The principle of Kosher is derived from Kashrut – Jewish laws relating to which foods Jews can and cannot eat and how those foods must be prepared and eaten. Kosher food is fit, proper and correct in terms of these laws.
One of the critical components of the Jewish dietary laws is the prohibition of consuming meat and milk together. This condition extends to waiting several hours after eating meat before eating dairy foods. A complete separation between meat and dairy is strictly maintained in the kitchen, with separate sets of crockery, cutlery and utensils, which are washed in separate bowls and dried with different cloths. For products that are not specifically meaty or dairy, to avoid complication, the preference is for neutral – ‘pareve’ as it is known – containing no meat or milk derivatives.
For a food product to be certified Kosher, every ingredient and every process used to prepare the product must be appraised by Rabbinic experts for compliance with these laws. Thus, the Kosher consumer can buy confidently, knowing that the certified product meets all their requirements.
The Orthodox Union, founded in 1924, is the oldest Kosher certifying organisation and owes its early growth to expanding the Coca Cola business, which required Kosher certification for the retail market.
Over time, the process of Kosher certification has been radically affected by the complex changes in the food industry, with more than 80% of the products offered by the manufacturing industry now containing pre-processed ingredients. Industrialisation presents marvellous opportunities. However, the inexorable pace of evolving industrial procedures and the complexity of foodstuffs and ingredients also present significant challenges for the Kosher certification process. The Orthodox Union has met these challenges with flexibility and innovation, employing field operatives who have the necessary technical knowledge.
In the past, Kosher food was usually basic staples. More recently, interest has been growing in Kosher food for the more health-conscious and savvy consumer, creating a new and very different generation of Kosher products. The popularity of Kosher food is not limited to Jewish people. When a product or establishment is certified Kosher, consumers know it complies with complex, strict Kosher food laws, which preclude any adulteration. In addition, as equipment needs to be thoroughly cleaned, Kosher food is also known for its high standards of cleanliness. In fact, Kosher has become synonymous with quality, purity, and hygiene, making it a natural fit for a company like ours, which never settles for anything less than the best.
Our Commitment to Kosher
We are producing the relevant product as per Kosher standards. When the food is produced under Kosher standards, relevant certificates from the raw materials suppliers are obtained. In addition, we continuously monitor our production companies in line with our standards and provide training and consultancy services. Our Kosher production is monitored and checked by Kosher inspectors to meet Kosher certification needs. We also abide by other rules, such as Passover, a celebrated event for Jews where a special diet is designed to meet the requirements.