contents - Jewish Community Council of Montreal

N E W S L E T T E R S H AV U O S 2 0 1 4 I S S U E
‫בס"ד‬
Message from the Director
Dear Friend,
table of
contents
Message from the Director
1
Lait’s Go! Cholov Yisroel
2
Slurpee Time
4
Summer Slush Puppies
7
Kosher at SIAL
7
Cooling Off - Kosher Summer Treats 8
Contributing Editors:
Rachel Elbaz
The Vaad Ha’ir
Canada’s Kosher Certifier
6825 Decarie Blvd.
Montreal, Quebec H3W 3E4
Phone: (514) 739-6363
Fax: (514) 739-7024
www.mk.ca
easy way out. Bnei Yisrael formed that
unbreakable bond with Hashem and
As each Yom Tov arrives, we take note of
his Torah, as a Chosson and Kallah do.
its meaning and let the message of the
We are one and must always keep our
Yom Tov inspire us. On Shavuot, there
commitment to the Torah, our lifelong
are a number of meaningful customs,
partner, failing which our relationship
but it is the main message of the Chag
is compromised. This is the message
that we’ll focus on in this issue.
of Shavuot. The oath we took then,
promising
the
One
Shavuot was the day
above to follow His holy
“It
is
not
for
us
to
change
when all of Klal Yisrael
Torah when we entered
stood at Har Sinai and or redefine the Torah laws
into an eternal covenant
declared loudly and
with Him, is the same
clearly, that we would to suit ourselves, but to
oath which will continue
hear and listen to the follow them vigilantly and
into eternity. This is
word of Hashem and
why it is customary for
without compromise”
all that the Torah has
us to stay up all night
to offer. Without even
studying the Torah on Shavuot, to
understanding what the Torah meant,
remind us that this is what the Yom
we blindly committed ourselves to follow
Tov is all about. Our commitment to
it to the letter, as well as to learn and
Hashem is renewed with this Chag.
understand the word of G-d. In return,
Hashem promised not to forsake Klal Let us remember this message on
Yisroel. There is thus this unbreakable Shavuot. Let us put more effort into our
chain of commitment between Knesset adherence to the Torah and its Mitzvos.
Yisrael, Hashem and His Torah. He has Let us focus on how we can improve
sworn never to forsake us, as it says our understanding of the Torah. We
“Lo Yomir Dato,” provided we keep the have no doubt that Hashem’s promise
Torah with all Its laws. It is not for us to us will continue unabated, and that
to change or redefine the Torah laws come what may, as long as we are fully
to suit ourselves, but to follow them committed to the Torah and its edicts,
vigilantly and without compromise. It’s He will be our fervent lifetime partner.
tempting to take the easy route, but
the commitment between a Chosson Chag Sameach
and Kallah, a bride and a groom under
the Chuppah is an unfaltering one. It
is based on mutual trust that they will
share everything for the rest of their
lives, together as one and without Rabbi Saul Emanuel
compromise, without looking for the Executive Director
1
Lait’s Go!
Ontario. A land flowing with milk and honey.
Well, maybe not honey, but thanks to Nature’s
Best, established in February 2014 and proudly
certified by the , Ontario now boasts its very
own cholov yisroel milk production.
In a recent interview, Mani Diena, co-owner
of Nature’s Best, explained the two primary
reasons why he and his partner, Joseph Bitton,
created their milk company.
“After Toronto lost their chicken producers,
people felt we did not have any of our own
production companies.” Diena describes how
he sat down with Bitton, whom he met while
attending second seder at Kollel Yismach
Moshe, and the pair worked on developing
the idea.
Besides for the strong belief that Toronto
should have a production company run by
members of its community, Diena and Bitton
believe that market competition would benefit
consumers and the general public by raising
the quality of the product while reducing the
buyer’s cost.
When it comes to producing dairy in Canada,
rigorous regulations are set by the Canadian
Dairy Commission (CDC). One of its core tenets
is that in order to protect the dairy industry,
2
Exploring the
by: Rachel Elbaz
any dairy product that is made here in Canada
may not be imported into the country without
an imposition of heavy tariffs. As a result,
Canadian producers such as Nature’s Best face
the challenging task of making sure that all of
their products are of the highest
quality and are comparable to
U.S. prices.
The Process
“Two
different
processes can be
used to make milk,”
Bitton
elaborates.
The first involves
taking milk from the
cow and converting
it to skim milk, then
adding the necessary
fat contents to make the
1%, 2%, 3.25% milks. As
their Dairy is smaller and more
traditional, Nature’s Best employs the second
method, where they receive the milk at
whatever fat content it is and then remove the
necessary fat to match the desired percentage.
For example, if they receive milk with 4% fat,
they would remove 3% fat to make 1% milk.
An example of a regular week for Nature’s
Best begins at Donnandale Farms in Stirling,
Milky Way - based on an interview
with Natures’ Best
Ontario where the cows are milked several times a week depending on the volume required for
that particular week. A mashgiach is present for the milkings and once completed, the milk is
sealed in containers aboard the DFO’s (Dairy Farmers of
Ontario) insulated transport tankers.
“The DFO,” Diena points out, “is very helpful and
encouraging in assisting Nature’s Best to ensure
the success of the venture.” In an industry
where the right to own a single cow is worth
$28,000 (this does not include the actual
price or value of the cow itself), any support
goes a long way and is appreciated.
The mashgiach will then follow the truck from
the farm to Reid’s Dairy in Belleville, Ontario,
where he will effectively seal the milk in a
dedicated Nature’s Best silo. For 24 hours
before milk processing the dairy remains closed.
The following morning, after a thorough kashering of the
dairy in the wee hours of the morning, the milk is finally
pasteurized, homogenized, and then pipe-delivered into
Nature’s Best milk cartons. This part of the process takes
about eight hours, or an average work day. The milk is
then sent to Toronto where it goes directly to a Nature’s
Best warehouse and to Montreal where a driver picks it
up and delivers it to various retailers.
Products
At this time, Nature’s Best produces skim, 1%, 2%
and 3.25% milk, as well as Greek and regular yogurts
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...continued on page 6
3
4
5
continued from page 3
which come in a variety
of luscious flavours such
as
honey,
strawberry,
blueberry, raspberry vanilla,
mango and guanábana – a
delicious exotic fruit which
contains significant amounts
of vitamin
C, vitamin
B1 and vitamin B2 .
Nature’s Best has plans of
expanding their current
repertoire,
adding
kids’
yogurts and chocolate milk
as well as other exciting
dairy products. As summer
approaches, Nature’s Best is
also excited about their next
product up for launch – ice
cream!
A little known fact about
ice cream? According to
the Dairy Industries Act of
Canada, in order for an item
to be labelled ice cream it
6
must contain at least 36%
solids and 10% milkfat;
otherwise, it can only be
identified as a “frozen dairy
dessert.” In other words,
Nature’s Best is aiming to
be the first cholov yisroel ice
cream made in Canada.
According to Diena, two
points stand out when it
comes to Nature’s Best:
Their price point is cheaper
and thus more affordable
for large families (or anyone
who likes a good deal!)
and the taste of their milk
seems fresher, creamier.
Asked about the latter
point,
Diena
elucidates
how the processing system
utilized by Nature’s Best for
pasteurization allows their
milk to retain its creamy
‘milk’ taste.
Soft and hard cheeses,
although they pose a bigger
challenge,
are
also
on
Nature’s Best to-do list, and
Diena and Bitton are working
hard to find financially viable
solutions that will benefit all
those concerned. No matter
what options are discussed, Location Location Location
“We are fully aware of the
importance of pricing and Nature’s
Best
products
quality,” Diena stresses.
are currently being sold
in Montreal, Ottawa, and
Advantages-Milk is milk...isn’t Toronto.
it?
Why should a consumer select Nature’s Best – from the
the cow-patterned carton?
farm to your fridge.
Kosher Flavours
BUBBLE GUM
CHERRY
GRAPE
KIWI-SRAWBERRY
LEMONADE
LIME
ORANGE
PUNCH
RASPBERRY
SHOCKER
STAWBERRY
WATERMELON
Kosher Exhibit at SIAL
At the SIAL show this year, the booth was once again a great attraction. Many people stopped by to
visit the booth and to obtain information regarding Kosher certification. The newly designed double
booth attracted manufactures and attendees who are aware of the great reputation which Canada’s Kosher Certifier has both in North America and around the world. Many manufacturers inquired about
the possibility of obtaining
Kosher certification, whilst attendees questioned what is involved in
certifying a company as Kosher. Many companies who are already certified, proudly displayed the
banner at their booth, showing the high
level of certification which they achieved.
The International Pavilion showed much
interest in importing products from Canada, bearing the mark. Many questions
were responded to with follow-ups taking place at companies. The SIAL staff,
in their usual courteous manner, voiced
their satisfaction with the presence of
the
and at having such an upstanding Kosher certifying agency attend this
prestigious show. Again, as in previous
years, the was proud to be part of the
SIAL Canada Show and to see the many
products in the various showcases
throughout the pavilion.
7
Keeping Cool
Over the past few weeks, we have been waiting impatiently for the end of the winter season, and it looked as if it
had finally arrived. That is, until we watched with disbelief as more snow fell during Pesach in some areas of Canada.
Nevertheless, as the sun begins to force itself from behind the clouds, the summer season is upon us, and we hope that
it will stay long enough for us to enjoy those delicious frozen summer treats.
Some of the most popular questions we receive at the during this time pertain to the drinks available at gas stations and convenience stores, especially as more people travel during the summer vacation period. Slush is a particular
favourite among children.
As we’ve mentioned in previous articles, rule number 1 is that these items require a reliable kosher certification. Although there are many flavours and brands on the market, and some may seem familiar, it is important to ascertain
that they are in fact kosher certified. A root beer may be kosher certified in the United States, but this may not be true
for the same product in Canada, as the flavours used may be different. The (under the Jewish Community Council
of Montreal) certifies a range of Slurpee products produced by Coca-Cola, as well as slushes produced by Slush-Puppie
and Imperial Snacking.
Although slush machines can be found in many different locations all over the country, there must be a control by the
company holding the machines, ensuring that only their product is used in the machine bearing their name, e.g. a Slush
Puppie product may only go into a Slush Puppie machine.
Inspectors working for the frequently check stores to ensure that for products which bear our certification, are indeed supervised by the . Most franchise holders would remove their machines if they found out that a competitor or
an alternate product was being mixed in their supplied machines.
Slurpees have many different flavours, and the list of kosher flavours is constantly updated, ensuring accuracy. Some
certification agencies place a sign at the point of sale at various stores, including 7-Elevens, Macs, etc., advising the
public which flavours are kosher certified and that these flavours may be purchased at these particular stores.
Another popular item is the popsicle and similar frozen treats. Whilst these
generally do not contain dairy ingredients, they may be produced on a
line that also manufactures dairy products. This is of particular concern
in kashrut, as the product would be pasteurized on a dairy pasteurizer.
Although the actual popsicle doesn’t contain dairy ingredients, some certifying agencies choose to label the product as made with “dairy equipment,” which means that the popsicle shouldn’t be consumed together
with meat.
The
policy is that a product is either “dairy” or “pareve,” and that
there are no in-betweens. It is therefore no surprise that “Lebel Foods,” a
company that joined the flagship several years ago, produces a totally
pareve popsicle product made on a dedicated pareve line.
When going out to purchase your drinks this summer, remember to look
for a reliable certification. Never assume that a product is kosher and
that there are no additives.
CONGRATS
SHAYNA DUBINSKY
Toronto, Ontario
PASSOVER
MAGAZINE
CONTEST WINNER
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