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NEWS
Cereal Information from the Guide to Chodosh, USA
by Mordecai Plaut
According to the latest update from the Guide (December 31),
General Mills Cereals sold in Israel, Europe and elsewhere
are made in the USA. Sometimes they are packed in Europe,
but they are still produced in the U.S. and sent in bulk
shipments to Europe. Therefore, the Chodosh cutoff dates
given in the Guide for General Mills cereals are good for
Israel and Europe as well.
The dating code for sale in the USA is an open date, as
given in the Guide. Overseas, a different code is often
used. For example, the Chodosh packing date for oats such as
Cheerios is November 6. Before that date no Chodosh oats
were packed, but cereals packed after that date may be
Chodosh. The packing date code for that date is E006
(E=November in alphabetic order, where A=June, B=July,
0=year, 06=day of the month).
According to the Guide, for General Mills (OU certified)
Honey Nut Cheerios, the first four digits of the packing
code must be C025 or lower. For other Cheerios products
(that all contain oats), the code must be E006 or lower.
General Mills wheat germ may be from spring wheat. The
probable Chodosh packing date for wheat germ is August 25.
In some cases the code may refer to the packing date, and in
others the code is an expiration code that refers to the
last date of sale.
The expiration code for regular Cheerios, Apple Cinnamon
Cheerios, Frosted Cheerios, Clusters, Kix, Trix, Team and
Toast Crunch is 248 days after packing. For the oats in the
ingredients, 248 days after November 6 gives a code of July
12, 2001 (B112). For wheat germ, 248 days after August 25 is
April 30, 2001 (K130). Capt'n Crunch, Lucky Charm, Raisin
Nut Bran, Total, the expiration code is 279 days after
packing. From November 6, 279 days is August 12, 2001
(C112). From August 25, 279 days is May 31, 2001 (L131).
Honey Nut and MultiGrain Cheerios, Oat Meal Raisin Crisp,
Crispy Wheat and Raisins, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Triple,
Oatmeal Crisp with Apple Almond and Raisins, Cocoa Puffs all
have a code 310 days after packing. For November 6, 310 days
is September 12, 2001 (D112). For August 25, the code is
July 1 01 (B101). Golden Grahams, Millenios, Wheat Chex and
Corn Chex have a code 372 days after packing. November 6
has the code November 13, 2001 (E113). For August 25, the
code is September 1, 01 (D101).
The wheat used in Total cereals is winter wheat. However,
the list of ingredients may include other items that have
the potential of being Chodosh. The code for Total is 279
after packing. For example, if the ingredients list wheat
germ use a probable Chodosh code of May 31, 2001 (L131), and
if it lists oats, use August 12, 2001 (C112).
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