Kosher Certification
Kosher certification is a procedure by which a company makes sure that their food is kosher, or in other words, fit for consumption by observant Jews. Kosher refers to a religious dietary practice that is rooted in Jewish tradition. Contrary to accepted faith, kosher food does not refer to Jewish food. Even Thai food can be kosher if it is ready in accordance with kosher laws, just as Jewish food can be non-kosher if it is not ready in accordance with those laws.
Kosher products need kosher certified ingredients. Ingredient buyers identify kosher knowing that their supplier’s manufacturing procedure has been separately audited. This gives an additional level of comfort that is not always there with other certifications. In some supply chains manufacturers of certain elements have no choice but to certify for kosher if they are to qualify for inclusion on the buyers list.
Kosher laws are more complex than they look like, especially now that modern technology has come into play. Take for example, potato chips, which you’d think would be kosher since they aren’t prepared from foods forbidden by the Torah. Potato chips can really be considered non-kosher if they are fried in vegetable oil that was pasteurized and deodorized with tools that has been used for tallow production.
With kosher accreditation you’ll be capable to market your products to both kosher and mainstream markets. For instance, vegans and vegetarians may want to purchase goods that have not had any animal products in any part of its preparation, as anything kosher that contains meat, or has been prepared by tools used to get ready meat, is labeled consequently. This makes kosher products appealing to a wider audience and, because the demand for these products has risen in the last few years, it can help you make bigger your business.
Kosher Food can be grouped into three categories:
Foods that is always kosher. These are foods like fruits and vegetables that are not processed in any way.
Foods that are processed may be kosher if the ingredients and procedure used meet kosher criteria and are supervised by a dependable kosher authority.
Foods that can never be kosher, i.e. pork or shellfish.