By COLlive reporter
Terra Chips, the multicolored popular snack, is no longer an option for many in the Jewish community.
The Kof-K Kosher Supervision in Teaneck, New Jersey announced on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 that the product has a change in its kashrus standard.
“Due to various considerations, Terra Chips is no longer certified Bishul Yisroel,” they announced, adding that the new state was “effective immediately.”
“Products which either have the Bishul Yisroel declaration or marked with a Julian date of 29521 or earlier may still be considered Bishul Yisroel.”
According to the Kof-K, “A food is classified as bishul Yisroel when the rabbi has taken part in the cooking process of the food (by lighting the fire, putting the food on the fire, or adding heat to the fire). Kosher law requires this status for many foods (generally higher-end foods that are inedible raw i.e. meat, poultry).”
Terra Chips, created by the food company Hain Celestial Group which is based in New York, has been a popular snack and salad topping appearing in many kosher cookbooks. Their exotic variety of chips are made of sweet potato, yuca, taro, ruby dipped vegetables, parsnip and batata (Cuban sweet potato).
It’s not olah al shulchan melachim
Chips may not, but as whole potatoes or other vegetables they do.
By that standard there is nothing in the world that is not oleh al shulchan melachim. What vegetable, grain, meat, or any other ingredient is never used in some gourmet recipe that would be served at a fancy dinner?
The fact is that the overwhelming majority of poskim who have considered the question have ruled that chips are exempt from bishul yisroel.
Is it still kosher? Or just not pas yisroel?
It is not BISHUL yisroel. There is no heter in shulchan aruch permitting bishul ak”um.
Be careful before making a “bold statement” like that!
Is it still kosher? Or just not bishul,yisroel?
Same kosher supervision. Just not bishul yisroel
I never knew they were bishul yisroel in the first place
most rabbonim agree that potato chips don’t need to be
does this article imply that other chips with chof-k are bishul yisroel?
My father was told by the Lubavitcher Rav- Rabbi ZS Dworkin OBM that potato chips should be bishul Yisroel.
Follow your Rav …
Anyone know what Julian date of 29521 is?
It’s a number that will be found somewhere stamped on the product. It usually is read xxx (date) – xx (year). Oct 22 = 295 and the year is 21 (2021)
The way we know that it’s 295 is that Oct 22 is the 295th day of the year (out of 365). The Julian Calendar counts the number of days from Jan 1 (001) all the way to Dec 31 (365) – take into account that Feb only has 28 days and April, June, September, and November all have 30 days, not 31
In israel it would be 29th of 5th month 2021. Is that possibly the case here?
It was produced on the 295th day of the calendar year 2021.
May 29, 2021
the 295th day of 2021, which is Sept. 22.
Do your maths again, it’s Oct. 22 ’21
Jan = 31 Feb = 28 Mar = 31 Apr = 30 May = 31 Jun = 30 Jul = 31 Aug = 31 Sep = 30
All months above = 273
295 – 273 = 22
22 Oct 2021
Shame we loved Terra chips.
Any good alternative?
Why does it need to be bishul Yisroel?
It is considered”high-end”, (oleh al shulchan melochim).
The WISE brand chips are also not bishul yisroel, yet are sold in local stores, consumed by heimshe families and accepted in our schools
It is not sold in local jewish store
However it is sold under the name of libers with bishul yisrorel
Remind me of the escalopes ( shellfish) from Thailand in Tuna tins …. the issue was reported as …. not bishul israel.
Kaf-Kol, כשמו כן הוא
Refer to article published by Kof-K entitled “Bishul Akum on Potatoes”
“…since fried potatoes are not fit to be served at a kings’ table, potato chips would not require bishul yisroel. This is the opinion of the majority of the poskim.”
https://www.kof-k.org/articles/040308030441W-37%20Bishul%20Akum%20on%20Potatoes.pdf
Say it’s not a problem at all. Only a small minority say it’s a problem. So unless you personally, knowing this fact, took a neder to eat only chips that are bishul yisroel, there is no need to say goodbye to Terra chips. Ess gezunterheit, and those who don’t like it kennen gein fayfen.
Who are the vast majority? Can you provide a list?
We’re not even talking potato chips here. These are vegetables a lot fancier then potato chips.
for something to need to be bishul yisroel it needs to be uneatable (normally) raw, AND an important food. many vegies can be eaten raw. if there is a pack made from something that CAN be eat raw, theres no problem. In halacha, an important food is indicated by its original state. many rabbomin consider a potato important and many dont. that is something to discuse with your rov. note that many of these chips are not from potatoes, so all these variables are important and make a diffrence. lets also remember that as yidin we are growing in our… Read more »