Triangle-K Responds To Peppermint Controversy, Provides Kosher Certifications For Each Ingredient
by CrownHeights.info
A day after a letter was released by the CHK advising that Triangle-K Kashrus Organization was “not considered acceptable under CHK standards“, the Triangle-K has responded regarding the source of the controversy, and provided Kosher Certifications for the ingredients in the Peppermint gum.
“This item is 100% Mehadrin, the magnesium stearate is obviously vegetable-based under the OK,” Rabbi Eliezer Ralbag of the Triangle-K wrote. “The peppermint oil under the OU, the sorbitol under the Star-K, and the acesufalme under the Chof-K, item is made on premise all kosher lines.”
The controversy began when a party favor, peppermint gum certified under the Triangle-K, was given out at a Yud Tes Kislev event. The CHK recieved a large number of questions regarding the kashrus of the gum, with the organization responding with a letter to the community.
“In response to numerous inquiries we received, the Crown Heights Kashrus (CHK) wishes to inform the community about our policy regarding Triangle K kashrus supervision,” the CHK wrote in the letter. “Products bearing Triangle-K certification are not considered acceptable under CHK standards, in accordance with common standards across Kashrus agencies.”
The issue allegedly stemmed not just from general policy, according to Kashrus experts, but also from one of the ingredients in the gum. Magnesium Stearate, an ingredient found in medicines and other specialty foods, can be made from animal fat, with pork fat as one of the options. The packaging label did not specify which Magnesium Stearate was used to make the gum.
The CHK clarified its reasoning behind it’s ruling in the letter, emphasizing that “This decision is based solely on CHK’s internal kashrus guidelines and protocols. The CHK is responsible for ensuring that all products used in our community meet the standards we have established.”
Yossi
what about the manufacturing plant? is the factory Kashered properly? Mashiach as traditionally required? are any Cholov Stam items produced on the same production line without Kashering properly? and so on so on….
Tsvi
Yossi it’s an entirely kosher plant. What more chumras do you want to invent
Yossi A.
The letter is very eliquently written.
The knows how to answer the questions.
Bottom line is,
1) just because the ingredients are kosher, doesn’t made the processing kosher.
2) triangle K isn’t a recommended hashgocha by most hashgochas that Anash & the frum world would eat from.
Not the OU not the chof-K nor the OK accept Rabbi Ralbag as a recommended hechsher.
Stop Generalizing
People need to bring nuance back into the kashrus conversation. The Triangle K doesn’t not have a *blanket* recommendation on everything they certify, because they rely on certain kulos that other mainstream hashgachos don’t hold by. That doesn’t mean that everything they certify isn’t kosher. It just means you need to ask your rov/kashrus guru if the individual product relies on kulos or not.
Reading Comprehension
Didn’t you read their statement?! The plant is fully kosher.
And, every national Hechsher, like OU and OK and Kof K – ALL OF THEM CERTIFY products that Anash don’t eat. Be smart
Anonymous Community Member
BARUCH HASHEM ALL THE INGREDIENTS WERE KOSHER! May i suggest that when an organization hosts an event, they are responsible to check the hashgacha of any items before accepting and distributing them.
P. McDonald
All you stop Lashon Hara. Let the buyer beware. If you don’t want to eat something don’t. Stop the Hate