Pareve: Neutral In Content, But Not On The Bottom Line
Pareve means that the food is “neutral,” neither dairy nor meat, which makes it that much more desirable. Kosher law allows for pareve foods to be consumed with all foods, whether meat, dairy or fish. Pareve salad dressing, frozen sorbet, chocolate mints, jams, grains, juices, soft drinks, or confectionary delicacies can be enjoyed with both a sumptuous steak dinner as well as with a refreshing dairy lunch. Essentially, pareve is the universal kosher category.
ASKOU 10 Seminars On Kosher Law And Practice Draw Participants From Near And Far
Those who know OU Kosher only for its visits to its facilities and its certification of their products may be both surprised and intrigued to learn that the OU is also the leading purveyor of practical and comprehensive kosher education in the world, dispatching its rabbis all over North America to provide kashrut (kosher) knowledge to audiences ranging from small children to distinguished rabbis; using schools and synagogues as their classrooms; producing CD’s, broadcasts and webcasts on the finer points of kosher practice; and in the process translating centuries old kosher law into a “how to do” it for the modern world.
United: The Pickle That Made New York Great
Mention pickles in a conversation and the talk naturally turns to New York City and how the pickles there are just plain better than any place else on the planet. It is said that United Pickle, the oldest continually operating pickle company in the city, is responsible.
Since 1897, United has made the pickles that make New York City the pickle capital of the world.
Dream Team: Company Kosher Contacts Are An Important Component Of The OU Team
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines teamwork as “work performed by several associates, each doing a part but all subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole.” At the OU, we try to work together as a team to come up with unique solutions to the unique challenges that kosher certification presents. But before one can talk about teamwork, one must first define the team. The OU team is not only comprised of the Rabbinic Field Representatives (RFRs), Rabbinic Coordinators (RCs), Kosher Law Advisory Board and support staff, but also includes a key component, our partners at the various companies; specifically our kosher contacts. It is often their experience and ingenuity that overcomes the challenges to create the solutions.
Your RFR: Your OU Kosher Customer Service Agent
As an OU certified company, the primary contact you have with the OU, besides your rabbinic coordinator (RC) at OU headquarters, is your RFR (rabbinic field representative). Out in the field, the RFR is the face of the OU, and you may not be aware that your RFR is both a valuable source of information and can provide service that you should be aware of — and avail yourself of.
Many company reps who are assigned to work with the OU Kosher program are not fully aware of the tools that are at their disposal or what assistance can be obtained from their friendly visiting RFR. You are no doubt familiar with organic certifiers, government agencies (FDA, USDA, etc.), as well as third-party auditors like SQF, BRA and AIB. Kosher certification is a very different program, and your RFR also has a very different role compared to other auditors.
Reitzel International Spans the Globe with Gherkins
As one of the largest producers of gherkins in the world, Reitzel International is well entrenched in markets throughout the globe and its delicious pickles and other food items can be found in many of the major supermarkets under private label brands. With more than 65 percent of the gherkins private label market in France, 85 percent in Switzerland, and a very sizeable presence in Russia, Germany and the United States, all of it products are certified kosher by the Orthodox Union.
Tales from the Far North: In Any Language, Québec Has Some Very Impressive OU Certified Plants
I recently had the pleasure of doing some plant inspections in the province of Québec, home to some of the home to some of the proudest French speakers this side of the Seine. Without visiting this area yourself, it is hard to imagine the animosity felt by native French speakers here toward English speakers (Anglophones, as we are called). While driving from Québec City to Montreal, the top news story on local radio was a law being passed through the legislature to permit Francophones (native French speakers) to attend English-speaking schools.
Pickle-Icious! BTUS’s Favorite Chef Tells You Everything You Wanted to Know about Pickles
What’s a corned beef sandwich without a pickle? Dill pickles are the perfect accompaniment to a deli sandwich because they help clear the palate. With each bite, the flavors of the sandwich begin to fade as your taste buds get coated with fat and zapped by spices in the meat. Pickle to the rescue! It cuts through the residue in your mouth and helps cleanse your palate, allowing the full flavor of the food to emerge once again.
Italian Volcano® Juices: From The Mount Etna Volcano To The Supermarket Shelf
The mystery of Mother Nature has proven to be fruitful in more than one way for Dream Foods International. In Sicily, the eruptions of the Mount Etna Volcano in 2003 pushed Dream Foods International from being a one-woman operation selling blood oranges to a company selling award-winning organic juices throughout North America, with accolades from the press.
Marcatus QED And The OU: Sharing A Worldwide Emphasis On Quality Control
Marcatus QED is an essential service provider for businesses, as a source for high quality, safe and secured food products and raw materials from around the world. Our product focus is on preserved fruits and vegetables such as small cucumbers, onions, olives and peppers. As a global company, we work in several countries across the Americas, Europe and Asia sourcing large volumes of produce for consumer packaged food brands. Our team of quality assurance and sourcing experts works directly with supply partners to validate and continuously improve agriculture and factory conditions.
