What is Kosher?

Question

If one is trying to find foods that are Kosher how should I read the label so I understand if it applies under the Jewish standards of even being Kosher?

Answer 1

Kosher is more than just shopping for the label marking.

You can buy two Kosher foods, and mix them together and have something that is not Kosher.

You can buy Kosher food and prepare it in such a way that it is no longer Kosher.

Kosher is the ingredients, the preparation, the area where it is prepared, and the other things it is served with.

You have to start with Kosher ingredients, ruling out the list of things like anything from certain animals, or certain parts of any animal, and then prepare them in a Kosher kitchen. A Kosher kitchen is one that has different ovens, plates, storage, and utensils for meat and dairy products, or an extremely high heat washing machine to ensure that the utensils used for meat are purified before being used for slicing or serving cheese.

Kosher preparation never mixes meat and dairy, even to the extent of serving them in separate dishes at the same time. In other words, steak for dinner is fine, but no cheese sauce on the asparagus on the side, and no milk in the coffee afterward.

Kosher is a very exacting standard, and encompasses more than just ingredients.

Answer 2

Kosher foods will have the Star of David and is watched and inspected by certified Jewish inspectors, often rabbis.

You are also good with Halal foods which are Islamic. They observe the same standards. Meat and dairy cookware and dishes are kept seperate in a traditionally Kosher home. I worked washing dishes in a Jewish synagog. They also had seperate ovens for dairy and meat.

If you see a Kosher ham, that's bogus. Go to a Kosher delicatessan and get a beef sandwich and glass of milk and that's just not Kosher

Answer 3

The word "kosher" means "clean". There are some fairly strict laws for food that is given a label. Certain rules include, you cannot have milk and red meat in the same dish. This is because there is a Bible verse that says "Thou shalt not seethe (boil) a kid in his mother's milk." Also, Jews are forbidden to eat certain meats: shellfish, pork (mammals must have a cloven hoof), for example. Also, animals must be killed humanely, by a Jewish butcher. It is done by severing the head, because death occurs quickly. Then all blood must be drained from the meat, and the meat is put into salt for awhile to draw out the rest of the blood. There are several levels of inspection. The K (with or without a circle) is the most lenient. The U with a circle around it means it was approved by the Union of Orthodox Congregations. The strictest requirements apply to products that are labeled with the name of the actual official who inspected the product. You find this most commonly in New York City, I think.

Muslims have a somewhat similar code. If the food passes their requirements, it is called Halal.

Answer 4

I am pretty sure there is a star of David and the word Kosher on most kosher products. Kosher means that the product was produced and packaged under standards given by a Jewish Rabbi.

Answer 5

Kosher food will usually have a K on the label, sometimes in a circle.

Answer 6

In many grocery stores, there is an ethnic food section. Usually all the kosher Jewish food is together so you don't have to read every label to see which things are kosher.

Answer 7

If you want to be sure meat is kosher, the best way is to get it from a kosher butcher. For more detailed info try http://www.jewfaq.org

If you want to 'keep kosher'

- always eat kosher meat

- never mix milk and meat

- no prawns, shrimps or other shellfish

- no pork!

I've simplified it, the website suggested above will provide far more details. Good luck with it :)

Answer 8

Most accredited kosher foods in the UK have a hescher, or seal of approval from a Beth Din. In the USA (apparently) look out for a K in a circle on the packaging.

Otherwise, look out for:

Pork and shellfish
Meat and milk products in one item
Gelatin (often made from meat)
Some E-numbers and na\tural colourings (esp. red)

Answer 9

look for a "k" in a circle on the label

Answer 10

this page should help.