ww ww VOL. j h / NO. 7 SIVAN 5770 / MAY 2010 s xc THEDaf a K ashrus A MONTHLYH NEWSLETTER FOR TH E O U RABBINIC FIELD REPRESENTATIVE OU KOSHER OIL MANUAL GATORADE PARTNERS SETS INDUSTRY STANDARDS WITH ORTHODOX UNION IT’S A textbook of sophisticat- THE GATORADE Company, a division of PepsiCo (PEP), ed food technology that is utilized is strengthening its category-leading portfolio of sports per- in refining oil, a compendium of formance beverages in 2010 by announcing the kosher- kosher law, and therefore, a remark- certification of Gatorade Thirst Quencher and G2. In able combination of centuries-old partnership with the Orthodox Union, Gatorade completed the halacha and the most up-to-date kosher certification process and certified kosher Gatorade Thirst developments. After a long pro- Quencher and G2. Kosher product, which will bear the U symbol, duction process, it is now available will begin appearing in stores this spring with a full rollout expected to set kashrus standards for the by summer 2010. entire industry. “Gatorade understands that different athletes have different needs, The Orthodox Union Kosher and providing sports perfor- Division, the world’s largest and mance beverages that adhere to most respected kosher certifica- kosher standards is important for tion agency, recently announced us,” said Andrea Fairchild, vice the publication of the “OU Manual president of brand marketing for the Oil Industry,” a compendium of the knowledge and experi- for Gatorade. “We’re proud to ence of the expert OU rabbis who travel the world applying the make these offerings available to time-honored laws of kosher to the industrial practices of today. help meet the needs of athletes (The oil industry refers to edible oils, not petroleum.) who maintain kosher diets, so The manual, printed in full color with many illustrations, is the they can perform at their best.” second in a series of such guidebooks scheduled for publication, Rabbi Menachem Genack, OU continued on page 38 continued on page 38 A PACKAGE DEAL: NEW “ACTIVE PACKAGING” IS ANOTHER CONSIDERATION IN KOSHER CERTIFICATION RABBI GAVRIEL PRICE Conventional food packaging contains, protects and, in some RC, Ingredient Approval Registry instances, calls attention to the food it carries. The relationship Reprinted with permission from Behind the Union Symbol, Spring 2010 between a package and a food, according to convention, is essen- tially static. In recent years food packaging technologists have been AN INGREDIENTS label tells us what’s in a food, but it doesn’t exploring a more dynamic relationship between a food and its pack- give us any hint at what’s in a food’s package. There is a good age. This approach has led to developments that have come to be reason for this. The consumer, after all, is interested in eating the known as “active packaging”. food, not the package. Although food packaging is typically outside the interest of kosher What if, however, the inside of a carton containing grapefruit juice supervision, innovations in active packaging mandate a reevaluation. is entrained with a biologically active ingredient that will, during Here are some highlights of the field: the time the grapefruit juice is delivered to the consumer, remove ENZYME ENTRAINING some of the bitterness from the juice? Or what if the container con- Professor Joseph Hotchkiss of Cornell University’s Department tains an antimicrobial ingredient that will extend the lifetime of the of Food Science has focused his lab’s efforts on developing ways food several weeks longer than if it were not there? The distinction continued on page 39 between a food and its package, in the face of such questions, fades. Published by the Orthodox Union, Eleven Broadway, New York, NY 10004 Please direct your comments to RABBI YOSEF GROSSMAN, EDITOR at 212-613-8212 or [email protected] OIL with the objec- al, “A prerequisite for a kashrut professional GATORADE Kosher’s CEO continued from page 37 tive that uniform who is engaged in the supervision of any continued from page 37 expressed his standards of cer- kosher material is a broad understanding of “great satisfac- tification be established for entire industries the process of production of that particular tion that the iconic Gatorade products will conforming to the rigorous requirements of item. With respect to kosher oil supervi- now bear the U symbol allowing the kosher the OU. The “OU Manual for the Baking sion, the process is extremely complex and community to benefit from these important Industry” was published last summer. requires a basic understanding of chemistry products.” and modern food technology. This manual The manuals are another in a series of depart- Gatorade Thirst Quencher is the most thor- represents an effort to provide an in-depth mental initiatives that makes OU Kosher a oughly researched sports beverage in the analysis of kosher oil production.” major force in kashrut education as well as in world and is scientifically formulated and certification. The standards are not only for Reflecting the input of Dr. Meyer and the athletically proven to quench thirst, replace the oil industry in the United States, but for requirements of the industry, chemistry and fluids and electrolytes, and provide carbo- around the world as well. technology are everywhere in the manual, for hydrate energy to enhance athletic perfor- example, in diagrams of a triglyceride. Want Such leading oil manufacturers as ADM mance. By offering a scientifically proven to know the three crystal components and (Archer Daniels Midland) and Cargill are blend of carbohydrates and key electrolytes, melting points of Tristearin, a well-defined certified by the OU. Gatorade Thirst Quencher is designed for fat? That’s in there too, and so much more. use in the moment of activity to help ath- The intended audience for the manuals is letes and active people hydrate, refuel and a wide spectrum of kashrut professionals WITH RESPECT TO KOSHER push through. G2 is a low-calorie option including the vaadim, local bodies which that delivers functional hydration to active provide kosher certification in retail busi- OIL SUPERVISION, THE people, but with less than half the calories of nesses, food service facilities, and plants in PROCESS IS EXTREMELY Gatorade Thirst Quencher. their local communities. Laymen wanting to COMPLEX AND REQUIRES explore the intricacies of kosher law will be A BASIC UNDERSTANDING To maintain kosher-certification, Gatorade fascinated as well. OF CHEMISTRY AND will continue to undergo regular inspec- tions by OU rabbinic representatives to Each of the manuals will focus on three MODERN FOOD ensure ingredients, formulas, processes important areas of concern for its specific TECHNOLOGY and manufacturing plants comply with the industry – technology; practical kashrut con- guidelines for manufacturing kosher pro- cerns and the methodology of supervision; The entire project, including planning, ducts. Throughout this process Gatorade and halachic rulings of the OU decisors, or research and design, took months, with the has ensured the ingredients, efficacy and poskim, Rav Hershel Schachter of Yeshiva writing alone taking four months; the text taste would not be altered. Gatorade Thirst University, and Rav Yisroel Belsky of Yeshiva was reviewed countless times, mostly by Quencher and G2 will feature new packaging Torah Vodaath. The project is a collaborative Rabbi Luban, with much input and text from that includes the Orthodox Union certified effort of OU rabbinic coordinators based in Dr. Meyer, so that the manual could appeal kosher symbol, U ,which identifies products OU Kosher New York headquarters; rab- to as wide an audience as possible. that may be consumed by those who main- binic field representatives, around the world; “The work is very significant on several lev- tain a kosher diet. the poskim; and administrative staff. els,” explained Rabbi Menachem Genack, To create the oil manual, a group was CEO of OU Kosher. “It’s important to know THE MOST RESEARCHED put together with Executive Rabbinic that each industry has its own requirements SPORTS BEVERAGE Coordinator Rabbi Yaacov Luban as edi- and specifications; each of these manuals tor; Rabbi Moshe Zywica, Director of represents the standards for its industry and “It was gratifying for us to partner with Operations of OU Kosher as coordinator; what a mashgiach has to be aware of. They Gatorade through the certification pro- and Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld, one of the OU enhance the departmental goal of kosher cess and bring these much sought after Rabbinic Coordinators who oversee the oil education. And in terms of our corporate sports drinks to the ever-growing kosher industry. A major role in preparation of the culture, they provide transparent standards market place,” said Rabbi Eliyahu Safran, text was provided by Dr. Avrohom Meyer, a to be met.” OU Kosher’s Vice President of Ph.D in chemistry, who according to Rabbi Industries such as fish and food service Communications and Marketing. “It is Luban in his introduction to the manual, “is (hotels, catering halls, etc.) are in the pipe- most rewarding for OU Kosher’s team, a walking encyclopedia of technology and line and will follow soon. With each manual, headed by Rabbis David Jenkins, Yaakov kashrut.” Rabbi Avraham I. Juravel, Rabbinic something new exists in the kosher world. Mendelson and Abraham Juravel, as well as Coordinator for Technical Services, reviewed Phyllis Koegel, OU Marketing Associate, to the manual and in the process demonstrated Rabbi Genack declared, “This new manual cooperate with Gatorade’s team and bring his technical and halachic expertise. will be a great addition to sources explaining the Gatorade products to eagerly-awaiting Jewish law for our times. The halachic guide- They reported to Rabbi Moshe Elefant, Chief kosher consumers.” lines of Rabbis Belsky and Schachter, our Operating Officer of OU Kosher. Because of poskim, will certainly make an extraordinary Consumers who maintain a kosher diet will his broad understanding of the Jewish com- resource for the kosher world.