Kosher Meat Shortage Possible After Immigration Raids On Largest Producer

The Forward reported yesterday on a potential shortage of kosher meat in the United States after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Monday conducted its largest workplace raid this year. Some 390 workers at the Postville, Iowa meat processing plant operated by AgriProcessors were arrested. Most were charged with criminal identity theft or fraud in hearings ending yesterday. (Radio Iowa.) AgriProcessors produces over half of the kosher beef sold in the U.S., and most of the production is from its Iowa plant. The interruption in meat production could have a particular impact in smaller communities where the only kosher meat sold by supermarkets is supplied by AgriProcessors, often under the Aaron's Best, Rubashkin and Supreme Kosher brand names. AgriProcessors has also been the subject of high profile labor and animal rights disputes in recent years. The disputes have led the Conservative movement of Judaism to create the Hechsher Tzedek Commission that is attempting to focus more on working conditions, wages, environmental impact and other ethical issues in the production of kosher meat. Meanwhile, an article from Wednesday's Jewish Week suggests that federal indictments against the owners of AgriProcesors could be in the offing.