Kashrut Warning - "Bakla Tzair"

It just came to my attention that at least 3 offices of the Rabbanut's Kashrut program have announced that there is a serious problem with infestation in certain frozen fish in Israel.

The fish is called "Bakla Tza'ir" and is one of the absolute cheapest fish you can buy in this country - so I'm sure there are frugalistas and frugalites out there who buy it regularly.

They are warning that the infestation with worms is pervasive, and they have told service providers that are under their kashrut that they cannot use this fish for the time being.

That's all I know! 

I will not be buying this fish for now (I have definitely bought it in the past, when in search of affordable fish!), so I thought I'd just share the info here, so everyone can make their own decisions about what to do!

Shabbat Shalom!

Food Recall (Israel) - Smoked Trout

The Ministry of Health and Latfood announced a recall of the following products, due to tests that showed the presence of Listeria in the product:

Product Name: NORVEN Frozen Sliced Smoked Trout Fillet (פורל ים מעושן)
Package Size: 1 kg
Barcode: 4820185105521
Production Date: 24/04/17
Expiration Date: 19/04/18

Product Name: NORVEN Frozen Sliced Smoked Trout Fillet (פורל ים מעושן)
Package Size: 350g
Barcode: 4820185104876
Production Date: 24/04/17
Expiration Date: 19/04/18

The product is unsafe to eat, especially for vulnerable populations. Consumers who have purchased this product should NOT use it. Please contact the company to arrange your refund or replacement, by callind Dennis (or is that Denise? - sorry I am not sure!) at 050-305-5209 or emailing office@latfood.co.il

Food Recall (Israel!)

Another fish recall...


"Yisragal Meterman" and The Ministry of Health announced a recall of the following product due to possible listeria contamination:

Vacuum sealed Herring fillets (production date 05/07/15, expiration date 20/08/15)

Consumers are advised to return the product to the store where purchased for a refund.

Another Expanded Food Recall!

On Monday I posted about another herring recall, details are here:

I am beginning to think that buying fish (especially smoked or salted fish) in Israel is just seriously risky business.
This latest recall applies to the following product:

Herring Fillets, with a production date of 18/01/15 and an expiration date of 5/03/15, manufactured by  (Yisragal Metterman?) ישרגל מטרמן

The product may be contaminated with listeria, and consumers are asked not to eat it. Please return it to the store where purchased for a credit.

On Wednesday, this recall was expanded to include:

Vacuum Packed Herring Fillets (production date 26/01/15, expiration date 13/03/15

Matjes-Style ("signon matias") Herring Fillets (production date 26/01/15, expiration date 3/03/15)

Please return these products to the store where purchased for a refund.

The company is removing the products from store shelves, but please check dates carefully before buying.

 

Expanded Food Recall!

Last week I posted the following food recall, and it has been expanded (details below):

Yet again, Israelis who like fish need to check their fridges.

"HaTikva Smoked Fish" and The Ministry of Health have announced a recall of the following products:

1. Herring (labeled Matias) Fillets in oil - 480g packages, with a sell-by date of 6.4.15

2. "Palmida" in oil - 480g packages, with a sell-by date of 9.4.15

The affected products tested positive for listeria.

The products are being recalled from store shelves, and consumers who have purchased these products are asked NOT to eat them, but to return them to the store where purchased for a refund.

The recall has been expanded to include  ALL 480g packages of Herring Fillets (labeled Matjes/Matias) in oil with expiration dates between 7.3.15 and 9.4.15

Consumers who have purchased this product are asked NOT to eat them, and to return them to the store where purchased for a refund.

Food Recall (Israel)

I am beginning to think that buying fish (especially smoked or salted fish) in Israel is just seriously risky business.
This latest recall applies to the following product:

Herring Fillets, with a production date of 18/01/15 and an expiration date of 5/03/15, manufactured by  (Yisragal Metterman?) ישרגל מטרמן

 

The product may be contaminated with listeria, and consumers are asked not to eat it. Please return it to the store where purchased for a credit.

"

Food Recall! (Israel)

Yet again, Israelis who like fish need to check their fridges.

"HaTikva Smoked Fish" and The Ministry of Health have announced a recall of the following products:

1. Herring (labeled Matias) Fillets in oil - 480g packages, with a sell-by date of 6.4.15

2. "Palmida" in oil - 480g packages, with a sell-by date of 9.4.15

The affected products tested positive for listeria.

The products are being recalled from store shelves, and consumers who have purchased these products are asked NOT to eat them, but to return them to the store where purchased for a refund.

No camera, so no pictures...

My friend's freezer broke. She had a package of fish fillets in there, but her family won't eat that fish, so she didn't know what to do with it. I happily offered to help... With Pesach coming, I need to buy some shmura matza that costs more than most cuts of meat! I need to save my shekels. Who am I to turn down a package of free fish? (And she gave me some other things too! Thank you friend! You know who you are!)

She recommended grinding up and making gefilte fish with it, but after I drained off all the excess water, rinsed the fillets, patted them dry... I was about to set up my food processor.

But then I decided that if I wasn't an Ashkenazi Jew I would never dream of grinding up my fish, adding vegetables, eggs, sugar etc to it. If I lived somewhere where people fished, I would probably do something else with this fish. EVEN if it tastes a bit too fishy for sensitive pallets...

I've been reading a book about a family who lives on the Bayou (in Louisiana) and they eat lots of fish. Lots of fish fried up Cajun style in a cast iron pan. And I figured, why not? So I made some spicy fried fish. And that Cayenne Pepper really helps to cover up the fishiness of this particular type of fish.

I know fried fish is not the healthiest, and should really not be eaten often. Don't worry, we don't eat fried fish very often at all - Maybe two or three times a year! I should think we'll be ok.

Here's my batter recipe:

2 eggs was enough for the whole package of fish - beaten. in it's own bowl

breading: 1 c. cornmeal, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp granulated garlic, a generous amount of parsley, 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper. You can add more cayenne, or add ground black pepper (I ran out of black pepper and keep forgetting to put it on my shopping list. I would have used it had it been here in the house. Long story how I ran out of black pepper. It involves black pepper all over the kitchen counter and floor and LOTS of sneezing!)

I dipped the fillets in egg, then in the breading. Then I fried them in oil in my cast iron fry pan (already hot before adding the fish). Cook on both sides till golden and even some flecks of black from the pan are usually considered ok when using cast iron.

It tastes great, by the way!

Oh and I don't have my camera handy today. My husband took it to work. Or I totally would have posted pictures...