FAQs
Is There a Halachic Issue with Parasites in Fish?
Years ago, a concern was raised regarding whitefish from Winnipeg that were found to be infested with parasites. At that time, poskim ruled that this was not an issue. Recently,…
Why Does the OU Symbol Appear On Labels That May Not Reflect Kosher Values?
Often times, the OU appears on products which are labeled in ways that may not necessarily reflect kosher values. For example, a fish sauce may display a picture of a…
Coffee at Convenience Stores, Rest Stops, and Kiosks
Can I drink coffee while on the road? In contrast to the response given regarding coffee prepared in a non-certified restaurant, it would be permissible to purchase a cup of…
Coffee at Non-Certified Restaurants
Can I drink coffee at a restaurant? It is not possible to make one universal statement about the kashrus of coffee prepared in a non-certified restaurant because each establishment is…
OU-D and Cholov Yisroel
What is the difference between OU-D and OU-D Cholov Yisroel ? Milk has Cholov Yisroel status when the milking and bottling is done under the supervision of a reliable Jewish…
DE Designation
Why does the OU not use a “DE” symbol? Some kashrus agencies use a DE symbol to denote products that are made on “Dairy Equipment” but do not contain any…
Yogurt and Ice Cream Stores
Can I eat at a yogurt or ice cream store that claims it is certified by the OU? There are many ice cream and yogurt stores bearing the brand name…
Product Missing OU Logo
Why would a product that normally bears the OU symbol not bear one? There are a variety of reasons why a product may sometimes appear with an OU and sometimes…
Fruit and Vegetable Infestation
Which produce requires checking for infestation? How do I check properly? Many fruits and vegetables are prone to infestation and require appropriate bedika (examination) before consumption. The OU has prepared…
OU Shmittah Policy
What is the OU’s policy with regard to Shmittah and Israeli produce? For the past 130 years, there has been a great Rabbinic debate over the propriety of selling Jewish…
