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AKO Post Pesach Shopping Information 2024

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To Rabbonim in the USA,
Attached please find the AKO (ASSOCIATION OF KASHRUS ORGANIZATIONS) Post Pesach Mechiras Chometz information sheet for Rabbonim.

AKO is the umbrella group that joins together all the major hashgachos and approved local and private hashgachos that meet their basic standards worldwide to collaborate.

AKO has various specialty committees with representatives of different hasgachos to discuss and coordinate on their inyan. The committee for commercial food industry mechiras chometz has been researching and verifying the information on this list for several months now.

This year there were some particular challenges and Rabbi Moshe Dovid Lebovitz really stepped up to help bring them to a successful conclusion.
Post Pesach Committee: Rabbi Yaakov Teichman -OK, Rabbi Tzvi Rosen -Star-K, Rabbi Dovid Cohen -CRC, Rabbi Yaakov Luban -OU, Rabbi Eli Gersten -OU, Rabbi Moshe Dovid Lebovitz -Kof-K, Rabbi Sholem Fishbane -CRC
View and print the AKO Supermarket Chometz List here
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
Another major area of concern as discussed the recent Kav Halacha Pesach kashrus Panel is Whiskey and Schnapps from brands that do not have a hechsher. There are several brands that we are told a re Jewish owned and not properly sold which can cause the products to be assur for years as it is typically aged. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to only consume whiskey, bourbon, schnapps, beer etc with a reliable hechsher.

Some common brands that have serious concerns and may contain Chometz Shavar Alov Pesach or other kashrus issues:
Kirkland Signature -Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Rip Van Winkle, Trader Joe’s Bourbon, Hobble Creek Whiskey, Canadian whisky (my contain wine), some Chivas Regal, some flavors of Budweiser and Bud Light, some Jack Daniel’s, Barton Brands, Kentucky Gentleman, Some Crown Royal, see this notice from 2010 for more info.

Note: Liqueurs are, by definition, flavored drinks and require certification. All Brandy must have a hechsher as well for there is wine in it.

Some Common Brands that are Certified or listed as accepted are:
Beer: Due to increasing complexity within the beer industry, leading agencies can only recommend only beers with a hechsher.

  • Coors -OU
  • Samuel Adams -Star K
  • Heineken (unflavored only)
  • Miller’s – OU
  • Budweiser (unflavored only)
  • Corona (unflavored only)
Bourbon:
  • Jim Beam -Only when bearing the OU
  • Terebelo -Star K
  • Woodford Reserve (unflavored)
  • Wild Turkey Bourbon (unflavored)
  • Knob Creek (unflavored only)
  • Basil Hayden’s (unflavored)
  • Crown Royal -ONLY Reserve, Deluxe or Black
  • Chivas -ONLY 12, 18, 25, Royal Salute
Scotch:
  • Glen Moray
  • Glenmorangie – Only when bearing the OU
  • Glenrothes -Only when bearing KLBD
  • Tomintoul -Only when bearing the OU
  • some Glenlivet [Nadurra First Fill Selection, Founder’s Reserve] (only some versions are recommended!! most are NOT recommended for other kashrus issues)
  • some Glenfiddich [14 Year Old, Excellence 26 Year Old, Fire & Cane] (only some versions are recommended!! most are NOT recommended for other kashrus issues)
Vodka:
  • Absolut – OU
  • Belvedere  – OU
  • Grey Goose (only Unflavored)
  • Nemiroff – OU
  • Smirnoff -when bearing the KSA
  • Zachlawi -OU/COR
More extensive information is available on the Star-K or CRC Websites.

Kav Halacha Network hopes to be able to coordinate with the Hechshrim to provide a simple and easy to follow list of those alcoholic drinks which do have a reliable hechsher for the Rabbonim. This will go a long way in this area of kashrus.

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