OUkosher.org
Monday, December 25, 2006
Glossary of Kosher Terms for Companies
The following are some non-English kosher terms that you may come across along with their explanations:
Bishul Yisroel (also spelled Bishul Yisrael): Certain foods require increased a Rabbi’s involvement in the cooking process.
The OU requires Bishul Yisroel on all of those products deemed to be included in the requirements for Bishul Yisroel under Jewish law.
Cholov Yisroel (also spelled Chalav Yisroel): Milk and milk products that was supervised by a Rabbi from the time of milking.
The OU does not require products to be Cholov Yisroel, but will certify a product that is Cholov Yisroel as such.
Glatt: Literally “smooth”. An animal whose lungs contained no questionable adhesions that could pose potential Kosher problems.
It is now commonly used to describe a higher level of Kosher supervision.
Kosher L’Pesach: Kosher for Passover; containing no leaven and no legumes and manufactured with Mashgiach Temidi.
Mashgiach Temidi: A manufacturing production with continuous supervision by a Rabbi. This is often called a “Special Production”.
Pareve: A food item that is neither meat or dairy (and can therefore be eaten with either) and was not manufactured on meat or dairy equipment.
Pas Yisroel (also spelled Pat Yisroel): Bakery products that were baked by a Rabbi. This can be fulfilled by having a Rabbi turn on the oven.
The OU does not require products to be Pas Yisroel, but will certify a product that is Pas Yisroel as such.
Yoshon: Grain products that are made from certain types of “winter” grains as defined by Jewish law.
The OU does not require products to be Yoshon, but will certify a product that is Yoshon as such.
Industrial Kosher • The Kosher Certification Process •
Thursday, May 24, 2012
OU KOSHER ANNOUNCES 2012 OU KOSHER ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS
May 7, 2012
The Orthodox Union Kosher Division today announced that four students have been named winners of the 2012 OU Kosher Essay Contest for grades 7-12.
The winners are:
• Michelle Natanova, Queens, NY — Yeshivat Ohr Haiim, Richmond Hill, NY, Grade 8
• Zev Kraut, Pittsburgh, PA — Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh, Grade 9
• Shmuel Michaels, Greenwood Village, CO — Yeshivat Sha’arei DAT High School, Grade 9
• Hannah Kark, Denver, CO — Yeshivat Sha’arei DAT High School, Grade 9
The essay contest is one aspect of OU Kosher’s educational outreach to schools, which includes visits by OU Kosher rabbis to yeshivot and day schools across the country (OU Kosher Coming), as well as the growing collection of over 185 Kosher Tidbits posted on OU Radio, http://www.ouradio.org. OU Kosher’s series of six educational DVDs have been integrated into the study of Jewish law and practice in many yeshivas and schools throughout the world.
The winning essays were chosen from the many submissions that were received from California, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Washington State. There were many quality submissions, according to Rabbi Dr. Eliyahu Safran, Vice President of Marketing and Communications of OU Kosher, who coordinated the contest.
Suggested topics included: “Why I Enjoy Keeping Kosher?” “I Personally Identify With Kosher because…” “How Does Eating Kosher Enhance Your Jewish Identity?” “What Does the Kosher Symbol on the Label Mean to Me?”
All winners will receive $50 gift certificates from Eichlers.com, a leading Judaica website. The winning essays will be posted on http://www.oukosher.org.
“The essay contest was devised to give students an opportunity to think deeply about how keeping kosher affects their lives and serves as a core of Jewish living. Many of the essays were inspirational for those of us who read and evaluated them. It was gratifying to have OU Kosher motivate hundreds of students to think in sophisticated terms about what and how they eat,” declared Rabbi Safran.
In an email sent to all the contestants on April 23, Rabbi Safran wrote, “We were proud to receive your essay, and even prouder that you took the time and made the effort to participate. We very much hope that the experience of researching and writing the essay about kashrut, one of the foundations of Judaism, was meaningful for you. If you have time, you may want to visit http://www.oukosher.org where you will be enlightened about very many facets of kashrut.”
Judges included OU Kosher rabbinic coordinators Rabbis David Bistricer, Eliyahu W. Ferrell, Chaim Goldberg and Chaim Loike, as well as Rabbi Safran.
“It is particularly gratifying to see many young Jewish students year after year, who are so thoughtful and articulate,” declared Rabbi Ferrell. Rabbi Bistricer, another of the judges, concurred. “It’s inspiring to review essays from all across the country and see the depth and appreciation each of these students have for kosher.” Rabbi Goldberg related reading the students’ essays to his own work at OU Kosher, the world’s most respected kosher certification agency. “Seeing the sincerity of these students’ dedication to kosher, and how the laws of kashrut touch their lives so intimately, is a source of inspiration to those of us in the OU office assisting them to make it happen. That is why we do what we do,” Rabbi Goldberg declared.
In a note to Rabbi Leib Zalesch, rebbi of Yeshivat Sha’arei DAT High School’s freshman class, who described his year-long curriculum “examining all facets of kashrut, encountering both the theory and background of these critical halachot, as well as their logical application to practical, real life situations,” Rabbi Safran wrote, “You are to be commended for the thorough, relevant, challenging and inspirational kashrut curriculum you have established in your school, as evidenced by all of your students’ meaningful and thoughtful essays. We are doubly proud that your students are winners for the second year in a row.”
Hannah Kark, of Denver, summed it up this way: “This kosher symbol means so much more than just some random health approval; it is more than just a letter. This symbol means family, home and passion. This one word or letter or picture connects me to a child in China who lights candles on Friday night, or to my homeland in Israel, or to my rich heritage and my leaders who have inspired me to be who I am today…”
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Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Zev Kraut Winner OU Kosher Essay Contest 2012
What is G-D teaching me with the laws of kosher?
Since the moment G-D gave the Torah to the Jewish people, keeping kosher has been an essential part of the Jewish home. Accordingly, the home is an essential part of a Torah lifestyle. What goes on in the home is directly effective to what goes on in the rest of one’s life. The question is, why kosher? Surely, how one’s parents act, or what one sees on television, are infinitely more effective as an influence on one’s life than keeping kosher. So what is it about kosher that makes a spiritual connection with G-D? What is G-D trying to teach me in the laws of kosher?
The Ramban teaches, that many of the animals that are not deemed kosher are predators. The reason the Ramban gives for one not being able to eat certain animals is so that one will not absorb the qualities of those animals. For example, a pig rolls around in the mud, which is a filthy characteristic. The Torah gives many commandments telling Jews what should not come out of their mouths. For instance: insults, mockery, slander, and curses. Additionally keeping kosher is G-D’s way of telling Jews that there are also certain things that one should not absorb into them as well. Furthermore one should avoid evil influences, evil speech, and avoid certain animals that do not meet the criteria of the character traits of a Torah observant Jew. G-D gave the Jewish people the Torah, and singled them out as a pure nation. Accordingly, the Jews must eat certain animals that are pure. From where do we know that certain animals are pure and certain animals are not pure? In the Torah portion known as Noach, when Noach was commanded to put certain animals on his ark, G-D commanded Noach to put “pure” animals, otherwise known as kosher animals on the ark. G-D also commanded Noach to put “animals that are not pure” (אֲשֶׁר אֵינֶנָּה טְהֹרָה) on the ark.The Talmud (Pesachim 3a) points out an oddity in the wording of this story. The Torah used an extra eight letters to voice that the the animals were not pure, when instead the Torah could have written “contaminated”(טמאה). According to the Talmud, the lesson the Torah is teaching, is that one must always speak with pure speech. G-D designed the Torah to show the Jews how to be holy and pure. The Torah is a book filled with lessons on proper conduct and how to maintain a higher spiritual level than any of the other nations of the world. As the Torah says, “…and to make you high above all nations that He has made, in praise, and in name, and in glory; and that you may be a holy people unto the Lord your G-D, as He has spoken.” (Devarim 26:19) There is no doubt that kosher fits into that category. When one has a pure mouth what comes out of one’s mouth reflects that. Essentially, every time one eats a bag of potato chips with an OU on it, it is a direct reminder from G-D to watch your mouth.G-D created everything on earth with a purpose. When G-D greated the earth he designated humans as the rulers over the land. Tehillim, 115:16, states, “The heavens are the heavens of G-D, and the land was given to the sons of man.” For most animals we do not know their purpose on earth. Even the great King David once criticized G-D for creating spiders which David deemed had no purpose. In the end, the spider saved his life while he was running from King Shaul. Anyway, certain animals G-D designated to be given as sacrifices in the Holy Temple. For instance, cows, sheep and rams. Which means their purpose is, for whatever reason, to be slaughtered. No need to worry for the the animal though, the kosher way to slaughter an animal is the most humane. Anyone who studies the complex laws of kashrus, on how to slaughter an animal will soon realize much of it is done in order to ensure that the animal feels no pain. For instance, in order for the slaughter to be deemed kosher, the knife used for the slaughter must be smooth, free of any nicks. There is no need to be vegetarian. G-D created meat for us to eat. On Shabbos by eating OU Glatt Kosher meat, we are fulfilling the words of the prophet of Yeshaya who said in the book of Yeshaya 58:13,”…call Shabbos a delight.” According to some halachic authorities, Jews have an obligation to eat meat on Shabbos and Yom Tov. According to Rabbi Yehudah Ben Beseirah, in Tractate Pesachim 109a, during a time period in which the Holy Temple is standing, one is required to eat meat in order to fulfill the commandment to rejoice in a festival.
Clearly, G-D gave us meat and all kosher food, to give us pleasure in the world, that He, G-D created. G-D didn’t just give human beings food for pleasure. There was a deeper meaning involved. The food one eats not only affects how one acts, but if used correctly, can be used to channel one’s energy towards service of the Creator. After all, G-D created us and the food we eat, therefore, who are we to throw off the guidelines of how G-D told us to eat our food? Knowing this, every time a Jew takes a bite of kosher food, they know that G-D knows, that G-D created them with the need to eat, and accepts the action that they are doing with the utmost love. Besides the many lessons that one can internalize from the animals that Jews eat and don’t eat, it seems, that is the essence, of why G-D wants the Jews, his chosen people, to keep kosher.
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Michelle Natanova Winner OU Kosher Essay Contest 2012
KASHRUT
Hashem gave the Jewish people the special privilege to keep Kashrut. Kashrut is a decree that we just do because G-d commanded us to; we do not understand why we are doing it. When one keeps Kashrut, he only eats pure, fit, and halakhically permitted food. Even when one eats non-kosher food unintentionally, the non-kosher food becomes a part of a person and has harmful effects. Hashem is making us keep Kashrut, because He loves us; Hashem only wants the best for us, Jews, and our health.
I am so lucky to keep Kashrut. Not only am I fulfilling one of the Misvoth of Hashem, but I am also benefiting myself in many ways. By keeping the laws of Kashrut, I am eating healthier food. The meat is kosher; it is clean from blood. We only eat tame animals, such as chickens, sheep, and cows. We do not eat wild animals, for we do not want to become like wild animals. In addition to everything that the Jewish people gain from Kashrut, it is truly amazing that the animals are not harmed when being slaughtered. Therefore, the animals are kosher.
Another reason the Jewish people are blessed to keep Kashrut is that we gain self-control. We have to be aware of our lives, and therefore, we have rules. Because there are steps to eat something, we gain self-control. Firstly, we check if the food is kosher or not. Next, we think whether we had dairy or meat. Then, we make a Berakhah on the food. Finally, we eat the food, and then we say the Berakhah Akhronah. These steps help us to have self-control and become better people. The Jewish nation is not like the other nations of the world, who cannot control themselves. We do not act like animals; we think before we do things.
By eating kosher food and making a Berakhah on it, we divulge Hashem’s presence into the physical world. Eating is a physical thing, and it is good for our body. However, when we add Kashrut, we reveal Hashem’s presence into the world and make eating spiritual. This way, ingestion is also beneficial for our soul.
The kosher signs on foods are what allow me to eat the foods. When I see the kosher sign, I feel that I can trust that the food was supervised by a Jewish Rabbi and that it is kosher.
The kosher sign on a food also means a lot to me. I feel that it is special when I look for foods with a kosher sign. Searching for a kosher sign on a food is one of the many things that make the Jewish people unique. We are not like the Goyim who just buy and eat any food they like; we look for the kosher sign with happiness and zerizuth. It makes the Jewish people holy and separate from the other nations when we eat only kosher food. I think it is amazing that many of us, Jews, can buy kosher food without even thinking about it, because they are so used to it.
A story is brought down from Stories of Spirit and Faith, by Rabbi David Sutton in conjunction with Miriam Zakon, about R’ Shalom Chasky dealing with a Kashrut problem. The inviting fragrance of a beautiful Shabbat dinner filled the home of R’ Shalom Chasky. A delicious meal awaited the people assembled around the table of the Chief Rabbi of Ein Tab, a small town located near Aram Soba. R’ Shalom said Kiddush slowly, pronouncing each word with care, his eyes resting on the dancing flames of the candlesticks. When Kiddush was done, the family and visitors washed their hands and took a bite of wonderful homemade bread. All eyes turned toward the kitchen in anticipation of the delicacies to come when R’ Shalom dropped his bombshell. “Please bring us olives and lettuce,” he told his wife. “We may not eat the meat tonight. It is not kosher.”
His wife and all the other guests stared at R’ Shalom in shock. The Hacham was known to be thoroughly careful in matters of Kashrut, and his wife only bought from the most reliable sources. How could the food possibly be unkosher? Bu there was no arguing with R’ Shalom, and his guests contented themselves that Friday night with olives and bread dipped in oil and lettuce leaves as a crunchy, but not terribly tasty, side dish.
The next morning R’ Shalom stood up at the bimah of the synagogue and rapped loudly. He then made the same surprising announcement: “No one in the community may eat meat this Shabbat. It is not kosher!”
Again, there was a shock among the people, but no one dared question their respected leader. Early Sunday morning R’ Shalom called together the community leaders and instructed them to carefully check the status of kosher meat in Ein Tab. Within a short time a startling fact was discovered: One of the seals of the community’s Kashrut organization was missing! They made careful inquiries and soon the truth came out: Arab swindlers had stolen the seal and marked an entire lot of meat with it. All the meat sold for Shabbat had been non-kosher! The community leaders quickly dealt with the problem, and kosher meat was once more available. Then they returned to report to the chief rabbi. “R’ Shalom,” one of them asked curiously, “how did the Hacham know that the seal had been stolen and the meat was not kosher?”
“I knew nothing of the stolen seal,” R’ Shalom answered, “but as I recited the holy words of Kiddush, I saw letters form before my eyes. They turned into the words ‘achalnu ma’achlot asurot’, ‘we have eaten forbidden foods’. I knew then that something was terribly wrong, and that the food we thought was kosher was not.
We see from many stories of our Hachamim that if one tries to keep Kashrut, Hashem will help him the rest of the way. I feel proud that by keeping kosher, I am fulfilling Hashem’s commandment and am receiving benefits from it. I think that the Jewish people should appreciate the Misvah of Kashrut and not think of it as a burden.
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Shmuel Michaels Winner OU Kosher Essay Contest 2012
Topic: How does Keeping Kosher Enhance Your Jewish Identity?
KASHRUT: LONG-TERM GAINS IN A WORLD OF COMPROMISES
My grandmother is an amazing chef. She makes the best sponge cake, matzo ball soup, and sticky buns. We always loved visiting her and noshing on her delicious treats, but when my family became Torah observant, we had a hard time giving up her delicacies. We were not the only ones who suffered; my grandmother was devastated. She was very frustrated that she could no longer cook treats for us or invite us over for dinner. Since my family started keeping kosher, we have had many tough situations because not only are my relatives are not Orthodox, but my mother also frequently travels to Switzerland for business. This has been a challenge that has arisen multiple times and it is very hard to overcome, but listening to Hashem will always have its rewards in Olam Haba.
It has been a tradition in my family to go to my grandparents’ house every Pesach for the first Seder. We would go through the Haggadah in English using those big words that I, as a little boy, could not understand; it seemed that because of this more than four questions were asked at the table. What made our Seder special were my grandfather’s special pillows. When we reached Yachatz, my grandfather would break the middle matzo and put the Afikoman between the two pillows that were resting on the chair beside him. Throughout the Seder, all of the children would crawl under the table to sneak a piece of the Afikoman out of the pillows and back to his or her seat without our grandpa noticing. (Occasionally my Aunt distracted my grandfather while I was under the table.) My grandfather knew when we would take the pieces, but always acted surprised when most of the Afikoman was gone. At the end of Shulchan Orech, we had some of my grandmother’s delectable sponge cake with strawberries and whipped cream. Our Seder finished with Echad Mi Yodeah, which we said in English. My family played a game where one person would say each verse in a single breath. It was always hard to do the last and longest verse. This was just a glimpse of our Pesach tradition. When we decided to become Torah observant, we could no longer participate. We had to have the Seder at our house. Finding the Afikoman became less fun and the sponge cake never came out as light and fluffy as before. It was deterring, but surprisingly comforting to know that we were following Halacha. It brought a smile to my lips that my cousins missed me so much. It gave me a sense of satisfaction that I was not only part of a family, but also a part of the Jewish people.
I recently went to my Aunt’s house twice, once for Thanksgiving, and again for the Super Bowl. On Thanksgiving, my mother brought our own turkey and side dishes, and we ate our meal while they ate theirs. We ate on paper plates, and they ate on dishes. We brought the pie, but my mother’s pumpkin pie was not as good because she made it Parve in order to be able to eat it. We also brought whipped cream, but that was not for us, since we had just had a Fleishig meal. Afterward, we played games with the whole family and had a lot of fun with our relatives from out of town. It was a fun night with the family. On Super Bowl Sunday, we showed up at my Aunt’s house with hotdogs and chili from our school fundraiser. My Aunt had put everything with a Hechsher, or which didn’t need a Hechsher, in paper bowls, and the rest, she put in real bowls. They watched the Super Bowl while I, not a fan of sports, studied Gemara in a corner. It was nice of my Aunt to think of us, and I sincerely appreciate all the trouble that she took to accommodate our stringent policies. I am so fortunate to have a family that cares for one another so much.
Another time when keeping kosher is tough, is when my mother travels to Switzerland for business. She knows a man there who owns a non-kosher restaurant, but can cook kosher food specifically for her as long as she gives him notice. In addition, Switzerland doesn’t have kosher symbols on the products. Instead, there is a list in German, which my mother does not speak. This especially makes finding kosher products hard when she is in the French section of Switzerland. In America, we are so lucky to have an organization that provides kosher certification so that Jews can conveniently discern between kosher and non-kosher products. Similarly, does my mother need to keep Chalav Yisroel in Switzerland because of uncertainty about which animal the milk comes from? Does she need to be uneasy about the kashrus of other Jews in Switzerland who she doesn’t know? When my mother travels to Switzerland, many questions arise that I might have never dreamed of.
All in all, the step of keeping kosher on my way to Torah observance was difficult, but necessary. It was tough to give up my grandmother’s cooking and I have to be more alert wherever I go, but I am glad I took the journey because it has made me a better person and enabled me to have a closer relationship with Hashem.
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Hannah Kark - Winner OU Kosher Essay Contest 2012
Topic: “What the Kosher Symbol Means to Me”
KASHRUT – MORE THAN JUST A SYMBOL ON A BOX
When I walk in to the grocery store it is second nature for me to just check to make sure that that bag of chips or that cookie has an OU or another kosher symbol on it. To many Jews, it is just something that they do, and it usually is like that for me. But when this question was asked, I thought deeper. I began to think about how this label gives me a sense of community; and as I made that connection, I thought of our rich heritage, and once that relationship was made I thought about our homeland – Israel.
When I look at the kosher label on a box of cereal or a chocolate bar, it reminds me that this symbol is something bigger than just a letter or a word on the box. It reminds me that I am part of a community; a community bigger than just my shul, or even Denver in general. A community all around the world, a community of Jews. All around the world there are people like me. Someone who won’t eat bacon at his classmate’s birthday party, or who won’t go to that basketball game with his teacher on Saturday. When a terrorist attack happens in India and a Rabbi and his wife are killed, we in Denver, Colorado feel the pain and mourn the loss of our fellow brother and sister.
A couple weeks ago I went to a deaf school to learn about the deaf community. A deaf teacher asked me what my school’s letters, DAT, stood for, and I told her that they were letters in Hebrew. She pulled out her necklace with the word chai on it and said to me, “I am Jewish, too.” This is what the Jewish community is. It is larger than just me and my friend, larger than just me and everyone in Denver. This is a community all around the world that show and feel a rich connection to a Jewish past; people deaf or hearing, blind or seeing, religious or not.
Our rich history is something that unites us. I often feel that one of the reasons is because in the Torah we see great role models and leaders uniting us. There is Avraham – the original leader; Moshe – who united us and brought us to a great level; and in the future, Mashiach – who will bring us all back to Israel. Unity started when the ‘Father of Judaism’ brought us all together. We know Avraham went around traveling and converting people to Judaism. He showed people there is something greater than just themselves – something bigger than them all in which they can all connect and join together. Moshe brought us out from a time of pain and affliction from the King Pharaoh. He united us, and we all went in togetherness, relying on one another, out of Mitzrayim. We know that in the greatest time of Bnei Yisroel we were all in unity as we heard the Ten Commandments being given. This was what made Hashem so happy, and this is what Moshe brought to Bnei Yisroel. For forty long years he helped us unite when we were in the desert at a hard and rough time. He made sure we were all protected and that we followed the way of Hashem – the ultimate Being that keeps us united.
Finally, I would like to focus on Mashiach. Every day we await and hope for the arrival of Mashiach, who will bring us all back from the Galut into Israel. Have you ever thought why this is so important? I think this is so important because all around the world there are people searching for something deep inside with this connection to our history. When Mashiach comes, he will do that. He will bring us all together in oneness underneath the greatness and the awesomeness of Hashem – something that connected us all as one with Avraham.
The third connection that I have to this bottle of apple juice with some letter on it is my homeland Israel and how it came to be. During the Holocaust, six million Jews were killed by terrible people and their entire Jewish identity was threatened. In a sense, to me personally this symbol shows the world ‘we are here; we are here to stay.’ After this tragic event happened, people came together and Israel was formed. When I look at this can, I know that my friend Gali in Israel has the same symbol on her can of soda, too. In Israel today people have come together – Jews everywhere can look at that tiny sliver on the map and say, ‘that is my home.’ Everywhere, people connect to Israel. I am very fortunate to have a community with Bnei Akiva – a youth group centered on Israel – where we learn about Israel and get to experience people with the same fiery passion within for Israel. Israel is our home and on every single kosher symbol we can see that connection to home.
This kosher symbol means so much more than just some random health approval; it is more than just a letter. This symbol means family, home, and passion. This one word or letter or picture connects me to a child in China who lights candles on Friday night, or to my homeland in Israel, or to my rich heritage and my leaders that have inspired me to be who I am today and who have inspired me to want to do better, and to want to do more. And this kosher label is showing the world that us Jews are here and proud and we will stand strong forever!
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Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Lo Basi Ella L’orer - Keurig coffee makers
The Keurig coffee machine, an appliance unbeknownst to most of us two or three years ago, has become a fixture in many homes and offices. This has given rise to a great number of questions surrounding this machine, especially regarding the office setting. At the OU we get asked these questions on a daily basis and I would like to share some of these questions and answers.
Are all K-cups kosher / pareve?
Currently Green Mountain Coffee, the makers of the K-cups (disposable pods filled with coffee grinds that are inserted into the Keurig) has two brands of K-cups that are not certified kosher; Café Escapes and Swiss-Miss. Additionally, there are a number of K-cups that are certified kosher dairy. It should also be noted that it is also possible to purchase reusable pods that fit into Keurig machines that can be filled with any brand of coffee/cocoa/tea. Therefore, while it is true that most K-cups are kosher and pareve, one should not immediately assume that any Keurig machine may be used.
Can the Keurig machine be kashered?
The Keurig machine is mostly made of plastic. While there are differing opinions as to whether plastic can be kashered for Pesach (B’makom tzorech the OU is lenient), the prevailing opinion is that for year round use one may kasher plastic. Therefore, if one purchased a used Keurig machine, they may kasher it by cleaning out the cup holder making sure it has not been used in 24 hours and then kashering by running hot water through the system.
In an office environment where it is not possible to idle the Keurig for 24 hours (i.e. the machine is used every day by co-workers with potentially non-kosher or dairy K-cups), one may be lenient to kasher the Keurig machine without waiting 24 hours. One should wipe out the cup holder all around (inside and underneath) with damp paper towels and then run hot water through the machine so that it touches all surfaces. I found that by ripping out the bottom of a Styrofoam cup and placing it over the bottom of the cup holder will cause the holder to fill with hot water. Kashering with irui is acceptable since the Keurig machine works through irui. The few ounces of hot coffee that run through these pipes do not qualify as an extended irui. In industrial settings we view the flow of product through the pipes as a continuation of the kli rishon, because the irui of hundreds of gallons of water for an extended period of time saturate the walls of the pipes such that they are no difanos mikareros. This obviously does not take place in a Keurig machine. Therefore, any non-kosher bliyos would not penetrate further than a k’dei klipa of the piping. By running a cup of hot water through the pipes there will definitely be more than shishim k’neged this k’dei klipa1. Although Rema (O.C. 452:2 as explained by Pri Migadim) writes that the minhag is not to kasher ben yomo kailim even if one will have shishim, in a shas ha’dchak, one may be maikel2.
Can a Keurig machine be kashered for Pesach?
Although regular unflavored coffee grounds are always kosher for Pesach, many of the flavored K-cups are not. Therefore one may not use their year round or office Keurig on Pesach. What about kashering the machine? Aside from the issue of whether one may kasher plastic for Pesach, which b’makom tzorech the OU allows, there is also a question as to whether one may kasher narrow tubing. Magen Avrohom (O.C. 452:11) says that narrow tubes that cannot be scrubbed clean should not be kashered for Pesach. Although the OU often kashers pipes and other inaccessible areas for Pesach productions, this is because the production takes place before Pesach when chametz is still batel b’shishim. The chumra of the Magen Avrohom relates to Pesach itself, when the presence of even a mashehu of chametz make everything assur. However, others are more maikel if hot detergent is poured through those tubes3, since the detergent is known to be an effective cleanser. Additionally, the detergent serves as a davar ha’pogem.
For those wishing to invest in a new Keurig machine, there are indeed several dozen K-cups that are acceptable for Pesach, even though they are not labeled OU-P. A complete list is available on the OU website.
What is the status of a Keurig machine if someone placed a non-Kosher mug underneath?
The Mishnah (Machshirin 5:10) says that pouring a hot ta’hor liquid into a cold ta’mei liquid does not form a chibur l’tumah. The Mordechai relates this halachah to issur v’heter as well. In other words “nitzuk aino chibur”. Therefore, the non-kosher mug will not affect the kashrus of the Keurig machine. Similarly, if one placed a mug with milk underneath a pareve Keurig machine, there is no need to kasher. Even though zeiya from the mug will rise up to the Keurig, the spout which is hot will deflect the zeiya from the kli sheini.
Do Keurig machines require tevilla?
Unlike most other hot water urns that can withstand being dunked in water, so long as they are properly dried, the Keurig machine has a digital component that will not survive getting wet. Additionally, even if one were to attempt to toivel a Keurig machine, the inner chamber will not fill with water. Water will only enter the inside chamber if it is pumped through. So tevila is not really an option.
Rav Belsky holds that we may view the Keurig machine as a plastic kli, which is exempt from tevilla. This is because the entire visible machine is indeed plastic. The metal receptacle and element which are in the recesses of the machine are not accessible. Although there are two pins that pierce and inject hot water into the K-cup, it is not clear that these pins require tevilla. It is possible that they are like a can opener. If one wishes to remove the pins and toivel them, with some cajoling they can be removed (at least in some models).
If one sells a portion of the Keurig machine to a non-Jew, this would alleviate any question of tevilla, because even a kli that is owned bi’shutfos (partnership) with a non-Jew is exempt from tevilla4. The proper way to accomplish such a sale, would be to accept some money as payment (kinyan kesef) and have the non-Jew pick up the Keurig to show that he is taking partial ownership (kinyan hagba’a). Likewise, if an office has a coffee service contract that supplies and owns the Keurig machine then there is no chiyuv tevilla, so long as the service company is at least partially owned by non-Jews.
Notes:
1 Shach Y.D. 137:11 and Taz Y.D. 137:4
2 Sefer Hagalos Keilim Perek 6 Halacha 12
3 See Teshuvas Va’yaan Yosef O.C. 222
4 Rema Y.D. 120:11
Kosher Professionals •
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
OU Kosher in Great Neck Draws Rave Reviews
“OU Kosher’s Harry H. Beren ASK OU OUTREACH program in Great Neck Sunday night, which was supposed to present the two OU poskim (halachic decisors), Rav Yisroel Belsky and Rav Hershel Schachter, was held under the cloud of the sudden serious illness to Rav Belsky, shlita,” declared Rabbi Yosef Grossman, the organizer of the program and OU Senior Educational Rabbinic Coordinator. “Rabbi Menachem Genack (CEO of OU Kosher) stepped in as a substitute on very short notice. He and Rav Schachter were outstanding, as can be seen by the following feedback, first from one of the participants, and then from Rabbi Avraham Kohan, the Rav of Congregation Torah Ohr where the event was held.”
The audience member declared, “The OU program last night was amazing. Thank you for organizing such an informative, crystal-clear program for Great Neck. The feedback I got from friends was also very positive. We hope to have the OU in Great Neck more often.”
Rav Kohan wrote, “I wanted to thank you very much for the event last night. It was great. Tizku lemitzvot.
This unique program, sponsored by the Harry H. Beren Foundation of Lakewood, NJ and endorsed by 12 local synagogues, Ashkenazi and Sephardic, with an emphasis on Great Neck’s substantial Iranian community, was devoted to issues such as “Contemporary Halachic and Philosophical Challenges Facing the Great Neck Community,” with Rav Schachter, Rosh Yeshiva and Rosh Kollel, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University.
Rabbi Genack, who has headlined many OU Kosher educational programs, briefly discussed the sad story of Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin and the continuing efforts by the OU on his behalf. Rabbi Genack and Rav Schachter then joined in a Q&A session, moderated by Rabbi Grossman, on questions of halacha and OU policy.
“The speakers had a very positive influence on the participants, many of them our Persian brethren,” said Rabbi Grossman after the session. “One of the prominent community rabbis who was in attendance, told me that they usually get 60-70 people for a guest speaker such as a congressman in his shul. The more than 150 participants that we had was certainly a very nice turnout for the community.”
A week prior to the event in Great Neck, OU Kosher presented a program in South Florida as part of the OU’s Community Weekend there. Rabbi Grossman received the following laudatory congratulatory message from Rabbi Yosef Weinstock, Associate Rabbi of the Young Israel of Hollywood-Ft. Lauderdale, where the program was held:
“Those in attendance were impressed by the depth and breadth of knowledge that the OU kashrut professionals shared with us,” Rabbi Weinstock wrote. “And it was all done in a way that was easy to follow and understand. People left with a new appreciation for the complexity of kosher supervision in the 21st century, and why the OU is at the forefront of kashrut services for the kosher consumer.
“We very much enjoyed the two presentations and the Q&A session that answered many questions that were on a lot of people’s minds. This was a wonderful way to give exposure to the talent that OU Kosher employs. We are glad that the OU Kosher has broadened its mission to include kashrut education, which was of great value for our community to see and hear.”
To arrange a kashrut presentation in your community, contact Rabbi Grossman at 212-613-8212 or .
OU Kosher: Consumer News • (4) Comments •
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Ask the OU Rabbis Prog in S.FL Enlightens and Entertains
The show must go on….and on: Rabbis Chaim Loike (left) and Dovid Jenkins continue to answer questions following their presentations at the Ask the OU Rabbis session in South Florida.
As part of the Orthodox Union’s Community Weekend in South Florida, OU Kosher presented Rabbis Yosef Grossman, Chaim Loike and Dovid Jenkins in a panel session, Ask the OU Rabbis. The program, held at the Young Israel of Hollywood, followed a presentation by Rabbi Loike on The Mesorah of Kosher Birds and by Rabbi Jenkins on How Tootsie Roll, Gatorade and Corporate America have Affected Kashrut. Both Rabbis Loike and Jenkins are Rabbinic Coordinators at OU Kosher.
Rabbi Yosef Grossman, OU Senior Educational Rabbinic Coordinator, declared, “We were warmly received by South Florida residents who joined the program from Miami Beach, North Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Hollywood and Deerfield Beach. The rabbis continued answering questions from the audience long after the program had officially ended. We were happy to be able to share with South Florida residents the same high quality ASK OU program which we make available for people in the Northeast.”
Rabbi Grossman continued, “One of the participants, Chaim Brecher, expressed his enthusiasm for the program as follows: ‘The presentations were great! Thank you for taking the time to come down and share with us your vast reservoirs of kashrut knowledge. Thank you for your masterful jobs on kosher birds, Tootsie Rolls, Gatorade and medicines. Thank you again for coming out to enlighten us! We here down south hope you will do it again!’”
OU Kosher: Consumer News •
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
MTJ, Lower East Side Yeshiva, Visits OU Kosher
The Mesivta Tiferes Jerusalem(MTJ) high school on the Lower East Side of Manhattan was the latest school to be OU Kosher’s guest for the Harry H. Beren VISIT OU program. The group, led by Menahel Rabbi Shaul Katz (center) and their rabbeim, met with Rabbi Menachem Genack, Chief Executive Officer of OU Kosher, and heard from OU posek Rav Yisroel Belsky, who spoke on what he had learned from the illustrious Rosh HaYeshiva of MTJ, Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l.
The group’s host was Rabbi Yosef Grossman (far left of photo, second row), Senior Education Rabbinic Coordinator for OU Kosher.
OU Kosher: Consumer News •
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Kinnikinnick Foods Receives OU Kosher Certification
Gluten-Free Baked Goods Certified Kosher Pareve Just In Time To Enjoy Chanukah Donuts
EDMONTON, CANADA – Kinnikinnick Foods, North America’s leading manufacturer of gluten-free baked goods and snacks, today announced that its company, facilities, and all of its current products are now certified OU kosher pareve by the Orthodox Union.
Kinnikinnick runs the largest, dedicated gluten, dairy and nut free facilities in North America and both of its plants in Edmonton are under the supervision and certification of the Orthodox Union. By making all of its products in house, Kinnikinnick can ensure its baked goods and snacks are safe from cross contamination.
OU Kosher is the world’s largest and most respected kosher certification agency. The OU symbol will begin rolling out on Kinnikinnick’s packaging beginning this December, just in time for Chanukah. All of Kinnikinnick’s current product offerings are now certified kosher, including Kinnikinnick’s Cinnamon Sugar Donuts, Chocolate Dipped Donuts, All Purpose Flour Blend, Angel Food Cake Mix, Blueberry Muffins, White Sandwich Bread, Pizza Crusts, S’moreables Graham Style Crackers, and KinniKritters Animal Cookies, to name but a few.
Kosher foods have sustained a growth rate of 15 percent annually and are the fastest growing ethnic cuisine over the past five years, according to Canadian Agri-Food Trade Service. More than 13 percent of Americans have reported specifically purchasing kosher-certified foods.
“Making our products OU Kosher certified was a natural choice for us,” shared Kinnikinnick Foods’ President and CEO Jerry Bigam. “Since our products were already free of dairy, we received many calls asking if our lineup was kosher as well. The demand was there, our products met the requirements; we just needed to go through the certification procedure to make it official.”
Rabbi Eliyahu Safran, OU Kosher’s Vice President of Communications and Marketing, welcomed Kinnikinnick Foods to the growing list of highly regarded baking industry companies who have attained OU certification in recent years and expressed “particular satisfaction that these fine products will be able to meet the needs not only of the ever-growing kosher market place, but of the very many gluten-free consumers.
Kinnikinnick’s products are available for purchase online at http://www.kinnikinnick.com and at select natural and mainstream grocery stores throughout the U.S. and Canada.
About Kinnikinnick Foods
Based in Edmonton, Canada, Kinnikinnick Foods is North America’s leading source of deliciously diverse baked goods products created for those maintaining a gluten, dairy and/or nut-free diet. Kinnikinnick runs the largest dedicated gluten, dairy and nut free bakery in North America, thus ensuring that its retail and foodservice customers enjoy the most variety of uncontaminated, risk-free food products available today. For more information, please visit http://www.kinnikinnick.com. You can also find Kinnikinnick on Facebook and Twitter.
OU Kosher: Consumer News •
OU Webcast with Poskim, “Let My People Know”
From left: Rabbi Eliyahu Safran, OU Kosher Vice President of Communications and Marketing; Rabbi Eli Gersten, OU Kosher’s recorder of OU policy and psak; Rav Yisroel Belsky, OU Posek; Rav Hershel Schachter, OU Posek; Rabbi Eliyahu W. Ferrell, OU Kosher Rabbinic Coordinator and Educational Associate.
In this extra special video, OU Kosher Senior Poskim, Rabbi Yisroel Belsky and Rabbi Hershel Schachter, provided practical guidance on issues spanning the breadth and depth of Yahadut, in another OU Kosher Webcast recorded live at OU Headquarters on Tuesday, December 13.
The webcast can be watched at http://ou.org/torah/article/let_my_people_know.
Questions received from around the country and Israel included: “Are there halachic issues with cruise ship departures on Erev Shabbat;” “How does a Shabbat observant Jew run an internet business?” “Can ‘implants’ of genes from non-kosher species render food forbidden?” “What is tzniut?” “Do weddings cost too much?” and “Can I invite an intermarried relative for a Shabbat meal?”
The webcast was moderated by OU Kosher’s Rabbi Eliyahu Safran, Vice President of Communications and Marketing.OU Kosher: Consumer News •
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Lo Basi Ella L’orer - Limitations of ChaNaN
ChaNaN does not apply to a davar heter. This is because chatichah na’ases neveila, as it name implies, means that the entire item that absorbed ta’am of issur becomes like a neveila. Since one must refrain from eating the item, we view it as becoming 100% assur. This sevara obviously does not apply to a davar heter such as kosher milk, kosher meat or kosher fish. Therefore, if 1 gallon of kosher milk is mixed with 10 gallons of water, and this mixture is then mixed into 100 gallons of water, we would not say ChaNaN and the milk would be batel b’shishim. Although, we would still insist on labeling this product as dairy, however there would be no need to kasher the equipment that came in contact with the mixture since the milk is already batel.
Chalav stam
Although chalav akum is issur and the halachos of ChaNaN should apply, nevertheless the Pri Migadim (Y.D. S.D. 97:1) proves that b’zman ha’zeh, we do not say ChaNaN by chalav akum, at the very least when it is mixed lach b’lach. Therefore, how much more so we would not apply ChaNaN today to chalav stam, even if one is makpid on chalav Yisroel, since one can be mitztaref the heter of Rav Moshe zt”l as well.
Chametz
There is a machlokes Rishonim as to whether chametz before Pesach is considered heter or issur. This has numerous nafka minos, and Shulchan Aruch in some instances paskens l’chumra and in others paskens l’kula. However, Magen Avrohom (447:38) rules that regarding whether we say ChaNaN on chametz before Pesach, we rule leniently like the opinions that chametz is a davar heter. Therefore, if a seasoning containing 5% chametz was mixed into a soup before Pesach, it would be sufficient if the soup contained 60 times the chametz component. It would not need to be 60 times the entire seasoning.
Issur mashehu that is not batel
Midi’oraisa ChaNaN only applies to basar b’chalav. When meat is cooked with milk the entire ta’aruvos becomes 100% assur. Midi’rabannan we extend the halachos of ChaNaN to all other issurim as well. However, Rabbeinu Tam says that we do not extend ChaNaN b’shar issur to an issur ma’shehu since by basar b’chalav, which is the source of the issur, we would not say ChaNaN if the milk or meat was batel b’shishim.
Similarly the Pri Migadim (M.Z. 100:1 and 69:19) says that we would do not say ChaNaN by issur chazusa (colorant) or ma’amid that are batel b’shishim, since these issurim do not apply to basar b’chalav. Although in all these cases the product would be assur, the kailim would not be affected because the ta’am of the issur is batel. An avida l’taima is more complicated. Although we would not say ChaNaN if the issur is less than shishim, still since the ta’am is not batel, the kailim would need to be kashered.
Melach ha’baluah m’dom
Shulchan Aruch (Y.D. 105:14) teaches that melach (or any other kosher avida l’taima ingredient) that is boleyah non-kosher, will still be batul b’shishim, even though the ta’am of the salt is not batel. This is because, as Rema explains, אין הנאסר אוסר יותר מן האוסרו, the product does not become more chamur than the issur that made it assur. Although ChaNaN has us view the entire mixture as issur, nevertheless we only view the mixture as having the properties of the original issur. If the original issur can be batel b’shishim, the mixture can be batel b’shishim as well. Therefore, although we view flavors as an avida l’taima, still if the flavor components are comprised of inherently kosher ingredients, even though the flavor contains non-kosher carriers and diluents, or was processed on non-kosher kailim, it would still be batel b’shishim.
Kosher Professionals •
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
OU Pas Yisroel Products (As of Elul 5771
The Tur (Orach Chaim, Siman 603), based upon the Talmud Yerushalmi, cites the custom for Jews to be stringent during the Aseret Yimei Teshuva to eat exclusively ‘Pas Yisroel’ bread. Even those Jews who generally do not exclusively eat ‘Pas Yisroel’ are encouraged to accept this practice during the period between Rosh Ha-Shanah and Yom Kippur.We therefore present the list of all OU Pas Yisroel products.
What is Pas Yisroel?
How do you certify Pas Yisroel products?
Please note:
1) All OU-P (Kosher for Passover) Matzah products (e.g. Matzah, Matzah Meal, Matzah Meal products) are Pas Yisroel, even if not listed below.
2) Not all products on this list are available in all countries or geographic regions.
3) The OU Poskim are of the position that breakfast cereal and wafers are considered a tavshil and not pas and, therefore, are not subject to the the laws of Pas Yisroel.
4) Products which are also cholov yisroel and/or yoshon are so indicated.
5) Items manufactured in Israel are noted with an asterisk(*) and are all yoshon.
6) Food service establishments such as restaurants and caterers are noted with a (FSE).
| Company/Brand | Product Type |
|---|---|
| A. Loacker* | OU and Pas Yisroel marked on package |
| Abadi Bakery* | All items |
| Acme [Albertson’s] (FSE) | Clifton, NJ – all fresh baked products |
| Acme [Albertson’s] (FSE) | Milltown, NJ – all fresh baked products |
| Acme [Albertson’s] (FSE) | Narberth, PA – all fresh baked products |
| Aladdin Bakers | Bagels, pizza bagels, rolls, breads, pitas, baguettes, wraps, breadstick (when bearing a stamp with Pas Yisroel sticker on the label) |
| Almondina* | with special label stating OU and Pas Yisroel |
| Almost Dairy | Cheese Cake |
| Amnon's Kosher Pizza | Frozen Pizza (cholov yisroel) |
| Angel’s Bakery* | All products (when bearing an OU) |
| Arnie's Bagelicious | Plain Sliced Mini Bagels, Cinnamon Raisin Mini Bagels, Blueberry Mini Bagels |
| Bag N’ Save | Bread, rolls, buns |
| Bagel City | Challah, challah rolls (yoshon) |
| Bagels-N-More | Challah, challah rolls (yoshon) |
| Barry’s Bakery | Café and French Twists (when Pas Yisrael is written on the label) |
| Barth* | Crackers |
| Bell | Bialys (with special Hebrew packaging only) [Only available in Israel] |
| Betz Boys (Continental Food) | Pizza (cholov yisroel) |
| BJ's | Plain Sliced Mini Bagels,Cinnamon Raisin Mini Bagels |
| Bon Appetito | Cookies and Pastries (when Pas Yisroel written on the label) |
| Brickfire Bakery | Plain Sliced Mini Bagels |
| Brooklyn Bagel | Frozen, Poppy, Sesame Bagels (With special Hebrew packaging only) [Only available in Israel] |
| Bubba’s and Novelty Kosher Pastries | All baked goods (yoshon) |
| Burry Foodservice | Mini Bagel Plain, Cinnamon Raisin Mini Bagels, Blueberry Mini Bagels, Wrapped Plain Bagel, Wrapped Cinnamon Raisin Bagel, Wrapped Blueberry Bagel |
| Café 11 [FSE] | Breads, Bagels, Wraps |
| Canada Bread | Mini Bagel: Plain,Cinnamon Raisin, Blueberry: Bagel:Plain, Cinnamon Raisin, Blueberry |
| Chef's Quality | Pita bread (when Pas Yisroel is written on the label) |
| Circa-NY Midtown (FSE) | Pizza (cholov yisroel) and breads |
| Continental Bakery | Breads & Cakes |
| Continental Pastry, Inc. | Various cakes, pies & pastries |
| Cub Foods | Bakery Style Egg Bagels, Bakery Style Honey Wheat Bagels, Bakery Style Blueberry Bagels, Bakery Style Plain Bagels, Bakery Style Cinnamon Raisin Bagels |
| Daily Pita | All pita bread |
| Dakota Brands | Bagels, rolls |
| Damascus | Must state pas yisroel on package |
| David’s Cookies | Hamentashen (only when labled as Pareve and Pas Yisroel) |
| Delacre* | Cookies |
| Dougies Brooklyn (FSE) | All Products |
| Dr. Praeger's | Fishies, fish sticks, fish cakes, and Pizza Bagels |
| Edwards & Sons* | Breadcrumbs, croutons |
| Einat* | Breadcrumbs, croutons |
| Elite* | Biscuits |
| Elsa's Story* | Cookies, crackers, pastries (not cholov yisroel) |
| Empire | Pizza (cholov yisroel); |
| Ener-G* | Gluten-free pretzels and crackers |
| Eskal | Gluten-free cakes |
| European Bakery | Breads |
| Fischer Brothers & Leslie (FSE) | Challah, challah rolls, chicken nuggets, fried breast meat |
| Flavorite | Bakery Style Plain Bagels, Bakery Style Blueberry Bagels, Bakery Style Cinnamon Raisin Bagels |
| Friedman's | All products (when Pas Yisroel is written on the label) |
| Gefen | Crackers, cookies, matzoh (matzoh is yoshon) |
| Glutino* | Gluten free pretzels, crackers |
| Golden Star | Cookies and pastries (when Pas Yisroel is written on the label) |
| Grandpa’s “Old Southern” Coffee Cake | All baked items |
| Grandpa's Coffee Cake | All coffee cakes |
| Grandpa's Gourmet Biscotti | Biscotti |
| Grandpa's International Bakery | Breads |
| Guiltless Gourmet | Wraps |
| Hadar* | Assorted biscuits |
| Haddar | All products |
| Hafners | Pastry shells w/ OU and Rabbi signature |
| Healthy Palate/Chef Martini | Eggplant parmesan (breadcrumbs are pas yisroel) |
| Hema* | Crackers |
| Hy-Vee | Egg Bagels, Plain Bagels, Cinnamon Raisin Bagels, Blueberry Bagels, Onion Bagels, Bakery Style Onion Bagels, Apple Cinnamon Refrigerated Bagel, Honey Wheat Bakery Style Bagel |
| J & P | Pita bread |
| Jake's Bakes | All products (when Pas Yisroel is written on the label) |
| Jeff Nathan | Panko Bread Crumbs |
| Jewel-Osco [Albertson’s] (FSE) | Evanston, IL – bread and kosher cakes |
| Jewel-Osco [Albertson’s] (FSE) | Highland Park, IL – bread and kosher cakes |
| Josef’s Organic | All products |
| Kedem | Cookies, Cereal bars, Biscuits, Crackers |
| Keefe Kitchen | Plain Bagels, Cinnamon Raisin Bagels |
| Kem Kem | Crackers |
| Kemach Food Products | Cookies (yoshon when stated on package), crackers (when Pas Yisroel is written on the label) |
| Ki Tov | French Twists |
| Kineret | Cakes, Rugalach |
| Kitov | All Products |
| L’Esti Desserts | Cakes and pastries (also yoshon) |
| Lakewood Kollel | All products (when Pas Yisroel is written on the label) |
| Lilly's Bakeshop | All products |
| M & M Kosher Bakery (FSE) | Pita, Baklava and Lady Fingers |
| Maadanot* | Bourekas, malawah, pizza squares |
| Macabee | Pizza (cholov yisroel), Pizza Bagel (cholov yisroel), Breaded Eggplant (yoshon), Breaded Mushrooms (yoshon), Mozzarella Sticks (cholov yisroel, Yoshon) |
| Magah* | with OUD Symbol and Pas Yisroel on label |
| Manischewitz Co. | Tam tams (yoshon), italian coating crumbs (yoshon) |
| Matamim | All Products |
| Maple Leaf Bakery | Safeway Natures Blend Plain Mini Bagel, Mini Bagels |
| Maplehurst | Block & Barrell Classic Mini Plain Bagel |
| Matzot Carmel* | Matzah |
| Max and Harry | Cakes and Cookies |
| Mehadrin Bakery | Breads, cookies, and pastries |
| Mendelson’s Pizza | Pizza (cholov yisroel) and breads |
| Mendy’s (FSE) | Pita, All bread except for hamburger & hot dog buns |
| Mezonos Maven | All products |
| Milk ‘N Honey (FSE) | Pizza and Breads |
| Mishpacha | All products |
| Moishy’s | Exclusively pas yisroel rolls, cookies, cakes, breads |
| Mount Sinai Hospital (FSE) | Products bearing an OU symbol |
| Mountain Fruit | All products (when Pas Yisroel is written on the label) |
| Mr. Broadway (FSE) | All except for Hot Dog and Hamburger Buns |
| Natural Ovens | Bread (when marked) |
| Neeman Bakery* (FSE ) | All Items (when bearing an OU symbol) |
| Neri’s | Breads and bagels |
| Novelty Bakery | All products (cholov yisroel, yoshon) |
| Novelty Kosher Pastry | All product (cholov yisroel, yoshon) |
| Of Tov* | Chicken Breast Nuggets |
| Olympic Pita (FSE) | All products |
| Original Bagel Company | Plain Bagel, Cinnamon Raisin Bagel, Blueberry Bagel, Everything Bagel, Sesame Bagel, Plain Sandwich Bagel, Park Avenue Plain Mini Bagels, Park Avenue Cinnamon Raisin Mini Bagels, Park Avenue Blueberry Mini Bagels |
| Orion | Plain Par-Baked Hot Stuff Bagel, Cinnamon Raisin Par-Baked Hot Stuff Bagel |
| Osem* | All products |
| Ostreicher’s | Hamentashen (only when labled as Pareve and Pas Yisroel) |
| Pita Express | Pita bread |
| Quality Food Industries* | Croutons |
| Raft Foods* | Croutons |
| Reisman Bros. Bakery | Assorted cakes, cookies, rugalach |
| Renaissance Hotel Jerusalem * (FSE) | All products |
| Rokeach | Hamentashen (only when labled as Pareve and Pas Yisroel), cookies, soup nuts |
| Roma | Bread, rolls, buns |
| Rosa Kosher Pizza (FSE) | All products |
| Royal Bakery House | Bread (when Pas Yisroel is written on the label) |
| Sabba* | Biscuits |
| Savion | Croutons |
| Shapiro’s | All products (when Pas Yisroel is written on the label) |
| Shop'n Save | Bakery Style Plain bagel, Bakery Style Cinnamon Raisin bagel, Bakery Style Blueberry Bagel, Bakery Style Honey Wheat Bagels, Cinnamon Raisin Bagels, Onion Bagel, Egg Bagels |
| Shoprite | Challahs and assorted bread products (only when labeled Pareve and Pas Yisroel) |
| Simply Bread | Breads (when stated on the product) |
| Simply Perfect | Sugar cookies |
| Smilowitz | Exclusively pas yisroel rolls, cookies, cakes, breads |
| Sruli's | All products (when Pas Yisroel is written on the label) |
| Super 13 | All products (when Pas Yisroel is written on the label) |
| Teelah | Uncle Moishy Frozen Pizza |
| Tel Aviv Kosher Bakery (Chicago) (FSE) | Breads & cakes (yoshon) |
| The Fillo Factory | Baklava and pastry shells/cups (when marked pas yisroel) |
| The Old City Café (Upscale Foods) | Pizza (cholov yisroel, yoshon when stated on label); Burrito [cholov yisroel, yoshon when stated on label]; Apple Strudel (yoshon when stated on label |
| Tovli | Blintzes, pizza, knishes (frozen packaged) |
| V.I.P. | Bread crumbs |
| Village Crown Catering(FSE) | Breads and Cakes |
| Wein's | All products (when Pas Yisroel is written on the label) |
| Yarden* | Assorted cookies |
| Yumi's | All products (when Pas Yisroel is written on the label) |
| Zaatar | Herb Pizza |
OU Kosher: Consumer News • Kosher Professionals • (30) Comments •
Friday, September 23, 2011
Now OU Kosher: VPlenish Taste-Free Vitamin Powder Packets
VPLENISH® packets, the world’s first completely taste-free, clearly dissolving vitamin powder announced today that they are now certified kosher by the Orthodox Union, the world’s largest and most respected kosher certification agency.
VPLENISH® taste-free vitamin powder comes in familiar tabletop sweetener-style packets. Because the vitamins are taste-free and do not contain an artificial sweetener, consumers can now add vitamins to anything they eat or drink – without changing the original flavor. There’s no uncomfortable vitamin pill to swallow, no unpleasant vitamin smell or taste, and VPLENISH® helps support a healthy immune system.
VPLENISH® is priced at just pennies per packet, which is similar to the yellow, blue and pink sweeteners found everywhere. VPLENISH® is produced and packaged by the Merisant Company (the makers of EQUAL®) for Vplenish Nutritionals, Inc.
“VPLENISH® chose the OU for kosher certification for the VPLENISH® brand because it’s the world’s most recognized kosher certification symbol. My grandfather operated an all kosher hotel 50 years ago, and I’m carrying on the tradition of kosher certification with the VPLENISH® brand.” said Steven Sponder, Founder and CEO if Vplenish Nutritionals, Inc.
Rabbi Eliyahu Safran, OU Kosher’s vice president of communications and marketing, welcomed the unique VPLENISH® product to the ever-growing kosher marketplace. “We are pleased to provide kosher certification for VPLENISH®,” said Rabbi Safran. The OU certifies hundreds of thousands of products in more than 90 countries throughout the world. “Now, consumers all around the world will begin seeing the OU symbol associated with this unique product,” Rabbi Safran added.
VPLENISH® also operates The Vplenish-The-World Foundation – a non-profit charity which provides vitamin packets to children around the world. The charity has already donated over 1.6 million VPLENISH® vitamin packets for children in poverty and disaster stricken areas.
About VPLENISH® Nutritionals, Inc.
Boca Raton, Florida based VPLENISH® Nutritionals, Inc. is the first nutritional supplement company to produce a clearly-dissolving, taste-free vitamin powder. The company packages its unique patent pending VPLENISH® product in familiar paper packets similar in size to familiar tabletop sweetener packets. VPLENISH® is all natural, calorie-free, caffeine-free, and gluten-free. It contains no artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. The company also operates the Vplenish-The-World Foundation, a 501©(3) non-profit charity which provides vitamin packets to children in need all around the world. To date, the Vplenish-The-World Foundation has donated 1.6 million vitamin packets. More information about VPLENISH® can be found at http://www.vplenish.com.
About the Orthodox Union
The Orthodox Union, now in its second century of service to the Jewish community of North America and beyond, represents the fastest growing segment in Jewish life. The OU is a world leader in community and synagogue services, adult education, youth work through NCSY, political action through the IPA (Institute of Public Affairs), and advocacy for persons with disabilities through Yachad and Our Way. Its kosher certification label, the OU, is the world’s most recognized kosher symbol and can be found on over 500,000 products manufactured in 90 countries around the globe.