An increasing number of Jews consume only Cholov Yisrael (milking supervised by a rabbi) products, contributing to sales that may be as high as $250 million in the US.
But many observant Jews consume dairy products that are kosher but may not have been supervised during the milking process. They rely on a ruling by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, the legendary scholar of Jewish law, that permitted the non-supervised milk because of governmental inspection of dairies that verifies that milk from non-kosher animals is not present.
Some kashrus officials rely on other halachic opinions that simply follow the majority, which in the US is milk that is mostly from cows.
In recent years the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has moved to broaden the definition to include milk from non-kosher animals prompting Illinois State Senator Ira Silverstein (D–Chicago) to successfully amend the Grade A Pasteurized Milk and Milk Products Act to “define labeling to address Jewish dietary issues.”
While the FDA’s expanded definition includes other hooved mammals besides cows and goats, Senate Bill 1228 amends the law to prohibit the sale of other sources of milk and milk products other than that from cows and goats if they are not labeled. As a result, camel milk would not be considered kosher.
In a statement, the Chicago Rabbinical Council, headed by Rabbi Sholem Fishbane, applauded the move, but still expressed concern with the FDA’s definition of milk.
Other kashrus officials reached by KosherToday also expressed the hope that the FDA would narrow the definition of milk to cows and goats, but did not see any immediate problem with the kosher status of dairy products. One official said simply: “Ask any American where milk comes from and they will tell you from a cow.”
Rav Moshe gave his psak for a certain time in history when cholov yisrael was hard to come by, and the psak was for mothers and young children and the elderly. It wasn’t meant to be used as a loophole to enjoy more ice-cream brands. Now we see again in action how the cholov yisroel condition is there to guard one from treif milk,. Will people who have gotten used to their chalav stam delights have the sacrifice to give them up? Let us hope that they will, for the sake of the purity of their souls and the unity… Read more »
Nugen cholov yisroel drinks are so good. You guys got it right
You misread #1 comment.
I agree with #1 the header on this article is misleading.
What I read, this Un-complicates it,,
what about milk from cows that had certain procedures which render them treif? Without a mashgiach on premises, the milk from these cows are included.
Exactly, we’re living in the US of 2015 where Cholov Yisroel is readily accessible… Therefore, in order to preclude any complications it would make sense with keeping to an adherence to a Cholov Yisroel standard, which even Reb Moshe felt that a Baal Nefesh (a scrupulous individual) should adhere to.
It seems to uncomplicate it?