Kashrut Alert Ketchup on local shelves

just the other day I posted a kashrut alert from the KF kashrut organization, the Kashrut of the Federation of Synagogues in the UK, regarding Heinz ketchup for Pesach. The production of this ketchup included kitniyot (itself a debatable topic if this is actually considered kitniyot or not, but leaving that aside...) but was labeled as regular kosher for Pesach. the alert was to let people know it actually contains kitniyot so those who refrain from eating kitniyot on Pesach should be aware.

I saw this Heinz ketchup in Osher Ad the other day, and I hear it is sold in many shops and supermarkets around Israel. This is the ketchup imported from the UK with this hechsher. The product that is directly affected by the above alert. I actually just avoided it and did not look at the label (my kids prefer Osem ketchup anyway), but the Osher Ad sign on the product did not mention that it is a kitniyot-based product, as the other signs around the store normally do.

Some claimed that the Heinz in Israel is not affected by the above alert, saying it is a separate production line, specifically for export. Not being sure if the claim is accurate, I sent the question to the KF for clarification. 

KF responded to me with the following information:

The product is from the same production wherever it is being sold. Many distributors (including the main distributor in Israel) have reprinted / corrected the labels and they clearly state Kitniyos. In Europe, and the US some product is being sold with incorrect labels.

Based on their response, the Israeli Heinz is just as affected as Heinz actually sold in the UK. So be aware of that when buying your Pesach ketchup, if relevant. Osher Ad and other supermarkets should include the kitniyot status on their signs. Even if the individual bottle has been relabeled, which I am not sure if it was or was not, when signs are on all the other products in the store, no sign on this product will mean many people will not look carefully and will just assume no kitniyot. If you already bought it and dont want to eat it considering it kitniyot, use it before Pesach, save it for after Pesach (it does not even need to be sold - though ask your own rabbi to be sure), or give it away.

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