Monsey Meat Scandal

A Monsey butcher who sublets space from a local grocery/supermarket has been found to have been selling non-kosher poultry as strictly kosher. Shevach Meats apparently would sell chickens from Vineland and KJ and repackage them under its own label. Recently, customers had noticed a difference in the chickens -- the color was different and the meat didn't taste as salty (salting is part of the process of koshering). When the owner was notified he reportedly told customers a low-sodium salt was used.

A few days ago, the owner of Hatzlocha Grocery, the store that rented space to Shevach Meats, was told by a meat manager from Kiryas Joel that they were no longer supplying chicken to Shevach. Yet the owner has seen fresh chickens with labels identifying them as Kiryas Joel poultry. Shevach's owner insisted he received them from another distributor.

There was enough suspicion to call in the rav who'd given Shevach Meats its hashgacha. The stock was checked and found to be unosher. Among the reasons given where that the chicken still had intact kidneys (when chickens are koshered all internal organs are removed), and there was no marking or plumba, which all kosher chickens have. There was also the issue of the color and the lack of salt taste.

As reported on the popular Yeshiva World blog (www.theyeshivaworld.com), a group of respected rabbonim issued the following ruling on Tuesday:

1) It is prohibited to eat all meat and chicken which was sold by Shevach Meats. This includes what was sold to catering halls and meats that were sold to/from Hatzlocha Grocery. This includes chicken and meat, from all hechsharim; except for meats which were sold in the original packaging, which have their original stamps and seals on them.

2) You (customers who purchased items from Shevach Meats) must kasher keilim (pots and pans) which were used.

3) Regarding which keilim must be kashered: Each person should speak to his individual rav for a p'sak.

Update: Sunday September 17th was declared a yom tzon (day of fasintg) for the residents of Monsey. Amongst the guidelines set down for the day are: men over the age of 18 should fast; women and girls should not fast, but rather say tehillim and give $18 to tzedakah; anyone weak and unable to fast may give tzedakah instead.

There is an ongoing investigation by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to determine the origin of the chicken, whether it was ever certified as kosher and advertised as such at the store, a spokeswoman for the Agriculture Department said. Violators are subject to fines of up to $1,000.

There is also an investigation by local Rabbis and kashrus organizations to determine whether butcher shops in other neighborhoods may have purchased meats and chickens directly from Shevach or from the same distributor. Kosher Today is reporting that The Standards Committee of the Association of Kashrus Organizations and the Brooklyn based Hisachdus Harabonim (Central Rabbinical Congress) will hold meetings with their members to discuss the greater kashrus ramifications brought to light by this issue.

Read Comments (3)

where was the mashgiach?
Date 09:09, 09-12, 06

Where was the mashgiach when all this was going on in the store??? I thought the point of having a hasgacha was relying on the agency to protect us from just this type of action.

Where was the Masgiach???
Date 08:09, 09-26, 06

What a stupid question! The mashgiach is where he always is. With his head in a sefer or sleeping on a chair, with that sefer in his hands and lap! And this is what is acceptable today, as long as the beard and payis are there, there can be a roasted pig coming in the front door. This is really the sad part, dont you think?

Maybe this area needs a renovation, a renewal? A new thinking?

Who was the mashgiach
Date 03:10, 10-8, 06

Who was the Mashgiach and where else does he work?