Overview of Kosher Candy 2: Specialty Products in Confectionery

The following is a series of kosher (Jewish) issues raised by specialty products in confectionery: 1. Chewing gum Chewing gum is a product that raises many kosher issues. Glycerin, a gum-base softener essential to producing gum base, may — as noted earlier — be animal-sourced. In addition, flavors need kosher certification. National-brand chewing gums are not kosher, but kosher products can be used. 2. Chocolate Chocolate needs kosher certification more than any other candy. European companies may use 5% vegetable oil or animal fat to reduce the cost of cocoa butter in their products, yet these are still considered pure cocoa-butter chocolate. Flavors may also contain non-kosher ingredients, such as wine oil and brandy. If not labeled pareve, some dark and bittersweet chocolate and chocolate coatings may contain 1% or 2% milk to extend shelf life and prevent cracking or surface whitening. In Israel, adding a little milk to chocolate is very popular. Compound chocolate used as a coating contains more fat, which may be of animal or plant origin. Cocoa drops may contain palm oil or cottonseed oil rather than cocoa butter, and need kosher certification. Besides this, carob products may contain milk not listed in the ingredient list; most carob chips contain whey. Chocolate may also be processed on equipment that previously processed milk chocolate, without cleaning the equipment between batches, so residues from the previous batch may still remain in the equipment. This is why labels sometimes state 'dairy equipment,' and why, for cholov yisroel consumers, such a product needs at least a warning notice. For all kosher consumers, processing chocolate on dairy equipment can be problematic. 3. Kosher (Jewish) products Many kosher-brand candies are made by private-label manufacturers who also produce other products to other specifications for contractors. The contractor must be very careful to ensure its special requirements are implemented, and must supervise production. Paskesz has successfully overcome the obstacles encountered in producing kosher candy and is a model kosher-candy company. According to Mrs. Schmidt, new-product coordinator at Paskesz Candy, it can take several years from conceiving a product to seeing it on store shelves. Every step of Paskesz's manufacturing process is carried out under the strict supervision of a rabbi. First, the manufacturer is educated about what is kosher and how it affects the product. Then the entire ingredient list, including flavors and colors, is checked, and the sources are investigated by the certifying rabbi. During production, the inspector checks the cleaning of machines and ingredients. The inspector must be present throughout production to the finished product. Sometimes the inspector may need to lock away certain essential flavors, ensuring production does not begin without him present. For candy and all food products, the ingredient list on the packaging lists only a small part of what goes into the production process. Therefore, to know whether a product is kosher, you must find the kosher symbol on its label — which is why kosher certification is so important to people's needs.