As the Islamic holy month of Ramadan approaches in 2026, a growing movement among Muslims is focusing on consumer choices as a form of solidarity with Palestine. This shift is prompting increased scrutiny of the origins of products, particularly dates, a traditional food consumed during the breaking of the quick.
Concerns center around dates produced by Israeli companies, leading to calls for boycotts and a demand for greater transparency in labeling. Several resources are available to help consumers identify brands to avoid, based on their connection to Israel.
Identifying Dates from Israel
According to information from the Boycott, Divestment, Sanction (BDS) movement and the Islamic Human Right Commision, several key indicators can help identify dates originating from Israel. These include:
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
- A barcode beginning with 729, the country code for Israel, on the product packaging.
- References to Israeli export companies, such as Medjool Plus, Carmel Agrexco, Mehadri and Hadiklaim.
- It’s important to note that not all Medjool dates are produced in Israel; further investigation of the manufacturer’s identity on the packaging is necessary.
- Avoiding dates lacking clear information about the producer and country of origin. Some products claim to be from Palestine without providing detailed contact information for the producer or importer.
- Dates sold by Israeli companies are often priced lower due to government subsidies.
How to Verify a Date’s Origin
To avoid purchasing dates from Israel, consumers can take several steps when shopping. These include:
- Checking the product label for the country of origin. If not listed, consumers can verify the information through online resources.
- Identifying the company selling the dates. Hadiklaim is one of the largest Israeli exporters.
- Examining the packaging closely, as Hadiklaim dates are also sold under supermarket brands like King Solomon, Jordan River, Jordan River Bio-Top, and MyJool.
- Looking for Palestinian brands such as Zaytoun, Yaffa, and Holy Land, which are labeled “Grown in Palestine.”
List of Israeli Date Brands
According to Within Our Lifetime (WOL) and the Boycat app, a tool used to identify companies that support or do not support Israel, the following brands are associated with Israel:
- Bomaja
- Bonbierra
- Brousse & Fils
- Carmel Agrexco
- Delilah
- Desert Diamond
- Hadiklaim
- Jordan River
- Jordan Valley
- Jordan Plains
- Anna and Sarah
- Urban Platter
- King Solomon
- MyJool
- Mehadrin
- Nava Fresh
- Premium Medjoul
- Rapunzel
- Red Sea
- Royal Treasure
- Fancy Medjoul
- Kalahari
- Tamara Barhi
- Urban Platter
- Paradise Dates
- Shams
- Star Dates
- Mehadrin
- Food to Live
- Star Dates
- Sincerely Nuts
- Erel Dates Ltd
- Agrofood Marketing
- Star Dates
- Yoffi
- Karsten Farms
(inf/inf)
This increased awareness of product origins comes as Israel prepares for Ramadan 2026 as a critical security period, according to Yaffa News. The Jerusalem Governorate has also warned of planned restrictions on Palestinian worshippers seeking to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month, further fueling calls for solidarity and conscientious consumerism.
