that a kind of shrimp that is fed to sardines usually would be completely digested. Due to the climate changes and changes in fishing methods, it can still be found in its stomach.

By: YITZCHOKY

YITZCHOKY — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 03:29:38 +0000

a friend in LOndon told me about this problem over 2 months ago since it was in the Jewish papers their. Second I have had problems with the ou when notifying them about problems and getting them 5 to 7 weeks to respond and then by then the problem products was all bought up. OU is a good organization but needs to respond much much faster

By: always here

always here — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 03:19:28 +0000

apushatayid~ I absolutely erred on both counts. selicha. you are correct.

By: apushatayid

apushatayid — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 02:25:59 +0000

YWN Desk. The article states that an attempt was made to reach the OU “who is one of the Kashrus organizations behind the product”. How many organizations are behind the product? Who are they? Was an attempt made to reach them for their response?

By: iceyid

iceyid — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 02:24:11 +0000

This message was posted on Kashrus.com several weeks ago. This was not a discovery by the Vaad Harabonim of Goldberg

By: apushatayid

apushatayid — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 02:22:16 +0000

Rabbi Auman is the Rav of Young Israel of Flatbush, located on Ave I (there is no shul YI of Ave I) and he is affiliated with Kehilla Kashrus. As is noted in article, the Vaad Hakashrus of Flatbush is headed by Rabbi Tzvi Goldberg.

By: rt

rt — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:00:24 +0000

“mark levin”- beware of being mevaze talmidei chachamim

By: always here

always here — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:49:14 +0000

The Vaad of Flatbush is headed by Rabbi Kenneth Auman, of the Young Israel of Ave. I.

thank you YWN for these alerts! my husband is a retired mashgiach who worked for many kashrus organizations, including the OU, & these alerts are so helpful to us!
plus, we have sardines in the house! gotta check the brands.