By COLlive reporter
The Empire Kosher Poultry brand, sold in Trader Joe’s and kosher groceries around the USA, will no longer bear kosher certification from the KAJ agency.
Rabbi Yisroel Mantel of KAJ, Kahal Adath Jeshurun in New York City also known as “Breuer’s,” announced the development in a letter on Sunday.
“After many years of giving the highest level of kashrus supervision at Empire Kosher Poultry, we will be removing our Hashgocho effective July 20, 2020,” he notified.
Rabbi Mantel said the decision “was made after much discussion and deliberation both with Empire and internally.”
He said that Empire products manufactured through July 20, 2020 and bearing the seal of the KAJ are still under their supervision.
Empire Kosher Poultry is the largest producer of kosher poultry in the United States. The company’s headquarters, hatchery and processing facility are located in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania.
On their website, Empire Kosher Poultry states that their products are now receiving the supervision of OU Kosher along with Rabbi Yechiel Babad of Tartikov Kashrus.
But in his letter, Rabbi Mantel distanced himself from the Empire brand, saying: “Unfortunately, circumstances have developed that prevent us from being able to guarantee that are our standards of kashrus will continue to be met.”
He went on to recommend “alternate poultry product providers” such as KJ (Kiryas Joel) Poultry under KJ Hashgacha, BKP (Birsdsboro Kosher Poultry) under CRC and Brooklyn Hashgacha, and Marvid of Canada under the CRC and Brooklyn Hashgacha.
R’ Isumer Teitelbaum, who identified as one of the rabbis working at Empire, said: “We proudly have now the hechsher of Rabbi Yechiel Babad of Tartikov who only improved the standard.“
In an email to COLlive.com, he added: “The fact is that Empire changed the hechsher months ago. However, KAJ was told that they will get paid up until July 20, out of good will. This is KAJ’s way of retaliating.“
COLlive.com reached out to Empire Kosher and KAJ for further comment.
yechiel babad tartakov that y they left
Don’t they have the OU as well?
They are still under OU supervision
The Empire kosher website says that it is under the supervising agencies, the Orthodox Union and Rabbi Yechiel Babad, Tartikov Rav.
It didn’t mention KAJ.
The FDA tells reasons why drugs are discontinued or why items are being recalled because they have an effect on the body. Kashrus of food has an effect on the soul and body. Kashrus agencies should maybe be more open to the public and tell the reasons places are losing their hashgacha.
$ and politics
Shocking! $ and politics in the kashruth industry? Unheard of.
Silly thing to say, Empire wanted a Chassidishe Hechsher, so they took Rabbi Babad, nothing with money or politics
I was just sent a confirmation from R Elefant who has been involved in the entire process. He confirmed that nothing has changed in the process, the shochtim or anything else. Empire continues to be certified by the OU, Nirbater Rav and morning Rabbi Babad.
We try to use CHK.
The worst shchita of a chicken is better than the best shchita of cow.
Why don’t they allow Lubavitcher Shocktim
Are We not considerd chasidishe
I see two other supervisions are active so that being the case being vague can be many reasons and that is the point many reasons but none mentioned
I know from close that the reason why kaj left has nothing to do with kashrus the reason is because they couldnt stand that the good chasidishe hechsher from Tartikov was added and the Kaj will not run the show anymore its a shame to write reason about kashrus when its not
Lubavitchers should only be using split back, ie David Elliott or some Marvid
Marvid from Canada is very nice. David Elliott has way too many feathers. Not sure how those feathers are supposed to be plucked- machine or by hand. If it’s a machine, they need to update and get a new one. If by hand, hire more people. In this day and age, why on earth would a customer want to buy chicken that they have to spend an half hour plucking feathers out of?!!!
What do you base this statement on? Most David Elliot is NOT split.
Birdsboro brand has CRC AND OU, the KAJ letter only mentions CRC. The KAJ itself relies on the OU. Looks to me like the people at Empire made a business decision. On the one hand, what percentage of consumers would stop buying their product if the KAJ supervision was removed. On the other hand, what is the potential new customer base with this chassidishe supervision. What has not changed is that the OU and the Nirbater Rav still provide supervision.