> as to the sugar/kosher question........
> *some* sugar is refined using pig blood (or was.... I don't know if they
> still do) but that sugar is NOT kosher.  most of the sugar should have a
> small "K" or a "U in a circle" or something indicating that it is NOT
> processed with animal product.  this sugar is kosher.

Just for the record, any product labelled with JUST a "K" may not be kosher. It
is not a protected trademark (unlike the O-U), and there are instances reported
of less-than-reputable manufacturers putting a K on their labels just to
increase sales or out of ignorance. ("We thought EVERYONE who makes this puts a
K on the label!") This is NOT Urban Legend, there are cases on file with the
Union of Orthodox Rabbis (which is the organization that trademarks and
licenses the use of the O-U). Only a clearly identifiable trademark/service
mark (the O-U, the Chof-K, KVHR, etc) identifies a product as certified kosher.

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Avraham haRofeh
mka Randy Goldberg MD