Agriprocessors Update

In response to the Agriprocessor's kosher-meat scandal, and in wake of the recent Conservative initiative to devise an "ethical standards" hechsher, the Rabbinical Council of America has announced that it will devise its own set of guidelines which combine kashrut and Jewish ethics. According to the RCA, these new guidelines are intended for Jewish businesses and the kosher meat industry alike in an attempt to reform previous mishaps and to prevent future problems.

Unlike the Conservative's Hechsher Tzedek, which certifies Jewish food produces that meet certain ethical standards such as wages and animal welfare, the RCA's program merely provides a list of guidelines outlining the principles of Jewish business ethics. The guidelines are not compulsory, and the RCA has yet to decide whether it will publicize which companies uphold the guidelines. The RCA has also stated that it will convince companies to sign an agreement which ties their kosher certification to state and federal laws and regulations, with penalties for companies that violate the agreement.

In other, related news, Jacobson Staffing, a firm which provided half the work-force for the kosher meet producer's Postville, IA plant, has suspended relations with Agriprocessor's, taking with them 450 of the meat producer's employees. The staffing company has refused to comment on their actions.