Big class action law suit going on by those claiming that Hebrew National hot dogs are not really kosher, and the Triangle K, which is the kashrut agency giving the hechsher on the hot dogs, who are defending their reputation and the kashrut of the hot dogs.
Growing up, it was always "known" that Hebrew National wasn't really kosher, and you basically accepted that "fact" and chowed down on some other, more kosher hot dog. Now along comes Triangle K, and their spirited defense of their reputation and way of operating. I've read and re-read their statement, and, as a religious Jew, and as a consumer, I find all of this rather perplexing. Even after reading the following JTA article (and it's an excellent one) picked up by Haaretz and other papers, the issues become muddier.
Who do you wind up believing? The halachic issues of shechita (ritual slaughter) are beyond complex (which is why we have kashrut agencies in the first place for matters like this); What level of knowledge are we required to have when making a decision as a kosher consumer? What does all of this do to the trust of the kosher consumer?
Fellow frummies and doysim out there, after reading the statement, and becoming more aware of the issues, are you willing to head on over to your local supermarket, buy a pack of Hebrew National hot dogs, and fire up your spanking new pristine kosher grill in time for the 4th of July?
If you do, what does that say about you?
If you don't, what does that say about you?
Food for thought...
Update - yet another interesting article that provides even more context to this story here.
Growing up, it was always "known" that Hebrew National wasn't really kosher, and you basically accepted that "fact" and chowed down on some other, more kosher hot dog. Now along comes Triangle K, and their spirited defense of their reputation and way of operating. I've read and re-read their statement, and, as a religious Jew, and as a consumer, I find all of this rather perplexing. Even after reading the following JTA article (and it's an excellent one) picked up by Haaretz and other papers, the issues become muddier.
Who do you wind up believing? The halachic issues of shechita (ritual slaughter) are beyond complex (which is why we have kashrut agencies in the first place for matters like this); What level of knowledge are we required to have when making a decision as a kosher consumer? What does all of this do to the trust of the kosher consumer?
Fellow frummies and doysim out there, after reading the statement, and becoming more aware of the issues, are you willing to head on over to your local supermarket, buy a pack of Hebrew National hot dogs, and fire up your spanking new pristine kosher grill in time for the 4th of July?
If you do, what does that say about you?
If you don't, what does that say about you?
Food for thought...
Update - yet another interesting article that provides even more context to this story here.