Yesterday, a Whatsapp message purportedly from Star-K was circulating regarding Dole lettuce and its hashgacha. The message was:
Message from Star K, issued today, August 8, 2017.
Due to infestation they will not be giving a hechsher to ANY dole iceberg salad, fresh selection (kroger), little salad bar (aldi), and marketside (walmart) for this week and possibly next week. Be sure to double check for a hechsher before buying any lettuce.
Since the Star-K kashrus alerts website hasn’t posted such an alert since April, Local Jewish News reached out to Rabbi Tendler at the Star-K. He said the message was sent out by him to various mashgichim and is correct. There is currently a higher than normal incidence of bug infestation in Dole lettuce and therefore a lower rate of certified Dole lettuce will be available on the market over the next few weeks. He also said to remember that with lettuce, it’s always important to check for a hechsher because bug infestation will occasionally require a hechsher’s temporary removal.
Some of the Pride of the Farm milk sold in Cleveland this week, will bear the Kreider label instead of the Pride of the Farm label. The product is cholov yisroel. Please see attached letter from the Star-K for details. Please note, the batches that the letter specifies as Cholov Yisroel are very limited.
Ma Nishtana? Why will this year’s Pesach preparations be different from all the other years? For many years, the annual STAR-K Passover Directory has been published together with Rabbi Gershon Bess’s Passover Medicines & Cosmetics guide, and available for sale in hard copy.