Customers Stew As Kosher Meat Gets Scarce, Prices Rise

CHICAGO (WBBM) - Kosher poultry and meat prices have increased 25 to 30 percent in Chicago since the giant federal immigration raid shut down the Agriprocessors, Inc. Kosher meat packing plant last May in Postville, Iowa.

The raid left at least 300 workers facing deportation and criminal charges and shut down the largest employer in the Iowa town where food pantries are now scrambling to feed the unemployed.

The manager of Hungarian Kosher Foods at 4020 West Oakton in Skokie says supplies are holding up fairly well although sometime there are problems filling deliveries early in the week.

Sanford Abramowitz says the biggest problem is for Kosher meat consumers in small towns which used to be served by prepackaged meats from Agriprocessors.

Abramowitz says he now has customers driving in from as far as Indianapolis and Cincinnati to ensure their stocks of Kosher poultry and meat for the coming Jewish holiday.

Rabbi Sholom Fishbane, Kosher Administrator for the Chicago Rabbinical Council says he's getting calls daily from meat retailers seeking Kosher suppliers to keep their customers happy.

He says he's added ten new rabbis to his team of food inspectors that oversee the slaughter houses and ensure meat is prepared in line with Biblical instructions.