Tnuva's Rabbi Ze'ev Veitman released a statement explaining the indirect business relationship between Tnuva and the non-kosher Tiv Taam company. He explained that in the course of manufacturing kosher meat in its new processing plant, "non-kosher meat is either caused by improper slaughter, or is found in the form of non-kosher animal parts. The solution for this meat is to sell it non-Jews. This will be supervised to ensure that it is not resold to places where Jews who observe kosher laws are liable to encounter it. One of the places that will buy the non-kosher meat from the non-Jews will be Tiv Taam, which is well-known as a non-kosher chain and many of whose customers are not Jewish. Tiv Taam has agreed that every package will be clearly marked in several places with the words Not Kosher. In addition, the price of the non-kosher meat will be the same as kosher meat, in order to avoid the temptation to buy non-kosher meat or to sell it as kosher meat."



Rabbi Veitman said that these arrangements were made in accordance with leading rabbis. "Tnuva has invested heavily in order to meet strict kosher requirements," he wrote, "and is making great efforts to avoid having consumers 'stumble' on the non-kosher meat that is a necessary by-product of kosher meat manufacturing."