Chief Rabbinate enforcement head Rabbi Rafi Yochai published a document last year, warning rabbis and kashrut inspectors not to use artichokes, imported from Italy. Laboratory tests conducted by the Rabbinate found them highly infested with small worms, and they were therefore not approved by the Chief Rabbinate's import department.
Since then, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel keeps waging a quiet battle against restaurants and businesses joining the Tzohar Rabbinical Association alternate kashrut network, informing the public that a product prohibited by the Chief Rabbinate for consumption is being served in a restaurant enjoying Tzohar certification.
In recent days, after it became known that a restaurant in the centre of the country using the Tzohar kashrut service was serving the artichokes, the Chief Rabbinate emphasized that the ban is still valid.
Israelnationalnews.com noted the response of the Tzohar rabbis' organization: "Tzohar Food Inspection supervisors, led by Kashrus Department head Rabbi Oren Duvdevani, are meticulous and uncompromising supervisors of the products in the businesses to provide diners the right to enjoy kosher food and to increase kosher food in Israel."
