What does Kosher mean when I see this on food labels? Just curious.?

Answer 1

Kosher, or "Kashrut" as it is pronounced in the original Hebrew refers to dietary laws set forth in Leviticus in the Old Testament. Following the Kosher dietary laws is one of the more popular differences between Jews and Christians with respect to every-day practices within these religions.

There are way too many elements of the law to decribe here, but the link I'm attaching goes through it in detail. Some of the more common Kosher laws include:

-Do not eat milk (dairy) products and meat together on the same dishes or within 6 hours of each other. Generally, Jews who keep kosher will not eat meat and dairy products together in the same sitting.

-Do not eat shellfish. This would include shrimp and lobster

-Do not eat an animal's blood. Islam also teaches this.

-Do not eat the meat of an animal with a cloven foot. This would include Pigs (Pork) but also includes animals such as horses. Cows are not considered to have cloven feet, so beef is acceptable under Kosher laws.

Like I said, there are many others. Generally if a food that you buy at the market lists "Kosher" on it, it means it has been prepared according to the Kosher dietary laws and has been inspected by a Rabbi trained in these laws. However, I don't know if there are FDA guidelines policing this so I suppose a food manufacturer could put "Kosher" on their food even if it wasn't actually Kosher.

Answer 2

Contrary to popular misconception, rabbis or other religious officials do not "bless" food to make it kosher. There are blessings that observant Jews recite over food before eating it, but these blessings have nothing to do with making the food kosher. Food can be kosher without a rabbi or priest ever becoming involved with it: the vegetables from your garden are undoubtedly kosher (as long as they don't have any bugs, which are not kosher!). However, in our modern world of processed foods, it is difficult to know what ingredients are in your food and how they were processed, so it is helpful to have a rabbi examine the food and its processing and assure kosher consumers that the food is kosher. This certification process is discussed below. 1. Certain animals may not be eaten at all. This restriction includes the flesh, organs, eggs and milk of the forbidden animals. 2. Of the animals that may be eaten, the birds and mammals must be killed in accordance with Jewish law. 3. All blood must be drained from the meat or broiled out of it before it is eaten. 4. Certain parts of permitted animals may not be eaten. 5. Fruits and vegetables are permitted, but must be inspected for bugs 6. Meat (the flesh of birds and mammals) cannot be eaten with dairy. Fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables and grains can be eaten with either meat or dairy. (According to some views, fish may not be eaten with meat). 7. Utensils that have come into contact with meat may not be used with dairy, and vice versa. Utensils that have come into contact with non-kosher food may not be used with kosher food. This applies only where the contact occurred while the food was hot. 8. Grape products made by non-Jews may not be eaten. There are a few other rules that are not universal.

Answer 3

It means it meets the dietary restrictions of the Torah. You see it on almost everything from storage bags and bowls to cleansers and tinfoil, because anything that might touch food must meet those restrictions to be accepted by the Jews. The halal restrictions of the Muslim diet are similar, and most Muslims in this country are used to accepting the Kosher certification of various rabbinates where Halal foods are not available.

Answer 4

In addition to the excellent descriptions that have been given by some of the respondants, I would note that there are a number of groups whose symbols of Kashruth are accepted.

The site that I've listed below shows Kashruth symbols from nine different countries. It also includes information about what constitutes kashruth, with a detailed explanation of what is involved in certifying a product as kosher.

Answer 5

It's pure enough for an orthodox Jew to eat. Many times this means that it doesn't have certain additives. And for meat, it means that the animals have been blessed and/or prayed for before slaughter. Muslims do it too.

Answer 6

Kosher foods are those that meet certain criteria of Jewish laws:

Restrictions on permissible foods :
Land animals must be mammals which chew their cud and have cloven hoofs.
Birds of prey are prohibited
Fish must have fins and scales (non-fish seafood is prohibited)
Meat and milk (and anything made with dairy and meat products) cannot be served in the same meal, or cooked using the same dishes or utensils, or stored in a way that could cause them to intermingle. Observant Jews have separate dishes for meat and milk.
Kosher slaughter of animals and birds. Kashrut requires all animals (and birds) to be slaughtered by a trained individual (a Shochet) using a special method of slaughter, shechita. Among other features, shechita slaughter severs the jugular vein, carotid artery, oesophagus and trachea in a single cut with a smooth, sharp knife.
Blood must be thoroughly removed from all meat, using one of several methods such as soaking and salting, or broiling.
Utensils (and whole kitchens) which are used with non-kosher foods are generally considered to have been rendered non-kosher, and will transfer that non-kosher status to kosher foods. Alternatively, such utensils may be made kosher again by one of several methods appropriate to the utensil and circumstances. These methods include immersing in boiling water, heating, and other methods.
Food cannot have been prepared by Jews in a manner breaking the Shabbat (Sabbath).
Special rules on Passover to prevent leavening, including prohibitions on certain grains susceptible to leavening, products derived from them, similar products, and utensils used in preparing and serving them. Observant Jews traditionally have separate (meat and dairy) dishes and utensils for Passover.
Orthodox Judaism has a number of additional strictures, some of which are not universally observed or represent strictures more common in Haredi Judaism:

Certain foods must have been prepared in whole or in part by Jews, including:
Wine (Kosher wine)
Certain cooked foods (Bishul Yisrael)
Bread (under certain circumstances)
Certain dairy products (Cholov Yisroel)
Utensils purchased from non-Jews must be immersed in a Mikvah prior to use, even if bought new.
Additional strictures on the methods used to kasher.
Continued observance of certain biblical rules for produce grown in the Land of Israel, including the rule of new grain (Yoshon), a modified version of the Biblical tithes including Terumat HaMaaser, Maaser Rishon and Maaser Sheni), and a rule against eating Tevel, produce grown in a manner that violates the Shmita (Sabbatical Year).
Additional restrictions during Passover (Gebruchts)
A variety of additional details
Conservative Judaism follows a number of additional leniencies, including:

Permitting kashering with less than boiling water under certain circumstances (which permits a dishwasher to be used for meat and dairy dishes, although not at the same time)
Classifying various chemical additives derived from non-kosher meat products as nonfood and permissible (for example, permitting renet from cow's stomachs to be used in cheese and horse-hoof gelatin and pectin in foods)
A variety of additional details.

Answer 7

It means a blackmailing Rabbie forced the company to pay thousands of dollars yearly for his seal of approval.

These rabbies do not oversee the production of the food...like hersheys candies but do give their seal of approval for $50,000 or so a year in the case of hersheys.

It's a scam and doesn't guarantee that the food is in accordance with the dietary laws laid out in Leviticus.

Answer 8

It means the food is acceptable for those of the jewish faith to eat. They are not allowed to eat certain foods, such as pork.

Answer 9

It is food that is prepared in accordance with Jewish dietary laws.

Answer 10

KOSHER MEANS THAT IT ALL ITS INGREADINTS ARE ACCETABLE FOR THE JEWISH RELIGON. FOR INSTNCE PORK, THAT IS NOT KOSSHER, COWS ARE THERE ARE MANY THINGS WHICH ARENT AND ARE ALSO YOU CANT EAT DAIRY FOR 6 HOURS AFTER YOU EAT EAT.