Does the Hecsher Company have to look out for the consumer

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Viewing 21 posts - 1 through 21 (of 21 total)
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  • #615828
    bigkhuna
    Participant

    I notice products like many of the prepared horseradish are labeled Horseradish and Beets and in reality it is beets with some horseradish. Also, small containers of herring are not filled with herring but have onions a lots of liquid. There probably are other products like that. Shouldn’t the Hecsher company make sure the consumer isn’t ripped off? There is plenty of Torah on proper weights. If you say it isn’t in the realm of the kasrut then why do many Hecsher company not give a hecsher to a hotel that has mixed dancing. The mixed dancing has nothing to do with kasruth but the Hecsher company is afraid this would reflect on them. So too should the integrity of the product rest on the Hecsher. I do question how kosher a product is if it is able to short change the consumer.

    #1086530
    akuperma
    Participant

    It isn’t their job to deal with mislabelled or deceptive products. That is typically dealt with by federal, state, and local governments.

    It might be be an issue if they were including unlisted ingredients, but questions such as understating the amount of “filler” and implying a product is primarily the “good stuff” and not filler, is not a kashrus agency.

    Some of the smaller local hecksherim, that are supervising products for local consumption only, might be more inclined to deal with non-kashrus issue (e.g. the city’s rabbi noticing the the city’s only bakery is using large amounts of “kosher” sawdust to dilute the bread).

    #1086531
    👑RebYidd23
    Participant

    If it comes in a glass container they are not fooling anyone.

    #1086532
    popa_bar_abba
    Participant

    You aren’t being shortchanged. You are being an idiot.

    The difference is subtle to some, but very obvious to others. The some are idiots.

    #1086533
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    I just found out that Poland Spring water isn’t really from Poland.

    I’m suing the OU.

    #1086534
    👑RebYidd23
    Participant

    It was originally from Poland Spring.

    #1086535
    ☕️coffee addict
    Participant

    I just found out that Poland Spring water isn’t really from Poland.

    it it wasn’t gotten in the spring, probably summertime

    #1086536
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    RY, I’m suing the state of Maine too.

    CA, don’t fall for that, they get it in the winter.

    #1086537
    ☕️coffee addict
    Participant

    oh, that’s why it’s cool spring water!

    #1086538
    zahavasdad
    Participant

    Poland Spring is from Poland

    Poland, ME

    #1086539
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    Is that closer to Warsaw or Cracow?

    Google “Poland spring source”. Result: Today the water is derived from multiple sources in the state of Maine, including Poland Spring and Garden Spring in Poland, Maine, Clear Spring in Hollis, Evergreen Spring in Fryeburg, Spruce Spring in Pierce Pond Township, White Cedar Spring in Dallas Plantation, and Bradbury Spring in Kingfield.

    #1086540
    apushatayid
    Participant

    At least its from a spring.

    #1086541
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    APY, true, and the OU will actually not give its hechsher if it says “spring water” and it’s not. So I’m told.

    #1086542
    Mammele
    Participant

    If I remember reading correctly some of the springs Poland Springs uses may be contaminated as they are near gas stations or something similar.

    Point is lots of research and personal judgement is needed for everything and it will just use the Hechsher’s resources for something they aren’t paid for. We consumers need to know what we’re buying and complain to the company or not buy a product we think rips us off.

    When it comes to beets vs. horseradish is horseraddish actually more expensive? I’d think it has more to do with “lazy labeling” than a conscious effort to mislead the consumer. Unless I’m wrong…

    #1086543
    🍫Syag Lchochma
    Participant

    in answer to the title, but not necessarily the discussion, i have a recording of a shiur Rabbi Orlovsky gave in 1990 or so where he is mentioning this very topic. He was specifically commenting on the pop bottles that have a hechsher and also have piictures of scantily clad women on the label. He said that when Pepsi was promoting Michael Jackson, the hecshers in Israel threatened to pull unless they had bottles without the promos but here in America we don’t consider any responsibility for the product, just the kashrus.

    #1086544
    lesschumras
    Participant

    The question came up several years ago regarding a dairy restaurant in Midwood and a pizza place in Manhattan ( both now closed ). The Health Department shut them down because of serious infestation/cleanliness issues. When questioned as to how both places had hashgacha, the two respective agencies that reporting on cleanliness wasn’t their responsibility

    #1086545
    Participant

    My big question is regarding restaurants that will not allow any outside food due to kashruth concerns but the bottled drinks they serve aren’t covered by the establishment’s hechsher.

    1) Can another guest’s outside non-kosher food affect the kosher status of my food?

    2) Can another guest’s non-supervised drink affect the supervised status of my food?

    #1086546
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    LC, lack of cleanliness can lead to insect infestation, and should be considered a kashrus issue.

    #1086547
    popa_bar_abba
    Participant

    LC, lack of cleanliness can lead to insect infestation, and should be considered a kashrus issue.

    The rats eat the bugs.

    #1086548
    ubiquitin
    Participant

    Dash

    that isnt much of a question A hashgacha on an establishment doesnt mean that they oversee the kashrus of every thing inside, rather that they trust those who do. If say the Star K gives a hechsher on a pizza store the tomato sauce might be under the chaf K, the cheese under the hisachdus, the flour under the OU etc etc.

    Similarly bottled drinks are either under their own hashgacha which the oversseing hashgacha recognises or the overseeing hashgacha feels that they don’t need one (eg water)

    #1086549
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    The rats eat the bugs.

    They’re not total jerks. They leave some for us.

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