Curtice Brothers: A Condiment Startup Takes On the Giants
OU Kosher: I’d like to start by asking you for a general overview of Curtice Brothers and about you and your role as head of international sales. Curtice Brothers History Alex Fisher: Curtice Brothers makes organic and natural condiments. The company actually started in 1868, and we are proud to say that we are the […]
Is Lab-Grown Meat Kosher? OU Kosher CEO Rabbi Menachem Genack Discusses in Washington Post, Other Media Outlets
As food technologies develop, so do new halachic issues. In recent days, OU Kosher CEO Rabbi Menachem Genack has taken on questions about whether lab-grown meat, created from animal stem cells, is kosher. While Israel’s Chief Rabbi David Lau recently declared it kosher pareve, Rabbi Genack disagrees. Read more in a front-page piece in The […]
Orthodox Union Teaches Laws of Kosher to Houston Jewish Community
Visit Educates 500 People; Includes Demonstration, Fireside Chat and Presentations The Orthodox Union (OU) recently concluded an educational event in Houston, Texas. Kashrus experts taught about the laws of kosher to more than 500 community members and students. OU Kosher Managing Director Rabbi Eli Eleff and Rabbinic Coordinators Rabbi Chaim Goldberg and Rabbi Chaim Loike […]
OU Kosher Hosts Conference to Show Appreciation for Mashgichim in Israel
Israel’s Prominent Rabbis, OU Kosher CEO and COO Thank Mashgichim with Luncheon On January 16, the Orthodox Union (OU) held a kashrus conference in Israel for the mashgichim in its network. Some of Israel’s most prominent rabbis also attended, as well as OU Kosher rabbis and OU board members. The goal of the conference was […]
GE Appliances Completes Transition of Refrigerators to OU Kosher/CRC Certification
Top-Freezer Refrigerators Will Now be Certified with Built-in Enhanced Shabbos Mode through Collaboration between Kosher Certifying Agencies and Zman Technologies GE Appliances (GEA) has begun production of a new line of OU Kosher/CRC Hisachdus–certified top-freezer refrigerators with manually operated, built-in Enhanced Shabbos Mode (ESM). These new appliances will allow users to easily turn ESM […]
English Pruzbul Form for Shemittah
Pruzbul Form In the presence of the undersigned three judges (dayanim), duly constituting a Bet Din, there appeared before us who declared before us as follows: “I hereby turn over to you judges [insert names] , and , in this place [insert place name] all of the debts owed to me, whether […]
The Hanover Foods: Quality, Kosher Certification, and Connecting with Consumers
Q: Is it important to have the OU Kosher symbol prominently displayed on Hanover products? Russel Smith: It’s always on the front panel or the front of the bag, whether it’s frozen or canned. We make sure it’s prominently positioned. We call them buttons, you know, if it’s vegan, or if it’s grown in the […]
Summary of OU Insect Checking Policies
Buy the new 5th Edition Guide to Fruits and Vegetables Fruits, vegetables or berries that are expected to possibly contain insects must be checked prior to use. The minimum rate of infestation that requires checking is 10%. Magnification is not required when checking, although it may be used as an aid for training purposes or […]
Why Plant-Based Products Need Vegan Certification
Did you know that plant-based does not mean Vegan, but Vegan means plant-based and cruelty-free? Plant-based is a diet that strives for animal-free ingredients, but the consumer expectation from a plant-based claim is that it is not animal product and cruelty-free, like that of an official Vegan claim. In fact, the plant based certified standard […]
OU Kosher Meets the Challenge of Certifying the Beverage Industry
A discussion of the challenges and opportunities of Kosher Certification within the beverage industry.