Pareve
Neutral foods with no meat or milk: fruit, vegetables, grains, oils, sugar, fish and eggs. The most common status in industry.
Kosher certification
What kosher certification is and why export markets require it
A clear guide for manufacturers and export teams.
In short
A food is kosher when it complies with kashrut, the Jewish dietary laws. Kosher certification is issued by a rabbinic authority after reviewing a plant’s ingredients, processes and equipment. Export markets require it because importers, distributors and manufacturers need it to sell, or to keep their own certification.
What “kosher” means
Kosher (Hebrew kasher) means “fit” or “proper”. It refers to foods that comply with kashrut: which animals may be eaten and how they are slaughtered, the separation of meat and milk, freedom from insects, and specific rules for products such as wine and grape derivatives.
For a manufacturer, kashrut is not a matter of quality or hygiene as such, but of ingredient sources and how equipment is used. An excellent product may not be kosher because of an additive of animal origin or a line shared with another product.
Kosher product categories
Every certified product has a status, which must be shown on the label.
Dairy
Contains milk or milk derivatives, or is made on dairy equipment. Usually marked with a “D” on the label.
Meat
Contains meat or meat derivatives, which must come from permitted animals and kosher slaughter.
Kosher for Passover
Fit for Passover: free of chametz and subject to additional controls.
What a kosher certifier reviews in a plant
Certification goes beyond the recipe. The certifier reviews the whole chain:
- Ingredients and suppliers: every ingredient, additive, flavouring and processing aid, with its manufacturer and certificate.
- Process and equipment: what runs on each line, what is shared with other products and how it is cleaned.
- Storage and receiving: that what enters the plant is what was approved.
- Labelling: that the symbol and status only appear on certified products.
- Follow-up: periodic visits and prior approval of any change.
Why export markets require it
Importer requirement
In the US, Israel, the UK and France, many importers and retailers only buy products with a kosher certificate they accept.
To sell as an ingredient
A kosher-certified manufacturer abroad can only use certified ingredients. Without your certificate, you are off their approved supplier list.
A wider consumer base
In some markets, kosher products are also bought by non-Jewish consumers who see the symbol as an extra layer of control.
Third-party oversight
The certificate shows buyers that an independent third party reviews your process regularly.
Certificate, letter and symbol: what you receive
The certificate is the document you show your customers: it names the company, plant, products, status and validity period. The symbol is the mark that can appear on packaging if the agreement allows it. If you sell to industry, the certificate is usually enough. If you sell to consumers, the symbol on the label is what shoppers and retailers look for.
Keep reading
Has a customer asked you for kosher certification?
Tell us what you make and where you sell it. We will reply with the next steps and a quote.