How is kosher food classified?

Kosher food can broadly be divided into three groups: innocuous foods, which are always accepted as kosher (such as fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, water, sugar and salt); foods kosher under supervision (such as oils, glycerin and corn syrup, if the ingredients and processes used meet the kosher definition and are under reliable kosher supervision); and foods that can never be kosher (such as shellfish and pork, both forbidden by kosher law). In addition, all kosher foods fall into three categories: meat (only the meat of kosher animals such as cattle, sheep, chicken and turkey, slaughtered by a specially trained shochet), dairy (must come from kosher animals), and pareve (neutral, containing no meat or dairy ingredients and able to be eaten with either). Kosher law prohibits eating meat and milk together.

What documents does a company receive after cRc kosher certification?

After successful certification, a company receives three documents: Schedule A (a list of pre-approved raw materials for use in the kosher facility, including ingredients that are inherently kosher such as salt and water, and kosher-sensitive ingredients that require kosher certification such as oil and glycerin); Schedule B (a complete list of approved formulas containing the raw materials approved on Schedule A); and a Letter of Certification (LOC), a complete document certifying that the company's products are compliant, which may be posted on the company's website. These documents are available on the secure site EZcRc.org for 24-hour access. After certification, the company receives the registered cRc kosher symbol to place on its packaging. Passover involves additional kosher laws, requiring avoidance of leavened foods and special supervision.

A Basic Overview of Kosher (Chicago Rabbinical Council / cRc)

'Kosher' means 'fit,' referring to food prepared in accordance with kosher law. To obtain kosher certification, a kosher certifying agency must confirm that all ingredients in a product and their preparation meet kosher standards. Food can broadly be divided into three groups: innocuous foods always accepted as kosher (such as fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, water, sugar and salt); foods kosher under supervision (such as oils, glycerin and corn syrup); and foods that can never be kosher (such as shellfish and pork). All kosher food also falls into three categories — meat, dairy, and pareve (neutral) — and kosher law prohibits mixing meat and milk. After successful certification, a company receives three documents (Schedule A, Schedule B and a Letter of Certification) and may use the registered cRc kosher symbol on its packaging.

Overview

The word 'kosher' means 'fit,' referring to food produced in accordance with kosher law. To obtain kosher certification, a kosher certifying agency must confirm that all ingredients in a product and their preparation meet kosher standards. To do so, the kosher certifying agency examines the sources of all raw materials, including any processing aids that come into contact with the food, verifies the kosher status of equipment during manufacturing, and establishes a system to monitor and maintain the integrity of ingredients and equipment.

Kosher basics

Food can broadly be divided into three groups:

Innocuous: some foods are always accepted as kosher. Typically these include fresh fruits, vegetables and grains, water, sugar and salt, which are minimally processed.

Kosher under supervision: other foods such as oils, glycerin and corn syrup may also be kosher if the ingredients and processes used meet the kosher definition and are under the supervision of a reliable kosher authority.

Never kosher: some foods can never be kosher. For example, shellfish and pork, both of which are forbidden by kosher law.

In addition, all kosher foods can be divided into three categories:

Meat: only the meat of kosher animals and their by-products is permitted, and it must be slaughtered by a specially trained 'shochet' (ritual slaughterer). Kosher species include cattle, sheep, chicken and turkey.

Dairy: milk, cheese and other dairy products must come from kosher animals to meet kosher standards. Milk derivatives such as casein are treated as dairy when used in kosher, even though the USDA may classify them as 'non-dairy.'

Pareve: pareve means neutral. This refers to products that contain no meat or dairy ingredients and can be eaten together with either dairy or meat products. Disclaimer: those with severe allergies should observe allergen warnings and should not rely solely on a 'pareve' label.

Kosher law prohibits mixing meat and milk, so foods such as cheeseburgers and chicken parmesan are not acceptable. Foods containing no meat or dairy ingredients are considered 'neutral' (pareve). The certifying agency will determine whether a product contains dairy ingredients, or is produced on dairy equipment, to prevent consumers from mixing meat and dairy.

Passover

Passover is an 8-day festival that occurs in spring, commemorating the Jewish Exodus from ancient Egypt, and involves a unique set of additional kosher laws. During Passover, those who observe kosher avoid leavened foods such as bread and crackers. Although kosher at other times, certain grains and their derivatives may not be eaten during Passover. Passover production requires special supervision.

cRc

After a company is successfully certified, it will receive three documents:

Schedule A: a list of pre-approved raw materials for use in the kosher facility. This list includes ingredients that are inherently kosher (such as salt and water) and ingredients that are kosher-sensitive and require kosher certification (such as oil and glycerin). Schedule A can be expanded to include the necessary number of ingredients.

Schedule B: a complete list of approved formulas containing the raw materials already approved on Schedule A.

Letter of Certification (LOC): a complete document certifying that the company's products are compliant. This letter may be posted on your website to inform customers that your products are kosher-certified.

These documents are made available on our secure website EZcRc.org, allowing you 24-hour access to company information, submission of new ingredients and formulas for approval, and customization of kosher letters as needed. After the certification process is complete, you will receive the registered cRc kosher symbol, which can be placed on all packaging to remind customers to confirm its kosher status at the point of sale (POS).

Kosher certification can help your company enter new markets and expand its customer base. According to the latest research, the kosher food market is currently estimated at US$305 billion and growing at 12% per year. Besides core kosher consumers, many people who avoid meat, dairy or certain other ingredients for cultural reasons, or who are allergic to such foods, also rely on the kosher symbol to ensure food integrity.

About cRc

cRc Kosher, founded in 1932, holds a highly recognized kosher symbol, ranks among the top kosher certifying agencies worldwide, and offers pricing competitive across a range of industries. Our clients greatly value our excellent customer service and fast turnaround. In addition, the kosher letters we issue can be viewed on the website, and clients have a secure online portal allowing 24-hour access to their kosher records. Clients who work with us are highly satisfied with our proven success and positive approach.

FAQ

How is kosher food classified?: Kosher food can broadly be divided into three groups: innocuous foods, which are always accepted as kosher (such as fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, water, sugar and salt); foods kosher under supervision (such as oils, glycerin and corn syrup, if the ingredients and processes used meet the kosher definition and are under reliable kosher supervision); and foods that can never be kosher (such as shellfish and pork, both forbidden by kosher law). In addition, all kosher foods fall into three categories: meat (only the meat of kosher animals such as cattle, sheep, chicken and turkey, slaughtered by a specially trained shochet), dairy (must come from kosher animals), and pareve (neutral, containing no meat or dairy ingredients and able to be eaten with either). Kosher law prohibits eating meat and milk together.
What documents does a company receive after cRc kosher certification?: After successful certification, a company receives three documents: Schedule A (a list of pre-approved raw materials for use in the kosher facility, including ingredients that are inherently kosher such as salt and water, and kosher-sensitive ingredients that require kosher certification such as oil and glycerin); Schedule B (a complete list of approved formulas containing the raw materials approved on Schedule A); and a Letter of Certification (LOC), a complete document certifying that the company's products are compliant, which may be posted on the company's website. These documents are available on the secure site EZcRc.org for 24-hour access. After certification, the company receives the registered cRc kosher symbol to place on its packaging. Passover involves additional kosher laws, requiring avoidance of leavened foods and special supervision.

FAQ

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