[Avodah] Kosher

[Arie Folger]

<<Equipment is aino ben yomo. Besides, when factories cross produce, they
sterilize equipment between usage>>

The claim about sterilization is not entirely correct. Factories do
clean between production runs, usually with a process called Cleaning
In Place, which means that the machines and teh processes are designed
to allow for regular cleaning.

Such cleaning uses soaps and other substances, which may be considered
devarim hapogmim, in addition to cleaning with plain water (al this is
for equipment that processes water soluble stuff, if the machines
process fatty substances, like chocolate, the CIP may either be
nonexistent or very different).

Anyway, in my experience, most CIP processes clean at a temperature
below the upper limit of yad soledet bo. For example, milk
pasteurizing machines are often cleaned at 70°C (*9/5+32=158°F if my
math is correct) or barely above that, while the range for yad soledet
bo extends until 86°C or according to some even to 88°C.


DIFFERENT SUBTOPIC:
Regarding London Beth Din's kosher list, I happen to personally know
some of teh people involved, and they do indeed check quite a lot of
facts about the products they certify.

As someone with some expertise in this area (I produced and maintained
for several years our community's kosher list, partly based on the
underlying work of an intercommunal kashrus organization), I can tell
you that one reason for certifying products and not relying on umdenot
is that a number of ingredients may be produced kosher or non kosher.
Thus, many emulsifiers may come from animal fat, eggs or soy.
Likewise, a number of milk products may come from milk or recycled
from production of other milk products, including cheese.

To experts, this matters may be apparent when they look at ingredient
lists, but taht is not always the case.

The issue of whether or not canned vegetables may be consumed without
a hekhsher is actually a matter that depends on the locality. In some
locales, large monoculture plants dominate (they only do beans, for
example), while in others efficient pluriculture plants may dominate.
In addition, the prevalence of problems is subject to disagreements
among experts. Thus, LBD's statement may be true in the UK while being
untrue in some other countries.

I just set before you a small sample of the issues. As always, it is
important to SYLOR, though if he is not an expert in the field, you
should instead or in addition approach your local hashgicho agency.
-- 
Arie Folger,
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