Hechsher for Golden Circle
GOLDEN Circle products should be kosher again very soon ... in Sydney at least, but perhaps not in Melbourne. After failing to renew its kosher certification (hechsher) with Victoria’s Kosher Australia body last month, the company has now come to an agreement with the Kashrut Authority (KA) in NSW.
GOLDEN Circle products should be kosher again very soon … in Sydney at least, but perhaps not in Melbourne. After failing to renew its kosher certification (hechsher) with Victoria’s Kosher Australia body last month, the company has now come to an agreement with the Kashrut Authority (KA) in NSW.
An inspection of Golden Circle’s plant in Brisbane is due to take place in two weeks’ time.
“We expect to announce, after performing a visit and thorough inspection in early December, a wide range of kosher fruit juices and canned products,” the KA posted on its Facebook page last Friday.
“The KA will be performing this certification gratis as a service to the community.”
The AJN understands that Kosher Australia in Melbourne, which previously provided the hechsher to Golden Circle, was surprised when the announcement was made.
Kosher Australia, which invited the KA into the conversation with Golden Circle to help revive the process, only learned about the new arrangement from Facebook.
A spokesperson for Kosher Australia told The AJN that the organisation is reviewing how the KA in Sydney will provide the supervision before it advises kosher consumers in Victoria if it considers the new hechsher acceptable
When Golden Circle discontinued its kosher certification a petition was started by members of the community, which gathered more than 500 signatures.
“There are thousands of households in Australia, as well as hundreds of institutions and caterers for the kosher market, that collectively consume millions of dollars worth of Golden Circle products, and have greatly valued having such an iconic brand of products certified kosher,” the petition states.
“Additionally there are thousands of consumers who choose kosher certified products for reasons other than cultural or religious affiliation.
“From our kids’ lunchboxes to our life-cycle events, Golden Circle drinks are wonderful products that we would love to be able to continue to consume.”
The KA thanked everyone in Sydney and Melbourne involved in making the representations to the company.
JOSHUA LEVI
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