Setting Up Your Kosher Program
The Basics
There are several Biblical and Rabbinic prohibitions which determine certain foods as non-Kosher:
- Food derived from non-Kosher species of animals, birds or fish.
- Food derived from animals which have not undergone proper ritual slaughter and the subsequent Koshering.
- Israeli or Jewish-owned products which have not been properly tithed.
- Products with a mixture of meat and dairy.
- Produce subject to infestation.
- Products requiring constant Rabbinic input, such as Pas Yisroel for baked goods and Bishul Yisroel for certain cooked items.
Ingredients
All ingredients which will or could be used in your process need to be approved.
Fortunately, there are hundreds of thousands of ingredients, from simple flavorings to complex emulsifiers, which have been certified by reputable Kosher agencies. Thus, the formulation of a Kosher product often involves merely sourcing ingredients which are already Kosher-certified and obtaining their letters of certification.
In addition, there are some products, such as raw nuts, wheat flour, and sugar that are considered to be “Group 1”; that is, there is no known source for this ingredient that is producing it with Kosher concerns. These can be approved from any source. Due to the many nuances and ever-changing conditions, an ingredient list must constantly be kept up to date with a company’s certifying agency.
Cross-Contamination
Any other production that occurs in your facility might affect your Kosher production. A non-Kosher ingredient may compromise the Kosher status of other products as may Dairy ingredients to Pareve (Dairy-free) products. Equipment used in one process may not be able to be used in another.
We can help you take measures to prevent cross-contamination, such as:
- Segregation of ingredients and processes
- Compatibility of ingredients and equipment
- Sequencing of production
- Sanitization and Kosherizing
Initial Setup
Our staff will visit your facility and determine if any changes or Kosherizing are necessary.
We will help you enter your ingredients and products into KVHWEB, our secure data portal from which you can easily manage your Kosher program and generate your own certificates.
If any ingredients require certifications or replacements, we will help you source these from our vast database of Kosher products.