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Friday, 12 Adar II, 5784
  |  March 22, 2024

Frenzy Over Chocolate Chips

Turmoil in the kitchen: Scores of Lubavitch women rushed to Trader Joe's this week to purchase chocolate chips. Full Story

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WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!
May 20, 2012 8:18 pm

those were our favorite

Write to Trader Joes
May 20, 2012 6:40 pm

I just dropped Trader Joes a line at
http://www.traderjoes.com/about/index.asp. More people should contact them to keep this from happening

here is how to contact trader joe's
May 20, 2012 3:20 am

Here is the website. PLEASE contact them:
http://www.traderjoes.com/about/general-feedback-form.asp

back at 38
May 18, 2012 5:55 pm

u have never lived out of town probably, and have no idea what it is to, u try to find any store, compared to which one is better this one or this one, dont bash out of towners, we r the ones that are making a byis for hashem, kiddush hashem, mesiros nefesh, mivtzoyim, so dont bash us!

again To #20
May 17, 2012 10:17 pm

Stella D’oro is NOT pas yisroel! BTW, Rold Gold isnt either fyi

mashuge
May 17, 2012 7:30 pm

i cant believe what a big thing this is turning into! you’ll survive without chocolate chips!!

to #7
May 17, 2012 5:32 pm

its good to know that there was a change! otherwise i would have cvs just grab them like i normally do and taken them home and made dessert for shabbos! so it is a good thing that it is in the news! it saved me from eating traiff! also im from cali and there is not any kosher stores locally so TJ is great and the price is good also!

WHAT THE FLIP, MAN!?!?!?!
May 17, 2012 3:52 pm

WHY?!?!?!

petition Rabbi Levy and Trader joe's perhaps?
May 17, 2012 3:52 pm

has anyone thought to petition trader joes and the OK to not make this move?

get a life
May 17, 2012 3:18 pm

It is down to the OK not Trader Jo. They decide what is “D” So start by speaking to them then speak to TJ…

difficult to believe
May 17, 2012 12:04 pm

How can trader joe not be worried about losing so much business. I think they will start taking their kosher department alot more seriously once they make chocolate chips dairy!

national chains- where are you?
May 17, 2012 11:55 am

I’m suprised no national chain has used this as a golden opportunity as outreach to literally thousands of kosher consumers in desperate need. How can we entertain guests and celebrate a meat dinner without parave chocolate chips? Maybe we should just go back to regular smaller specalty kosher brands. I personally would go to Trader Joes just for the chocolate chips!!!

Feel free to forward note to trader joes website provided in previous comments
May 17, 2012 2:17 am

I am one of thousands of kosher parve -non dairy users of your chocolate chips. Remaining parve ,but being produced on dairy equipment restricts me from using it in my repertoire. As a congregation leaders’ wife, I don’t only cook for myself,but for hundreds of people per year. Please reconsider this inconvenience and continue providing your loyal customers with ok certified parve chocolate chips.
Thank you in advance for your consideration ,

Hope This Helps Clarify...
May 17, 2012 1:15 am

This is what I was told by a Trader Joes employee: The factory where the chips are made is transitioning from a “wet” cleaning process to a “dry” one – meaning there is no 210 degree boiling water involved. No hoax from the OK labs, no ‘simple label change’, etc. ACTUAL kashrus at work. (Which also means that the chips coming off the new “Dairy” equipment will all go straight into those OK-D bags… no problem with the Pareve ones in the stores now). Hopefully they’ll realize that any time/money saved by this switch is not worth the money lost… Read more »

KEEP THEM PAREVE!!!!!
May 17, 2012 12:27 am

Help stop Trader Joe’s from making their chocolate chips OK-D by joining the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/187133011409388/

Oh No!
May 17, 2012 12:05 am

WE”RE ALL GONNA DIE!
MAKE A PROTEST! CALL THe WHITE HOUSE!
CHOCOLATE CHIPS!
Everyone prtest outside your local trader joes and tell tem this cannot happpen! What is life without chocolate chips??!!
Our entire Avoda of being on this planet, to make a dira B’tavhtonim, and to bring Moshiach CANNOT HAPPEN without the so important CHOCLATE CHIPS!! (ch’v)

To #20
May 16, 2012 11:15 pm

Stella Dora is not pas yisroel

Stocked
May 16, 2012 10:24 pm

Bought 180 bags, and have another case coming Friday!!!!! Yes, my husband thinks I’m insane, but he’ll appreciate it when I can still bake with them!!

call 1626 599 3700
May 16, 2012 10:01 pm

call & tell them, we dont care. & they dont seem to either.

SIGN PETITION!
May 16, 2012 9:45 pm
malcab
May 16, 2012 9:37 pm

for those upset about trader joe’s chip —

this is to let you all know

SHOPRITE choc chips are PARVE

Trader joes chips
May 16, 2012 9:30 pm

I would be happy to buy them st the numerous trader joes in my area if anyone wants to but them from me

priorities
May 16, 2012 9:29 pm

from #7 to #16 First of all I am married, b”h with a growing family. One of the things I try to emphasize to my children and my guests is exactly what you are trying to discourage. I try to teach that it is not important to have every single thing exactly perfect in order to be happy. There are many other chocolate chips which are pareve which are readily available (assuming you live in an area with a selection available) and I should hope that they could not care less about which choclate chip is in their cookie. To… Read more »

Whole Foods
May 16, 2012 9:22 pm

For those who have a Whole Foods nearby, they also have good pareve chocolate chips (good taste-wise, not necessarily health-wise!)

#19, what do you think chocolate is made from?
May 16, 2012 9:10 pm

Chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, and sugar are the main ingredients in quality chocolate.

To #32
May 16, 2012 8:55 pm

Something could have changed in the facility where the chips are made to change its status to dairy (use of equipment, etc.). Many factories make many different products for many different companies. So the ingredients in the choc chips would be the same, however another product being produced there could affect the kosher status.

To #7
May 16, 2012 8:38 pm

Taamu U’reu ki Tov chocolate chips. Farzucht vet ihr zen as di chocolate chips zainen Gut…

Why is it switching to D???
May 16, 2012 8:31 pm

Something suspicious here…. Can the ok explain the reason WHY it is being labeled as OK D now? What changed? Is it the same recipe and line, or have they changed something?

to # 36
May 16, 2012 8:10 pm

page doesn’t exist

alternative
May 16, 2012 7:40 pm

http://www.vitacost.com/enjoy-life-semi-sweet-chocolate-mini-chips
They can be ordered easily.
Or move to Israel. We have Maimons and Oppenheimer. I like both.

How could they!
May 16, 2012 7:36 pm

I do most of my shopping at TJ. My kids love looking for the monkey. Very upset about this! We’ll take our shopping elsewhere.

37 bags?
May 16, 2012 7:35 pm

That’s nothing I just bought 87 bags! Los Angeles is out!

shoprite
May 16, 2012 5:53 pm

shoprite sell parve choc chips with the OU hechsher

Double Check
May 16, 2012 5:52 pm

The manager at my store said the chips have not changed just the packaging. The chips have been the same for the last 2 years. They were just told to change the packaging. So are the chips we have now ok for using??????????????????

Lactose Intolerance
May 16, 2012 5:40 pm

Anyone who is writing should also mention lactose intolerance and how even residue of milk products can cause problems for those who have the most severe forms of milk allergies. The kosher market is NOT big enough for them to care – but they don’t want lawsuits from someone who has any problems with milk and doesn’t see the new information.

out of towners....
May 16, 2012 5:37 pm

stop whining!! so u don’t have a kosher store and we don’t have a back yard!! America has kosher food in every super market … talk to the English or Australians and the likes on shlichus …. now u won’t hear them moaning about choc chips!!

AD MOSAI!!!!!!!!!!!
May 16, 2012 5:30 pm

what has this world come to??!!!! what will we do???

do u guys hear yourselves??!!
May 16, 2012 5:20 pm

it’s just choc chips!!!!!

To #7 and #18
May 16, 2012 5:14 pm

It was helpful to me living out in California, where I do not have any “Kosher” stores nearby. I would have not known about the hechser change, and perhaps not necessarily have noticed the change on the package.
True, they did not need to make a whole article about it, it could have just been an alert, but this is a website where alerts are made into huge stories – so DEAL with it!!!

Help me understand
May 16, 2012 5:09 pm

Why would Trader Joe’s choose to out a D next to the OU? I assume it was the OU telling them that something has changed in the processing that requires this change in designation? I don’t think Trader Joes cares a hoot about the kosher symbol, and this change must mean something about the way the chips are made? Please help me understand, any Rabbis out ther?

To all those stpcking up
May 16, 2012 5:09 pm

How long will your stash last? Your buying frenzy won’t help for long. You, too, must petition…!!!!

why are we blaiming trader joes
May 16, 2012 5:00 pm

i think the kashrut org should explain clearly with sources in shulchan aruch what DE or D and dairy mean

to #5
May 16, 2012 4:19 pm

You have obviously never tasted trader joes choc chips. They are incomparable to the junk that the jewish companies make because they can get away with it! Oh ..and they are cheaper per bag and 15oz per bag instead of kosher brands 12 oz.

Fight it!
May 16, 2012 3:55 pm

You should add this part to the article, if people want to protest the change to dairy they should go here, to Trader Joe’s website, and let them know it is not ok!
http://www.traderjoes.com/about/product-information-form.asp

In response to 7 and 16
May 16, 2012 3:36 pm

#7, I was thinking it. You said it. It’s just a chocolate chip – we buy these twice a year and yes, it’s nice to make frosting with them but eh, it’s just chocolate. #16 – You know what is ignorant than the comment left by #7? Your assumption of gender and marital status. You offend me. I’m the primary cook in our house, not my wife – I enjoy it, and she works full time raising our children – the least I can do is cook. “Frumkeit’ has nothing to do this, and chocolate chips getting this much attention… Read more »

To #16
May 16, 2012 3:24 pm

You took the words right out of my mouth,, You want to know the frenzy? Its because some of us like to feed our children stuff that taste good. I have never seen a chocolate chip from any other company come close to TJ’s cheap, quality, and yummy,,, I make all my cakes and cookies and I cook for bikur cholim, and I cook for moms who just had babies,, and they get my chocolate stuff, I want them to have the best,,,

to #5 and #7
May 16, 2012 2:57 pm

Lucky you that you live in an area where kosher food is readily available. For many readers of this Lubavitch website, TJs chocolate chips enhanced many Chabad functions, gave our kids chocolate chip cookies (gasp!) and were the only available parve chips in driving distance- the nearest for me being 4 hours.
Thanks to such articles, I was made aware of the impending switch in time to stock up, instead of showing up one day and finding that they are all milchig, as happened with Kroger brand and the Wal-Mart brand.

look at ingredients
May 16, 2012 2:55 pm

they are not any more healthy than others, first ingredient sugar, then chocolate liquor, no cocoa anyway

Iskafya
May 16, 2012 2:52 pm

I can’t even imagine what Reb Peretz Mochkin, Reb Shilem and Reb Gronem (let alone the Rebbe RaShAB)would say about this!!!

please foward this email to trader joe's TO HELP THE CAUSE!
May 16, 2012 2:47 pm

To Whom it May Concern, It is with much dismay and concern that I write to you. As you are aware, your company, Trader Joe’s, recently made the decision to change the Kashrus certification from “OK” to “OK DE” (Dairy Equipment) on a line of product that is quite dear to all of us…your famous Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips. I am sure you have been well briefed by the company you work with, Ok Kashrus Laboratories, and they have provided all the necessary information detailing how people from our community would no longer be able to buy and enjoy this very… Read more »

Thank you, Mrs. 16
May 16, 2012 2:36 pm

You are right on. We women are in charge of keeping a kosher home. This kind of thing is what truly outrages us. Let’s start a petition.

It is very difficult for national brands to maintain and absorb pareve chocolate
May 16, 2012 2:33 pm

ingredients ,distribution and supervision costs. Stam Cholov is much easier and profitable kashrus wise,unfortunately..Hershey’s had a similar problem with the distribution and packaging costs with their previous OU parve syrup.
DB

devastated!
May 16, 2012 2:23 pm

i used to eat so many trader joes choco chips plain. they are the best chocolate chips on the market hands down. much better tasting and much better for baking. RIP trader joes chocolate chips, today i lost a good friend.

stella dora and duncan hines
May 16, 2012 2:22 pm

hopefull they will change their mind like the two above factories did

Check other brands
May 16, 2012 2:17 pm

While this most certainly IS news, and bad news at that, one or more of the kosher brands may be the same as the old TJ product. The kosher suppliers use the same factories that the store brand suppliers use. Look for codes on the package and try to match them to codes from Lieber’s, Gefen or whichever kosher brand is still available. Also, avoid “chocolate FLAVORED chips.” They have very little cocoa butter and will ruin your recipes. Finally, Trader Joe’s is not Jewish owned. There is no need to worry about chometz – and chocolate chips are kitniois… Read more »

Anyone know?
May 16, 2012 1:54 pm

Are the Shoprite ones still parve?

WHOLE FOODS
May 16, 2012 1:53 pm

CHECK OUT WHOLE FOODS!

To Mr. 7
May 16, 2012 1:44 pm

I haven’t heard such arrogance and ignorance in a while. I have no doubt that you are a male and I hope you are not married yet – so you can get YOUR priorities straight! What is shuchan aruch, gemara, semicha etc. is not discussing the kinds and details of food? Is Torah talking about split hooves also nonsense for you? People work hard preparing food for their families and they try doing it the best they can. Sweets might not be ideal for those practicing escaphia – yet they are what make children happy and eat their meal, they… Read more »

mass complaint
May 16, 2012 1:44 pm

Enough people complained to Duncan Hines about their changing their cake mixes from parve to dairy that they went back to parve.

PEITION
May 16, 2012 1:42 pm

write a petition thell listen

Act Fast!!
May 16, 2012 1:42 pm

Stores are running out. I emptied the shelf at my local TJ of 36 bags!!

to number 5
May 16, 2012 1:40 pm

1. We don’t all live in NY.
2. In general kosher brands produce far inferior products.

You write that this is a problem for ppl that keep cholov yisroel. It’s a problem for ppl that don’t too. You can’t make chocolate chip cookies, cakes etc for a shabbos meal with dairy chocolate chips even if you eat cholov stam!

Very Disappointed!
May 16, 2012 1:36 pm

Trader Joe’s had the BEST Pareve Chocolate chips I, and my friends and family have had! It doesn’t compare to the standard kosher ones! They were such a great pareve snack! Something must be done to change this!!!

OMG?!?!?!?
May 16, 2012 1:30 pm

WHY WOULD YOU GO DAIRY!??!?!
DAMN THE D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

other brands
May 16, 2012 1:27 pm

Enjoy life makes mini choc. chips and Choc. chunks that are so yummy and pareve. Also free of all the top 8 allergens. The soy dream/rice dream brand as well makes a good pareve choc. chip. We get both at our local “out of town” grocery store and whole foods.

@5
May 16, 2012 1:18 pm

And they are made out of actual chocolate not the gross garbage which Jewish brands use. Taste them and you’ll realize.

priorities
May 16, 2012 1:18 pm

Rabosai, how low have we fallen that a type of choclate chips is a news story on a frum Lubavitch website. Even if you love and “can’t live without” these chips, life will go on. What is really important in your lives?

@ 5
May 16, 2012 1:12 pm

1. we are not that lucky to even have a kosher store here!
2. they are better priced than the kosher stores in NY

confused
May 16, 2012 1:10 pm

what’s all the hype about their choc chips?! what’s wrong with reg ones found in kosher stores?

History of false hekshers
May 16, 2012 12:55 pm

BH
BSD

trader joes sadly has a history of labelling things as kosher but have no hesksher re: beans

Canada
May 16, 2012 12:40 pm

Also in canada, the presidents choice brand went to OK-D. (they probably get it from the same supplier….)

Chometz
May 16, 2012 12:40 pm

If it is chometz it might be “chometz sh’over olove ha’Pesach” if the store is owned by yidden

NOOOOOOOOOOO
May 16, 2012 12:36 pm

Please tell me this isnt true!! I LOOOOOVE trader joes chocolate chips!

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