Yes, Trader Joe’s Chocolate Chips are a great product and one that GKC promotes and uses often. So did anyone not hear the big news of these chips? If not, you missed big kosher news! Basically, the well-known and OK Pareve label on the semi-sweet chocolate chips is being changed to OK Dairy. GKC talked to both Trader Joe’s and the OK to get the real and correct information to share. What has changed? According to Trader Joe’s, the cleaning process has changed on the equipment that packages the chips. They used to use a wet wipe process to clean the machine before they packaged the OK Pareve chips. They recently, as in a few months ago, changed that process to a dry wipe process to decrease allergens and bacteria from developing. This change, caused the OK to change the hecksher. The product and ingredients are not dairy and have not been changed. In fact, most of the bags that people ran out to purchase have been made with this new process so technically should carry the OK Dairy label as well. Trader Joe’s did not know that this change would affect the hecksher or that the response would be so overwhelming. The marketing department said they may reevaluate the change based on the response. So keep up the facebook chatter and the letters and emails to Trader Joe’s. But for now, our favorite chocolate chip got a little messy.
Trader Joe’s Chocolate Chips
|
You forgot to mention that the bags will now include the allergy warning that they ‘may include milk or milk products’. The OK says that warning means TJ can include dairy in the product, or there may be concern that dairy could be added. This forces the OK to use a dairy hecksher.
STILL WAITING TO GET TO THEIR NEWLY OPENED NAPLES FLORIDA STORE 4 HOURS AWAY. PROBABLY WON’T MAKE IT BEFORE THE OLD BAGS ARE GONE.
THEY ALREADY CHANGED OVER TO THE OK-D LABELS 🙁
Trader Joes are owned by two German brothers, so I’m not surprised that the company wouldn’t understand what happens in the US when you change the label in that way. You’d think that the OK people would advise Trader Joes of the consquences when a product goes from being parve to dairy.
Trader Joes goes above and beyond in trying to carry as many kosher products as possible. They are extremely concerned about this situation and are reconsidering the changes. Additionally, they try and keep the prices low.
I agree with you, Trader Joe’s has been a wonderful addition for the Kosher cook. We hope that they find a solution with the manufacturer of the Chocolate Chips as they were the best parve chips on the market. Now that they are Dairy, I can not use them for Shabbat dinner or Shul kiddush meals.
Please, Please find a way to continue in the Parve way…