Kosher Style Eating
Judy Seybold, MS, RDN, LD, CLC
Chief Nutrition Officer
Kosher-certification is one of the most frequently used claims on new products in the U.S., which is the leader of global kosher sales. You can’t walk down a grocery aisle without noticing the kosher certification symbol on numerous products.
What are kosher foods? The term kosher means fit or proper in Hebrew. Kosher foods conform to the Jewish dietary regulations of kashrut (dietary law) instructing specific rules to be followed regarding food preparation and the foods a Jewish person may eat. Interestingly, the majority of people that buy kosher are not doing it for religious reasons. 80% of all kosher food sales are outside of the traditional Jewish market according to the Orthodox Union. More than 12 million consumers are choosing kosher for perceived health benefits.
Consumers are looking for allergen-free, vegan foods with a clean label, and kosher fits that need. The additional certification of pareve also lets consumers know it is free of meat and dairy. Pareve foods appeal to vegans and those with lactose intolerance or an allergy to dairy foods.
Shop Sifter for products that are Kosher certified by an authorized rabbinical organization
People gravitate to kosher products for many reasons other than religion. These reasons may not be substantiated, but they do drive sales:
- Cleanliness: Stringent guidelines and supervision of their production may give the impression that the products are cleaner.
- Gourmet options: An increase in gourmet kosher foods that weren’t traditionally available has ignited growth.
- Ethical reasons: Non-vegetarians may buy kosher because the kosher laws require the humane treatment and slaughter of animals.
- Allergen-free: Avoiding allergens such as shellfish or milk is another reason they are so popular.
- Vegan/vegetarian: Pareve certification makes it easy to identify food that doesn’t contain meat or dairy.
- Demand: Food companies want to meet consumer demand for kosher products and increase their variety and production of kosher-certified foods.
- Food safety: The processing of meat and poultry according to kosher rules may decrease some disease-causing bacteria.
- Additive-free: mMny consumers are concerned about additives in food. Certain colorants like carmine, which is derived from an insect, aren’t considered kosher, so it could not appear in any kosher foods.
- Lactose intolerance: people with lactose intolerance may choose pareve products since they are free from dairy.
Foods are certified kosher to assure consumers that food products and ingredients meet all kosher requirements. All kosher certifications are not the same. The reputability of the certifying agency plays a large role in the popularity of products, but the rules governing kosher certification are uniform. Here is a general outline of the steps for certification according to The Good Food Institute.
Kosher Certification Process
- Application: Manufacturers complete an application from the certifying agency.
- Ingredient check: A full list of ingredients for each product is provided to the kosher-certifying agency.
- Production facilities check: The kosher-certification agency visits the manufacturing facilities to confirm production adheres to kosher requirements.
- Contract signing: Once the product is aligned with the agency's stipulations, a contract is signed. The manufacturer can then print packaging with the certifying agency’s seal.
- Ongoing supervision: Kosher-certifying agencies regularly inspect facilities unannounced to ensure manufacturers are adhering to kosher production requirements. Failure to adhere to kosher requirements will result in a recall of the product.
Kosher diets are not necessarily more beneficial from a nutrition perspective. However, the full disclosure of ingredients and careful screening of ingredients and preparation are driving the adherence to kosher. Some believe kosher foods are cleaner, healthier, taste better, and are even safer since they are produced under stricter supervision. In addition, full transparency is an added benefit for many following a kosher diet. As demand continues to increase for all these reasons, expect to see more kosher products on the market along with more companies becoming kosher certified.
Work with a registered dietitian to help create healthy meal plans that include kosher products and meet your ethics and health concerns.
Additional Resources