May 5, 2021
Kashrut alert on Dr Pepper
The KLBD has issued a letter with a kashrut alert regarding a specific import of Dr Pepper drinks.
I often don't understand these type of alerts. They didn't give the specific importer a teuda. But he imported anyway. Did he import kosher Dr Pepper or not? Do they make some that are kosher and some that aren't and he imported the non kosher version?
I get that he might be using their name without licensing, but that's more of a legal issue than a kashrut issue. They can sue him in court, they can fight to have the product removed for using their name without permission, etc. But is the Dr Pepper kosher or not?
The letter says the regarding the cans of Dr Pepper imported by Star Brand - they, the KLBD, did not issue a kashrut certificate for this importer, they do not recognize this importer and the product should be removed form Israeli shelves.
this is not the first time there has been a kashrut issue with imported Dr Pepper.
So, buyer beware. Pay attention to the label to see which version of Dr Pepper you are getting and ensure it is actually certified kosher.
That being said, I must admit I do not understand something.
I would even add that KLBD is that soft drinks are all kosher even without supervision (except in certain instances - soft drinks that contain certain "E" ingredients). According to their own policy this Dr Pepper is kosher, even though the use of the KLBD name/logo was unauthorized. They should pursue legal action for the misuse of their name as if it is supervised by them, but by their own policy this Dr Pepper would seem to be kosher. And they do not say otherwise int heir letter - they just say they never gave authorization to this importer.
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Is this letter actually genuine? I have my doubts. The letterhead includes Dayan Y. Abraham who left the London Beth Din in disgrace in 2019 in the midst of a significant scandal. The signatory of the letter is not a name which I am familiar with (as an ex-Londoner). The whole thing seems off.
ReplyDeleteThe whole issue is based on the LBD's differentiation between "approved" and "certified" products. Unlike in the US, where (most) hechsherim will only allow processed products where there's an actual hechsher with supervision (albeit yotzeh v'nichnas), the practice in the UK is to allow certain products based on research into the ingredients, plant, and processing, even without the product having a formal hechsher. The LBD explains this clearly on their website, where they also note that their "approved" list is only for use in the UK.
ReplyDeleteAs it happens, Dr Pepper IS on the UK approved list - but it IS NOT on the list as "certified". As such, the recommendation is only for within the UK, and the importer is being misleading (at a minimum) in stating that the product has an ishur from the LBD - the "ishur", as it is, is only whilst within the UK.
They have to protect the importer who paid for their legitimate letter.
DeleteOtherwise, importers won't hire them anymore.