A serious kashrus concern has emerged in Houston, and travelers — particularly those attending conventions, conferences, or receiving airline-style meals — are urged to exercise extreme caution. A restaurant previously known as Genesis Steakhouse and now as Exodus Bar & Grill, is reportedly distributing food with misleading “kosher” labeling, despite no longer being under any kosher certification and now operating as a fully non-kosher establishment.
The restaurant in question was previously certified by the Houston Kashruth Association (HKA), but the certification was terminated following kashrus violations, according to individuals familiar with the matter. Since then, Genesis/Exodus has reportedly shifted to serving clearly non-kosher fare, including cheeseburgers and non-kosher species of meat.
Despite this, YWN sources indicate the restaurant has maintained long-standing contracts with medical conventions, hotels, and airline-style catering services. To preserve these business arrangements, the restaurant has allegedly begun using custom-printed “glatt kosher” tape on its packaging — without the name of the restaurant or any kashrus agency — creating the impression that the meals are kosher, when in fact they are not.
The result: Frum attendees at a recent medical conference unknowingly consumed food prepared in a non-kosher kitchen under the assumption it was kosher, due to the deceptive labeling.
Multiple rabbinic authorities and kashrus professionals familiar with the situation have verified that these meals are not kosher and should not be consumed by anyone who observes halacha.
Travelers, conference participants, and anyone receiving catered meals in the Houston area are strongly advised to: 1. Check all meals for a visible and recognizable kosher certification logo 2. Avoid consuming food sealed only with generic “glatt kosher” tape that lacks agency identification 3. Consult a reliable rabbinic authority before eating pre-packaged meals from unfamiliar sources
It is also worth noting that under Texas state law, presenting non-kosher food as kosher constitutes a Deceptive Trade Practice, punishable under the Texas Business and Commerce Code (§17.46). Misrepresenting a product as kosher — even by implication or appearance — is illegal.
This alert is issued for informational and public safety purposes only. It is intended solely to help kosher-observant individuals avoid serious halachic pitfalls while traveling in or through Houston.
If you or someone you know is attending an event or traveling through Houston, please share this information. And whenever in doubt, don’t rely on packaging alone — always verify with a trusted kashrus authority.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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9 Responses
What they gonna name themselves next, Leviticus Deli?
Why would any self respecting kosher consumer consume any product without first checking the hechsher and if it meets ones standards
Someone should buy them out and rename it “Leviticus” (since there is where kashrus is introduced) and make it kosher again
Instead of writing “these meals are not kosher and should not be consumed by anyone who observes halacha”
it should be “these meals are not kosher and should not be consumed by any Jew”.
sue them – class action!
They should be locked up at once
“3. Consult a reliable rabbinic authority before eating…” sure, bring one along, just in case, on your next flight. why not just stick to the facts, such as telling readers that there’s a problem with non-kosher food in houston, rather than give such helpful “advice”?
Kasher,
Unfortunately there are many many people who don’t bother checking and they will eat things under the claim that something is kosher. We also, even amongst our own, have far too many people that operate with the בויך סברה K mentality because they have no clue whatsoever of what they are talking about. They are krummer them a banana in their knowledge of kashrus reality.
We also unfortunately have amongst our own people who will buy anything that’s certified by the אידישע אותיות K, meaning as long as there’s some yiddishe oysios on the product, and it says some “holy” name on there, that must be okay.
“An educated consumer is our best customer,” as Sy Sims used to say. Don’t be an i”gnorant by choice” consumer.
not clear from the article – was it actual treif or simply prepared in inappropriate conditions and possibly treif utensils? While both are inappropriate, there is a difference.