Metro New Postville Charges Kosher slaughterhouses in Iowa, Nebraska cited in new complaints. Walk This Way" Sidewalk Sale I August 24th-26th Friday, Saturday & Sunday LINCOLN CENTER 101/2 & Greenfield, Oak Park Advance America A.J. Wright Aldi Ashley Stewart Baskin Robbins Book Beat Bread Basket Deli Brenda's Beans & Greens Budget Uniform Dollar Castle Dots Errol Sherman Footcare Instant Tax Service Jackie's Fashions Kmart LA Insurance Lincoln Barber Shop Lincoln Kosher Meats Lincoln Medical Center & Skin Care Magic Touch Beauty Shop Metropolitan Dry Cleaners Payless Shoe Source Radio Shack Rainbow Apparel Rite Aid Secretary of State Suit Den T Nails White Castle / Church's Chicken • • • 1293800 ,.. i .. _ • •r „I mow I Custom Window Treatments HunterDouglat window fashions Mini Blinds I Vertical Blinds Wood Blinds I Silhouettes Duettes I Luminettes I- Free In-Home Service • Free Professional Measure At No Obligation the Call today for a free in-home presentation 248-352-8622 SIDCT t: Itirdnery 21728 W Eleven Mile Rd. • 16 August 23 • 2007 JN crc: • Scu 4htieid, MI 48076 Alan Hitsky Associate Editor A griprocessors in Postville, Iowa, the nation's largest kosher slaughterhouse, has been accused by the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union of food safety violations. The plant, which produces kosher products under the Aaron's Best and Rubashkin labels, among others, is one of the sources for kosher meat in the Detroit area that is approved by the Council of Orthodox Rabbis of Greater Detroit (COR). Several years ago, after the Cornbelt Packing plant was destroyed in a fire in Detroit, Agriprocessors was the main source of kosher meat for the Detroit area. Since that time, however, additional sources are being used. Rabbi Joseph D. Krupnick, kashrus director for the COR, said Morris Kosher Poultry in Hazel Park is bringing in Alle Packing (Meal Mart) products from Long Island; lamb and veal for the area comes from Chiapetti in Chicago; and Cornbelt, under Sammy Flatt, kosher slaughters 30 head of cattle and some lamb once a week at a plant in Millingon, Mich., east of Frankenmuth. Sold Locally Agriprocessors' products are sold at some area supermarkets and at the Superior Kosher Meat counter in the One Stop Kosher supermarket in Southfield. Superior owner Shloime Luss did not respond to a phone call from the Jewish News. Agriprocessors was the subject of an investigation in 2005 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Orthodox Union (OU) after People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals claimed that Agriprocessors slaughtered inhumanely and not in accordance with Jewish law. Local rab- bis who viewed a film of the slaughter- ing procedure did not agree with the charges, but some changes were made at the plant after the USDA and OU investigations. The United Food & Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) based its Aug. 9 accusations on USDA Food Safety Inspection Service records and two USDA letters of warning. The UFCW said the documents show "a pattern of food safety issues including recalled products, mad cow related safety concerns and repeated fecal and bile contamination." James Blau, assistant director for the UFCW strategic resources department in Washington, D.C., said the union was motivated to publicize the charges because "part of what we do is to monitor the industry. Because of our employees, we want a healthy industry and the track record of this company reflects poorly on the industry." Agrisprocessors was the subject of a 2001 book by Stephen Bloom, Postville: A Clash of Cultures in Heartland America. The book described the divide between the native Iowans and the Lubavitch Jews from New York who own and work at the plant. Nebraska Trouble People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) filed a complaint in July against another plant owned by Rubashkin. Sheridan County, Neb., officials have appointed a special prosecutor to investigate PETA claims that cows at the Local Pride LLC plant in Gordon remained alive up to two minutes after their throats were slit. If the throat is cut properly, death is almost instanta- neous. The plant opened in June 2006 under an agreement between the Rubashkin family of New York and the Oglala Sioux of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. PETA had conducted an undercover investigation last spring similar to its 2004 investigation at Agriprocessors. A USDA spokesperson said a spe- cialist was sent to the Local Pride plant, but no violations of the U.S. Humane Methods of Slaughter Act were found at that time. The USDA continues to monitor the plant. Shlomo Rubashkin was quoted in an Associated Press report as saying that he was unaware of any problems and the slaughtering process conforms with USDA guidelines. I