Recently we received an email inquiry from a consumer regarding the certification of an establishment that is open on Shabbos. The inquiry included very specific questions regarding the difficulties of certifying a retail establishment operating on Shabbos. Upon reading the inquiry, I was immediately filled with the satisfaction that there are kosher consumers who care enough about kashrus to educate themselves when something may not look right rather than just assume it’s ok.
By contrast, a fully observant kosher consumer mentioned that he recently was at a KVH certified event; by the venue he mentioned, I knew it was not a certified event. I asked him if he observed a mashgiach onsite or a kosher event certificate; he answered that they told him it was from a KVH certified caterer. If someone buys food from a KVH certified kosher caterer and serves it at an event, it doesn’t mean that the event is KVH certified. Such an event is essentially under the auspices of the host, not the caterer or Kashrus agency. all or some of the food may have been delivered kosher and then compromised by being reheated in a non kosher oven, pot, or pan. The host could be serving other items as well. These concerns hold true even if there are hired servers working the event who also work for kosher caterers. Servers will often moonlight outside of their regular work and do non-certified events as well.
A conscientious kosher consumer attending a noncertified event at a private home should reflect, “Would I eat at this person’s house independent of any outside supervision?” If the event is taking place at a synagogue, but is not formally being supervised by a reputable kashrus agency one should assume that the standards of the event are no higher than the general kashruth standards of that synagogue.
In a similar scenario, a bar/bat mitzvah party planner will order some food from a KVH certified caterer and other items from another source. They may rent equipment without chain of custody or certification. An unknowing guest sees a platter sealed with kosher tape and assumes the entire event is a kosher certified event. In a recently reported incident, a party planner ordered platters for a bris from a kosher venue but set omelet stations with no mashgiach present to light the burners. Since there was no bishul yisroel, all the omelets cooked were non-kosher.
Kosher agencies issue certificates for local restaurants and events for a good reason. A kosher certificate tells consumers there is someone looking out for their kosher interests. When a consumer ASKS to see the certificate or mashgiach at an event, it tells the proprietor/ caterer that consumers care about kosher.
As a reminder, the following statement appears on the kosher certificate of KVH Kosher certified caterers:
“Retail (drop-off) catered event items are certified as long as the kosher seal/tape is intact. KVH Kosher is not responsible for Kashrus once the kosher seal/tape is broken. Heated items must remain double wrapped and sealed until presented to the guest. Full service catered events must have a signed Kosher Event Certificate on display, as well as a Kosher Supervisor present.”