OU Kosher Staff

A&B Gefilte Fish: No Labor, No Preservatives

A&B Famous Gefilte Fish owes its success to the vision and foresight of Abraham and Benjamin, but in very great part to the OU as well. OU certification opens doors in homes to them worldwide — and when your product is gefilte fish, if those doors don’t open, you are out of business.

The Vinegar Industry (Halachic Highlights)

A series of questions and answers about the OU policy on kosher issues in the vinegar industry.

Shechita In America, Past And Present: A Brief Overview

A history of Shechita in American and its Halachic Implications

Red Flag Ingredients

A partial listing of common “Red Flag Ingredients” which one may come across in the flavor industry as well as other industries.

What Could Be Wrong With…L-Cysteine?

When is the last time you have seen a harvest? Some of us can think back to last fall’s grape crunch; others can still picture a combine’s quick clearing of a wheat field for Shmurah flour. Most of us, however, could not rapidly identify the last harvest we witnessed. It would surprise many of us […]

Kedem Mevushal / Not Mevushal Update

The Daf HaKashrus discussed at length the designations of Mevushal and Not Mevushal Kedem wines in its Volume c – No. 3 issue. The following is the current status of these wines: The Grape Juice bottles that state on their labels Mevushal are accepted by all as Mevushal. The Grape Juice bottles that state on […]

Food for Thought: Fat For Thought

What are the implications of fat substitutes in food?

Clarification Of OU Yoshon Certification

OU-certified products which are marked as “yoshon”, “kemach yoshon” or “made with yoshon flour” contain only yoshon grain and derivatives and are manufactured on equipment a) used exclusively for yoshon production, or b) which was down for over 24 hours since non-yoshon production ceased.

How The Sabbatical Year Affects Jews The World Over

Shemitah: Background According to tradition, it took Joshua seven years to conquer the Land of Israel, and another seven years to divide it among the various tribes and individuals. The Talmud tells us that only after these fourteen years, when the conquest of the land had been completed, was it endowed with kedushah, holiness, with […]

Shechita

A review of the laws of the proper slaughter of Kosher animals and how they are applied in an industrial setting.