Several new ice cream and frozen yogurt stores have opened in Chicago and its surrounding countryside. Some are standalone stores, and some are located in shopping malls.

Most of these stores claim to sell Kosher food certified by the Chicago Rabbinical Council or other reliable bodies, and there are even signs that this is indeed the case. But regrettably, some products they sell, while Kosher-certified in their sealed containers at the factory, are actually stored uncertified. These certifications apply only to the unopened ice cream and yogurt listed on the certificate, not necessarily to the store itself. It is not enough to ask a store clerk merely whether an item is Kosher-certified, because they may not know the specific requirements that affect an item's Kosher status. One must confirm that the actual product is in its original sealed container, and be sure that the product in the container or soft-serve machine is the same as what you see in the original factory packaging box, not just a "box marked Kosher."

In some cases, the scoop must first be cleaned. When buying other products, such as cones, toppings or other additives, you must also check whether they are Kosher. Other items, such as cakes and novelty foods, may come from another outside source, so you must be careful when buying such items. Because you cannot assume that the store has not changed since your last visit, you must carefully check every time you shop at the store! Many Kosher-related issues arise in uncertified stores. These are just some common problems.

The average person may not know all the Jewish laws, so it is more advisable to recommend frequenting a reliable, Jewish-supervised store. In the Chicago area, you can choose a store supervised by the cRc - Chicago Rabbinical Council; in other areas, you can choose a store supervised by your local Orthodox Jewish council with a reliable Jewish certificate.

As follows: some ice cream stores in the Chicago area have obtained cRc - Chicago Rabbinical Council certification. All items sold at these places are Chicago Rabbinical Council dairy. In most cases, these items are Cholov Stam. Some places may offer options such as Cholov Yisroel. Some cRc - Chicago Rabbinical Council-certified restaurants may also offer ice cream.

Only these listed ice cream stores are currently cRc-certified!

1. Chocolate Counter Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, 4041 W Dempster St, Skokie, Illinois

2. Cinnaholic and Flat-Top Ice Cream, 4999 Old Orchard Center, Suite B17, Skokie

3. Dairy Star, 3472 W Devon, Lincolnwood

4. Dunkin' Donuts/Ice Cream, 3132 W Devon, Chicago

5. Ema's Bagel Cafe, 9306 Skokie Blvd, Skokie

6. Gretel's Ice Cream, 1347 Shermer Rd, Northbrook

FAQ

Why be cautious about ice cream and frozen yogurt stores even if they claim Kosher certification?
Because these certifications apply only to the unopened ice cream and yogurt listed on the certificate, not necessarily to the store itself. Merely asking a clerk whether an item is certified is not enough, because they may not know the specific requirements affecting Kosher status. One must confirm the actual product is in its original sealed container and ensure the product in the container or soft-serve machine matches the original factory packaging; in some cases the scoop must be cleaned first; cones, toppings, additives, cakes, etc., must also be checked (they may come from another outside source). It is advisable to frequent a reliable Jewish-supervised store (such as one supervised by the cRc in the Chicago area).