Comments on: Update on Half-Moon K (KOAOA) improvements

By: i

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:09:44 +0000

this is what it says in the above link

KOAOA (Kosher Overseers/Half Moon K) is joining the O/U as one kashrus agency. New products will either continue to bear the Half Moon K symbol or the the O/U

i called the ou they still do not stand behind the kashrus of all half moon k products.

the ou is soon to come out with a statement

i heard the ou puchased the half moon k

By: i

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:25:02 +0000

see this

http://eidlitz.via.readerimpact.com/sy/emails/published/8162/9400/index_complete.html

By: Craig Winchell

Craig Winchell — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:31:26 +0000

BS”D

No reason I can think of for the OU to purchase Half Moon K, so I doubt kosher man. The OU needs to charge a premium price to support OU programs, since the kashrus division pays for the rest of the organization. The Half Moon K has made its niche through decreased cost and significantly different requirements. Therefore, the OU would not gain much, if any, financial benefit, with the same pricing structure, and will significantly lose Half Moon K customers if they either raise prices or place different, burdensome requirments on the companies, and anything which requires changes is burdensome to a company, so even switching poskim is likely to cause some companies to leave the fold. Bottom line is it doesn’t make sense for an OU purchase of HMK.

By: kosher man

kosher man — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:52:45 +0000

Half Moon K has been purchased by OU Rabbi Dovid Jenkins has been hired to handle the transition there is no public word in the kashrus industry that HMK’s are Ok ?????

By: kosher critic

kosher critic — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:36:32 +0000

Waiting for the logo? The logo is all over the internet and has been for years. I know that R. Eidlitz and others have signed off on the HMK but I fear that there are other factors in play here. Note, the Seattle Va’ad has removed their listing of the HMK (though they told me directly that they have no question the HMK is a fully reliable hechsher (one of their directors also works for the HMK); they mumbled something about not wanting to be the first out in front on this issue).

By: Michael Rogovin

Michael Rogovin — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:36:37 +0000

Kosherquest (Rabbi Eliezer Eidlitz) now states (email to me) unequivocally that HMK is acceptable and that he is just waiting for a logo in order to include them on his webpage.

By: Kosher Critic

Kosher Critic — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 22:50:58 +0000

Thumbs up to the Seattle Va’ad for publishing what several rabbis have been saying privately for some time. BTW, some hasgachos now do list “acceptable” certifications on their websites, e.g., cRc.

By: Elise Jacobs

Elise Jacobs — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 17:50:26 +0000

This is the announcement that went out in the Seattle Va’ad newsletter this week:

§ Effective immediately, all KOAOA certified products (Half-Moon K hechsher) are acceptable for use with the following exceptions:

1. Pre-washed salads other than iceberg lettuce still require checking prior to use;
2. Crown Prince canned fish should not be used. It is still in the process of being reviewed at this time;
3. Dole fruit cups (plastic 4oz) from Thailand or Philippines are still under review at this time;

All other Half-Moon K products may now be used.

The Seattle Va’ad made this announcement based on the decision of R. Dovid Jenkins and R. Simcha Smolensky, who consult with the Seattle Va’ad.

By: chaim

chaim — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 22:21:03 +0000

A slab of lard?!!? Oh please! They use a few DROPS of oil, usually olive oil. You are dealing with parts per MILLION if that. This is an industry standard. All “Pure” Maple Syrup is “adulterated” with a few drops (again, in PPM!) of oil which acts as an anti-foam.

I am very happy they have upgraded their standards. They supervise many delicious items such as most of the salsas sold in the USA.

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 19:22:03 +0000

Meredith wrote:
“He told me that there is very little that can be done to render pure maple syrup unkosher, and that since most HMKs are good these days (”these days” being Nov. ‘05) anyway, I could use the syrup without running it past HMK.”

Actually – Maple Syrup was the product that I first cut my teeth on the HalfMoon-K hechsher about six years ago. At that time it was explained to me that there is a serious issue regarding maple syrup becausei nth eprocess of boiling it, it tended to boil and froth over and the only way to simmer it down is to place an emulsifier in it. This emulsifier is usually a slab of lard! Although it would be considered a minuscule amount and Botul B’shishim, we do not rely on Bitul L’chatchilah [as a first option] and that this was an area that Rabbi Scharfman was lenient on to the agreement of no one else. Other Hechsheirim insist that a synthetic emulsifier be used and then there’s no problem.
As of now, I know Rabbi ZB Hollander VERY WELL and he is a true Talmid chochom and ehrlicher person. I have spoken to him about the upgrading of the hechsher and he said what one of the early commenters wrote about everything being okay with a few exception [i.e. lettuce etc]. I am not an expert in Kashrus so I can’t say more than that but my conversation with him took place two months ago and I believe him to be reliable.