Kashrut (whose pronunciation in Yiddish is “Kosher”) means “correct or appropriate to be consumed”. It refers to the Jewish precepts that determine exactly what food can and cannot be eaten; that is, which comply with the precepts of religion and which do not. Those who fulfill the precepts of the Kashrut are named Kosher.
Therefore, the Kashrut concept refers to the set of Jewish dietary laws found in the Torah (which is the text that contains the law and the identity heritage of the Israelite people). These are millennial old laws that determine foods that are pure and therefore are fit for consumption. In addition, these laws also indicate how they should be consumed and adapt to the latest food trends in the market.
Therefore, the Kosher certification indicates that certain pect the precepts of the Jewish religion and they are considered pure and apt to be ingested by the practitioners of that religion. It groups from the composition and the ingredients of the product to the production process, putting a special attention on the preparation, and in the cleaning of the makeup as well.
Food is classified into three categories:
- Dairy products (jalabí).
- Meat (basarí).
- Neutrals (parve).
Neutral foods can be consumed with dairy and meat products, but the prohibition on mixing meat and dairy products is excluded.
As an example, some considerations included in this certification are:
- Meat food allowed are ruminant animals and split hoof. Allowed birds are those that are not scavengers. In both cases, animals must be slaughtered according to Jewish regulations. The flesh of a pure animal, slaughtered according to regulations, having passed all control, becomes fit for consumption and receives the certificate of Kashrut.
- As for fish, to be considered Kosher aquatic animals should have scales and fins.
- Insects and worms are prohibited, as is seafood.
- The process of making wine must be carried out in its entirety by the Jews from the moment they step on the grapes to its bottling.
- Raisin consumption is not allowed, as they are coated with a non-Kosher base animal glycerin.
- Chips can not be cooked in the fryer in oil that has not been pasteurised and deodorised in the equipment used for the production of tallow.
- The equipment used for the production of hot foods that are not Kosher may not be used for the production of Kosher products if the Koshering has not been realized.
What makes a food product Kosher certified
A kosher food product is considered certified when it meets the strict requirements of Jewish dietary law (kashrut), verified through a thorough certification process by an accredited kosher certification agency. Key factors that make a food product kosher certified include:
- Kosher ingredients: All ingredients must be kosher and sourced from approved suppliers. For example, no non-kosher animal derivatives or prohibited mixtures such as meat and dairy. Ingredients are carefully reviewed and documented in certifications, like the OU’s Schedule A list.
- Compliant processing: The food must be produced, processed, and packaged on equipment and in facilities that adhere to kosher standards. This means strict segregation of meat and dairy equipment, proper kosherization procedures if equipment is shared, and prevention of cross-contamination.
- Adherence to Kosher categories: Products must conform to kosher categories: meat, dairy, or pareve (neutral). Animal products must come from kosher-slaughtered animals and be processed according to all requirements.
- Labeling and symbol use: Certified products are authorized to display a kosher certification symbol or hechsher on their packaging, signaling their compliance to consumers. Symbols usually indicate whether a product is dairy, meat, pareve, or certified for Passover.
About Managing Kosher Certification
The Kosher Orthodox Union (OU) is the world’s largest and most recognised kosher certification agency, certifying more than 800,000 products produced in more than 8,500 plants located in 100 countries around the world.
The OU (Orthodox Union) seal is from the USA and is the most recognised. A product with this seal ensures that it has been made with Kosher ingredients and processed in an exclusive Kosher food kit.
How to apply for a Kosher certification?
According to the OU, the application process for Kosher certification follows these steps:
- Application: The applicant must fill out an online application form with logistical information about the company and the plant. A Rabbinic Coordinator will be assigned and in charge of the application, guiding the applicant through the Kosher certification process.
- Facility inspection: A qualified Rabbinic Field Representative (RFR) will visit the facility to observe operations and assess the feasibility of certifying your products. The RFR will submit a detailed report to OU headquarters.
- Review and assessment: The application and the inspection report are reviewed by the Rabbinic Coordinator.
- Contract and certification terms: If certification is feasible, the RC will draft a contract specifying all kosher certification requirements and fees. The applicant will review, sign, and return the contract. Once accepted, the applicant will receive a formal letter of certification.
- Label approval: The applicant must submit the product labels with the OU symbol for final approval to ensure proper kosher designation (pareve, dairy, or meat).
- Ongoing compliance and support: The process includes ongoing supervision through periodic facility visits by Rabbinic Field Representatives to verify continuous compliance with kosher laws.
Kosher symbols and certification labels
Once certificated, Kosher products must include kosher symbols and labels that visually communicate the status according to Jewish dietary laws. Different symbols and accompanying letters clarify what category of kosher the product falls into, enabling consumers to make informed choices. Focusing on the Orthodox Union (OU):
- OU: Indicates the product is kosher pareve (also spelled “parve”), meaning it contains neither meat nor dairy ingredients. This product is neutral and may be eaten with either meat or dairy meals.
- OU-D: Signifies the product is dairy or has been processed with dairy equipment. It contains dairy ingredients or derivatives and cannot be mixed with meat products.
- OU-DE: Means the product was made on dairy equipment, but may not contain dairy ingredients.
- OU-Meat or OU-Glatt: Indicates the product contains meat or poultry ingredients or was produced on meat equipment. “Glatt” refers to a stricter meat quality standard.
- OU-Fish: Denotes the product contains kosher fish ingredients.
It is worth noting that there are other Kosher certification logos beyond the OU provided by diverse certification organizations, such as the Star-K or Kof-K.
The Kosher Market in the food industry
The Kosher market is estimated to be around $600 billion per year between products and ingredients.Muslims, vegetarians, vegans, people with allergies, etc. are also consumers of this type of products.
In addition, products with the Kosher certification are perceived as healthy, natural and of better quality.
Among the countries with the highest demand for products are United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Australia, Argentina, Israel, Italy, Norway, Poland and South Africa.
The market in the United States
In the United States there are over 100,000 Kosher certified products, and about 7,500 new products are certified each year. In general, only 20% of its consumers are Jewish. Consumers of both Kosher and Halal products are less influenced by discounts.
It may interest you: The Halal certification in the food industry
The popularity of these products among non-Jews is due in part to the perception of Kashrut as a good quality label. Users worried about animal suffering are also consumers of Kosher products. In recent years, some Kosher products have been very popular, ahead of “natural”, “no additives or preservatives” and “organic” products.
The average number of Kosher products in supermarkets is 25,000 products. Many consumers say they would buy more often if there were more product diversity.
Important supermarkets such as Pathmark, Wal-Mart, Shoprite and Albertsons have Kosher product departments. Albertsons, for example, provides Kosher sections at its 1750 points of sale in the USA. The growth in consumption of Kosher products is mainly due to basic foods such as cookies, chocolates and snacks.
Kosher certification in Spain
Kosher certification is a tool of differentiation and competitive positioning at an international level in a market characterised by constant growth. This certification is important to promote exportation. Spain is a large manufacturer and exporter of food products, however, knowledge of export opportunities especially in the United States (the most important market for Kosher products) is unknown in Spain.
Kosher certification has a good reputation because it guarantees the quality of the products and is a competitive advantage in the large distribution of food.
The certification process covers all aspects of food production, from the ingredients used to the equipment used for production.
The Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain, through qualified personnel, supervises the Kashrut in Spain from the beginning of the production process until the packaging.