behindnion the symbol U A PUBLICATION FOR CERTIFIED COMPANIES Reaching 4,000 Food Executives & Over 2,500 Companies Worldwide SUMMER 2001 Spotlight on OU Companies 0n the Road 3 with the OU BEHIND THE A Very Trusting BAMBOO CURTAIN An inside look at an Relationship RFR’s life in China INCE 1886, when Atlanta, Georgia other reasons. Dr. pharmacist John Stith Pemberton Michael Carakostas, Days of Sintroduced his new caramel-colored director of Corpo- Wine & Chocolate product to a relatively small group of cus- rate Scientific and 6 LIFE’S LITTLE LUXURIES tomers at Jacobs’ Pharmacy—then Regulatory Affairs LOOM LARGE Atlanta’s largest drugstore—Coca-Cola at The Coca-Cola The art of kosher wine has quenched the thirsts and captured Company, says, & chololate reaches new heights the imaginations of millions of con- “Providing kosher sumers around the world. From its hum- product is one of the ble beginnings as a local fountain drink, best and longest stand- Snack Attack! The Coca-Cola Company has grown into ing examples of our com- SNAZZY, SALTY the world’s largest beverage company mitment to meet local 11 FOODS— and the leading producer and marketer of consumer needs, and meet- MORE POPULAR THAN EVER soft drinks. Today’s Coca-Cola Company ing local consumer needs is INDUSTRY ISSUES examines is represented in nearly 200 countries, what growing our company concerns in the snack and markets an extensive and varied line is all about.” market niche. of beverage products. Mr. John Barone, formerly For many years, Coca-Cola was the director of Regulatory Sciences at sole product of The Coca-Cola Company. The Coca-Cola Company, worked It was not until 1960 that the Fanta line with the OU to build and nurture of flavors was introduced to complement the current excellent relationship, the Coca-Cola brand. Fanta was joined by from its beginnings in 1991 until his Sprite in 1961, then by Tab in 1963. Since recent retirement from The Coca- then, many products have joined the Cola Company. Mr. Barone says, ranks, including diet Coke, Cherry Coke, “Over the years, a very trusting rela- Barq’s Root Beer, POWERaDE and tionship has developed between the Fruitopia. The line-up now includes more company and the OU.” At the outset, the than 300 brands worldwide. The prod- company was looking for a widely ucts of The Coca-Cola Company today accepted certification symbol to be asso- span a broad spectrum, from fruit-fla- ciated with its beverage bases. Mr. Barone WE WELCOME vored drinks to coffee, from frozen car- worked with the late Rabbi Moshe Bern- YOUR COMMENTS bonated beverages to water. stein and other rabbis at the OU to & CONTRIBUTIONS The Coca-Cola Company is proud of develop mutually acceptable rules and fax its relationship with the OU and is com- procedures that would assure adherence 212.613.0775 mitted to serving the needs of U.S. Jewish to Jewish dietary laws while respecting e-mail consumers, as well as other consumers the interests and concerns of both the [email protected] who seek kosher foods for dietary or CONTINUED ON PAGE 15 From the Editor There is No Substitute for Communication N OUR CONTINUING EFFORTS TO REACH out and communicate the OU’s standards and policies with our ever-growing cadre of I Pictured certified companies, an all-day seminar for the (left to right): Rabbi Flavor and Seasoning industries took place Elimelech Lebowitz; Rabbi Nosson recently at the Orthodox Union headquarters in Neuberger, rabbinic New York City. Coordinated by Rabbis Yoel coordinator for many OU certified flavor Schonfeld and Michael Morris, the seminar’s companies; and Mr. purpose was to “offer the unique opportunity to Izzy Heller of Bedoukian Research help resolve the sometimes conflicting needs Inc., addressing the of plant production vs. kosher concerns.” In Flavor Seminar held recently at the OU’s other words, more effective communication. headquarters in The response to this, as to the previously held New York. seminars for the baking and the snack indus- tries, was gratifying. Among the many companies represented at the seminar, Orthodox which was jointly staffed by the OU professional staff and companies’ personnel, were: Allen Flavors, Bedoukian Research Inc., Bell Flavors and Fragrances, F.I.S. Union Inc., Firmenich of Canada Ltd., Firmenich Inc., Haarmann & Reimer, Henry H. Ottens Mfg. Co. Libenn Aroma Inc. McCormick & Co. McCormick Flavor Group, KASHRUT DIVISION Northeastern Products Co. NU Products Seasoning Co., Ramsey/SIAS, Sensient RABBI MENACHEM GENACK Flavors Inc. and Wild Flavors. Rabbinic Administrator Sessions at the seminar, which included a tour of the many departments serv- RABBI MOSHE ELEFANT Executive Rabbinic Coordinator ing OU certified companies, focused on “Putting Technology to Work,” at which Director, New Company Department time Ms. Cheryl Goldsmith of McCormick & Co. Flavor Division served as consult- RABBI YAAKOV LUBAN ant and proposed that as the OU continues to advance technologically, it become Executive Rabbinic Coordinator the “central repository of all kosher letters of certification, to enable all companies RABBI ELIYAHU SAFRAN Senior Rabbinic Coordinator to know which products are certified, thereby also ‘saving the trees’.” An insightful Director, Review and Update Department discussion on “Red Flag Ingredients and Technical Research” was led by Rabbi RABBI YERACHMIEL MORRISON Abraham Juravel, Technical Director, Ingredient Approval Registry. The keynote RABBI ABRAHAM JURAVEL Ingredient Approval Registry session, “Flavor Companies Certification Challenges 101” was chaired by Rabbi Elimelech Lebowitz, rabbinic coordinator of many OU certified seasoning compa- ■ ■ ■ nies, and was addressed by Rabbi Nosson Neuberger, rabbinic coordinator to DR. CHAIM WASSERMAN many OU certified flavor companies and by Mr. Izzy Heller, of Bedoukian Research Chairman, Joint Kashrut Commission Inc., who lauded the positive impact the OU certification has had at Bedoukian, DANIEL ZUCKER Director, Business Management enabling the company to certify as well as source materials worldwide. Among the RABBI HOWARD KATZENSTEIN other OU professionals involved in the day’s successful programming were: Rab- Business Manager bis Moshe Elefant, Raymond Morrison, Israel Rotherberg, Dov Schreier, Abraham ANNA FULDA Coordinator, Letters of Certification, Stone, Moshe Zywica, Mr. David Silberberg, Ms. Anna Fulda, Ms. Aliza Kuznicki and Labels, Private Labels Ms. Jackie Ferrell. Judging from the participants’ feedback and responses, the OU’s ever-increas- ■ ■ ■ ing awareness of the need for more effective communication is indeed acknowl- RABBI EMANUEL HOLZER Chairman, Rabbinic Kashrut Commission edged by our companies. A senior company official commended the OU for the “continuing series of educational seminars, The Kosher Video, now available in Spanish, so everyone understands what we’re trying to do and the enlightening ORTHODOX UNION Behind the Union Symbol eagerly awaited by our senior personnel.” This speaks to HARVEY BLITZ our guiding principle that, “There is no substitute for communication.” President The OU's Kashrut Division is on the cutting edge of technology. Our staff is up on DAVID OLIVESTONE Director, Communicatons and Marketing the latest developments in chemistry, bioengineering and all related disciplines that SHARYN PERLMAN touch on food production. To complement this, we've given Behind the Union Sym- Director, Public Relations bol a more cutting edge look. We hope you like it and, more important, find it easier to read. We welcome your feedback. BEHIND THE UNION SYMBOL RABBI ELIYAHU SAFRAN Keep in touch! Editor Rabbi Eliyahu Safran PAMELA WEIMAN Editor/Senior Rabbinic Coordinator Graphic Designer 2 BEHIND THE UNION SYMBOL SUMMER2001 CHINA THE SLEEPING GIANT AWAKENS by Rabbi Aharon Steinberg around the field. Corn is very Without it, their product is not important to the farmers in rural acceptable. When I arrive, they ask, China. The dried stalks are piled up why? And they ask, what? This is into pyramid shapes and deposited followed by, when? Simple ques- near the farmhouses in the village. tions require simple answers if this The dried cornstalks are used for initial inspection is ever going to both heating and cooking. I have get underway. The questions are never seen anything so efficient; WHY is kosher necessary for the there is no waste. customer? WHAT is kosher? WHEN I spend about three to four does something become kosher? hours at the factory doing a routine This now becomes the RFR’s pulpit. inspection. Then I either return to Let’s begin with why. The world the hotel for some rest, or go has become much more health con- straight to the airport to catch a scious. This requires greater supervi- flight to the next city for the next sion over what is consumed. When inspection. No time for sightseeing looking for integrity, the world mar- yet. I wonder where the Mao-type ket quickly recognized that kosher raveling as a mashgiach clothing we think of when we think supervision is the key. The sym- (rabbinic field representa- of modern day China is? Almost bol is tantamount to having the Ttive), I am absolutely fas- everyone is wearing designer jeans “Good Housekeeping Seal of cinated by China. I have trav- and imprinted t-shirts. Those who Approval” on prepared foods and eled around the globe, yet aren’t are wearing fashionable busi- edible chemicals. Why is easy. nothing compares to the vast ness suits. Everyone carries a cell Next I have to define the terms. beauty of China. It is hard to phone. And there is no idleness I tell them that in Hebrew—the lan- understand the life of a travel- here. Even when waiting for a bus guage of the Jewish people—the ing mashgiach. I leave from you see people doing Tai Chi exer- word kosher means fit or proper. For any of the New York airports cises in unison. an easier understanding, especially and twenty-six hours later I After a two-hour car trip, I arrive for the Chinese Buddhist culture, will finally arrive in either Bei- at the next plant for an initial kosher takes on an interesting jing, Shanghai or Guangzhou.