OU Statement on Pressed Juicery

Sunday, Iyar 7 5778 - 22 April 2018

Jan 9, 2018

The Orthodox Union released a statement in response to COLlive's inquiry about frum Jews visiting the stores of Pressed Juicery.

By COLlive reporter

Frum Jews have been frequenting branches of California-based Pressed Juicery which creates drinks from fruits, vegetables and nuts.

But the Kashruth Division of the Orthodox Union doesn't recommend it.

The company offers organic, nutrient-packed, fresh-pressed juice. Many Jews visiting the Williamsburg branch in Brooklyn and at The Grove in Los Angeles, assume that all ingredients are kosher.

In a statement to COLlive.com on Monday, the OU explained: "The Orthodox Union only certifies sealed Pressed Juicery drinks produced at their plant."

They are referring to some 41 ready to drink 16-ounce bottles that are manufactured at the Pressed Juicery headquarters at in Santa Monica, CA. Bottles are labeled OU Pareve, must have a symbol and are not kosher for Pesach.

In regards to the juices and the soft-serve sorbet made on premises, the OU has stated: "We have no affiliation with the stores and do not recommend anything other than sealed products bearing the OU symbol."

In a previous article, a kashrus expert indeed told COLlive.com that, in general, "Pressed juices from a kiosk or store that is not kosher certified can have kosher concerns."

A few examples were adding non-kosher additives to the juice product, grape juice not being mevushal and no foods are being brought in for commercial sale or personal and employee use.

The OU now makes it clear that such is also the case with branches of Pressed Juicery.

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Opinions and Comments

Tell the store

The OU should tell the company to tell their stores and managers. When I went into the store they told me their freeze is kosher and showed me which toppings bags are kosher.

(1/9/2018 7:11:11 PM)

Obvious

This was obvious to anyone who is steadfast in their observance of Jewish Law.

Prikas oyl is what causes these issues to arise in the first place.

(1/9/2018 7:22:29 PM)

If the store does not have a kashrus certificate, then nothing.
I was literally once in a pizza place in a JCC. The pizza was pas and cholov yisroel, but they sold certain items that were not. An Italian cook was the only one there at the time, and he phone rang with a customer asking all these kashrus questions. The guys hands my husband the phone and says here can you take this? Just say yes to all his questions.

Ppl say why they want because they are unaware. Look for a certificate

(1/9/2018 7:38:09 PM)

hey #2

don't be so judgmental a little ahavas yisroel goes a long way

(1/9/2018 7:51:38 PM)

Ahavas Yisroel

AY has nothing to do with kashrut certification. Either the products are kosher certified or not. No in between and no Ahavas Yisroel certifies products as kosher.

(1/9/2018 8:42:46 PM)

get yourself a vita mix

and make your own juices. they are cheaper, healthier and fun to make

(1/9/2018 9:10:29 PM)

what the Rebbe would call it

SIMCHA MONICA

(1/9/2018 9:54:14 PM)

To #6

great minds think alike!

(1/9/2018 10:09:10 PM)

To #6

Vitamix is overpriced. You can make the same juices with a $25 blender from Walmart. Save yourself the extra $375.

(1/9/2018 10:26:07 PM)

to #6

Have you seen the prices of Vitamix? A Hamilton Beach is OK for me!

(1/10/2018 12:41:54 AM)

Do as in Europe

So interesting..as someone who lives in Europe..we drink fresh juice from juice shops all the time. Nothing has hechsher but we know what is kosher and what is not. Even the frummest people would buy juice from a juicery if it's vegan etc... obviously we wouldn't eat a cooked meal because of bishul problems and always check the soy or coconut milk to make Sure there are no e-numbers that are not kosher.

(1/10/2018 4:10:10 AM)

Sad day

This will have major impact on the community. A lot of people liked these drinks and, maybe 'need' is a strong word but will have to look elsewhere. Sad day. And #5, Ahavas Yisroel has EVERYTHING to do with kashrus.

(1/10/2018 8:00:54 AM)

#11

in nyc if an ingredient is less then a certain % the company does not have to put it in ingredients list

(1/10/2018 8:40:21 AM)

to #11

why should Europe be different re these concerns?

(1/10/2018 8:45:20 AM)

To #2 and #5

Noone said that ahavas yisroel makes the products kosher. Rather that if someone wants these products, YOU shouldn't ASSUME it's a result of weakness in their religious commitment. They thought it was perfectly kosher.

(1/10/2018 9:21:57 AM)

Bubbie

I am not familiar with these products or stores but I do know that in my own kitchen it is very difficult & time consuming to correctly check many veggies such as spinach, kale, broccoli, parsley etc If these are used in the stores then who is supervising the checking ? We are not permitted to eat bugs no matter how much Ahavas Yisroel we have !

(1/10/2018 9:31:46 AM)

To 11, "Do as in Europe"

I completely agree. I grew up in Australia. Everyone, even rabbonim, know what is kosher and what isn't and there aren't hechshers on most products. We just look at the ingredients. But in the US, where almost everything has a hechsher, anything without one is considered treif. (And perhaps for good reason. It's so easy to get a hechsher here that if a company doesn't get it, there may be a reason for that.)

(1/10/2018 9:42:01 AM)

To #2 and #5

(1/10/2018 9:42:27 AM)

Just think about it...

It is true bugs can be anywhere but when prepared in larger stores they have better lighting and certainly wouldn't want their customers to eat bugs so I am sure the store situation is even better than a private home. Think about it, if it wasn't, why would frum yidden ever bother eating out?

(1/10/2018 9:43:26 AM)

To # 11

This is a common misunderstanding. “ Vegan” does not automatically equal “Kosher” because many vegetables require serious checking.

(1/10/2018 9:55:02 AM)

Europe girl

Besides the washing and checking for bugs issue. many times produce comes from Israel which is problematic! i also grew up in Europe drinking all drinks without a hechsher. but now that i know more about the ins and outs of kashrus i understand why people go for a chasidisher hechsher better than an ou.

(1/10/2018 10:12:54 AM)

#21

That is a fallacious and sad statement
You would be hard pushed to find a more reliable Hechsher than the OU
Chassidsher Hechsher is misnomer. Sad but oh so true

(1/10/2018 10:39:04 AM)

Bugs in juice are botel

Bugs are only a problem if they're whole. If the vegetable or fruit is completely liquified, then any bugs that might have been there are botel.

(1/10/2018 10:43:51 AM)

argument stopper

Europe gave us the Nazis. I will not follow any kashrus guidelines from that place.

(1/10/2018 10:45:34 AM)

To #23

If the bug is intentionally crushed in juice so that it shouldn't be whole, its still Assur. It is only fine, if after checking, it was unintentionally missed.

(1/10/2018 11:23:48 AM)

Kaganovich

Since when does the OK need a haskama from the OU?

(1/10/2018 12:06:53 PM)

#25, incorrect

If any hypothetical bugs will be liquefied then there is no need to check for them in the first place.

(1/10/2018 12:46:26 PM)

Correction no 17

In Australia we have a kosher list and are strongly advised not to rely on reading ingredients As much much more then listed ingredients determines if something is kosher
No in Australia we are not satisfied by reading ingredients!! We have a kosher list or kosher app to guide.us.

(1/10/2018 1:09:51 PM)

Correction to 17 #2

I am from Australia. No one ( Rabbanim or Baalei Batim) buy just by looking at the ingredients. Every food place has a Hechsher and every product is on the Kosher list or we don't buy it.

(1/10/2018 1:31:27 PM)

To #12 who writes: Ahavas Yisroel has EVERYTHING to do with kashrus

Who certifies the Ahavas Yisroel?

(1/10/2018 1:56:27 PM)

to #9 & #10

Hi, I work for the Vitamix I would love to offer you a free Vitamix blender. Contact me at 718-746-8372

(1/10/2018 3:03:58 PM)

What a storm in a juicer!

So do without, or make your own , if the kashrus doesn't come up to your pernickety holier-than-thou standards. No need to look down and condemn those who find the kashrus adequate enough.

(1/10/2018 3:26:15 PM)

Europe

I live in Europe and I would NOT drink pure juice from a store! There are guild line for pure juice in containers.

(1/10/2018 3:50:27 PM)

What about Jamba Juice?

What about Jamba Juice? They have drinks that are 100% fruit and they make it in front of you.

(1/10/2018 4:00:46 PM)

in europe

in Europe or Australia there is no worry about juicing grapes?
was once in Europe and people told me go to this store as they squeeze only fresh fruit and is kosher
went in and,saw one of the worker putting grapes in the blender!!

(1/10/2018 7:32:45 PM)

25 WRONG

all rabonim say that frozen veggies are allowed to be eaten as is

(1/10/2018 7:35:02 PM)

ice cream/ juice

i am fully frum and i have their stuff so #4

(1/10/2018 8:31:52 PM)

Heshy

Did not Starbucks have crushed bugs in their drinks not so long ago. I don’t understand how chassidisha youth frequent Starbucks. Like Rabbi Avigdor Miller ztl once stated. The Rosh Yeshiva in America is an American. We get influence by our environment no matter who we are. How real guy he was.

(1/10/2018 10:37:36 PM)

to #24

no connection.
Europe gave us some of the greatest rabbonim ever known.

(1/10/2018 10:45:44 PM)

Oyyy

This is mamesh pushit not okay I am a dear lover of pressed juicery and I am very disappointed to find out this news. This is so shocking and I just can’t believe I am takeh not okay with this. Message for pressed juicery: PLEASE MAKE THE FREEZE KOSHER (oh yah and the gummy bears) I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THAT BC I AM A TRUE DEVOTED COSTUMER AT YOUR STORE. I live in LA and I always go to the grove to get a freeze. So now that I found this out it is going to be very hard for me. So pressed juicery if you read this pls just give it a thought. Thank you all for your time

(1/11/2018 9:10:06 AM)