OU Kosher Staff

On the Beam

On the Beam: In Largest Liquor Kosher Certification in U.S., DeKuyper® 60-Flavor Line of Cordials and Liqueurs Receives OU Symbol

The close relationship between OU Kosher and Cincinnati-based Beam Global Spirits and Wine, which goes back to 1992, became even closer in March, 2007 when Beam’s 60-flavor array of DeKuyper® cordials and liqueurs, the best-selling line of those products in the United States, was certified OU Kosher. The 60-product certification was the largest liquor kosher certification ever in the United States.

Sandwiches: Symbol or Meal?

A young construction worker lies in bed, the shrill shriek of his alarm still echoing in his room. He groans. He doesn’t want to get up to confront the day. He’s comfortable under the blankets, with the early morning sun streaming in through the crack in the drapes and landing across his face. Another few minutes… that’s all. When the alarm’s “snooze control” wakes him from his renewed slumber, he reluctantly pushes aside his blankets and begins his daily routine of shaving, showering, brushing his teeth. Once dressed, he goes into his kitchen, ready to make his lunch. He opens the refrigerator and quickly decides on the various ingredients – a roll, lettuce, tomato, turkey, mustard – that he will need to make his sandwich.

The Tea Party is Just Getting Started: An Honest Reflection

In a late night decision in 1993 I chose to go to business school because I wanted to help lead the emerging national service movement. I wanted to gain skills that would enable me to practice the Jewish values of Tzedekah – righteousness, not just in commerce but toward the earth as well.

Though I never could have imagined myself as president (let alone a TeaEO) of a company whose largest investor is Coca-Cola, I am excited to see the impact our homegrown enterprise, based in Bethesda, MD, is starting to have on the environment and on health trends in the United States. And I am even more excited as I see the growth we will have as an agent of change in the coming years.

Tanks for the Memories: OU and transport Companies Work Together to Make Sure that Kosher Products

A few weeks ago I was attending a wedding reception, sitting at a round table with a number of other guests. An older gentleman, an interested kosher consumer but not, himself, involved in the kosher industry, turned to me. He asked me what I do, and I told him I work at the OU.
“Tell me what it is you do at the OU,” he said. I told him that, among some other things, I am involved in making sure that the transport of kosher commodities from one site to the next is on vehicles that are dedicated to kosher products. He seemed uncertain about what I meant.

About The Food Institute: A Brief History

A nonprofit organization founded in 1928, The Food Institute has a single purpose: providing information to the food industry in an unbiased, timely and relevant manner.

The Food Institute was founded by Seattle food broker Gordon C. Corbaley, who decided to put out a semi-regular posting for his principals — mainly canners — and his customers, so they could keep better informed about what was going on in the marketplace. He called his postings The News from Oregon and Washington. The reports were welcomed by the trade; given the poor communications when Calvin Coolidge was President of the United States, a great deal of business was still being done by poorly informed (at times actually misinformed) buyers and sellers.

The Food Institute Works with OU Kosher to Help Consumers Get the Most Bang for the Buck on Food Purchases

For the first time since 1990, prices for food-at-home rose over four percent last year and could very likely do so again in 2008, with projections from the United States government suggesting an increase of as much as 4.5 percent. Many consumers, as well as many food manufacturers and retailers, are finding this to be unfamiliar turf and are looking for ways to deal with the higher prices.

Passover 2008: A Blend of the Old and the New

When Jews sit down to the seder on April 19 and 20, chances are that the set table will have a very traditional look. There will be the seder plates, the cups for the wine, the elegant flatware and dishes and so forth. But when the meal begins, the foods that are served may be reflecting some of the new products that have been introduced in recent years. For example, even the Kedem grape juice could be a dietetic version that has far less sugar than the traditional grape juice. The matzos may be spelt or whole wheat, the gefilte fish without sugar, and, of course, Diet Coke.

It’s not Child’s Play: Providing Kosher Ingredients for Baby Formula Required a Journey to Rural Ireland

In the remote Irish town of Ballyragget, in County Kilkenney near the city of the same name, two OU Kosher experts, Rabbis Abraham Juravel and Yisroel Hollander, working with plant personnel, quickly kosherized the plant of Glanbia Ingredient Ireland – GII – the largest dairy ingredients business in Ireland, and manufacturers of ingredients for a whole range of products.

Certification of Vodka

Dear Rabbi,
What is involved in the OU certification of vodka?

The Orthodox Union receives many inquiries about certification of vodka. This is a typical response, as written by Rabbi Nahum Rabinowitz, Senior Rabbinic Coordinator.

Stolichnaya® Sets the Standard for Vodka Production and for OU Kosher Certification

Think of Russia and what comes to mind? The huge size of the country, the vast steppes, Moscow and St. Petersburg, freezing winters – and of course, vodka. Stolichnaya® has established itself as the most trusted name in vodka, guaranteeing Russian authenticity and quality in each bottle. Decades after the brand’s birth, Stoli® remains the best selling Russian vodka in the United States, valued because it is produced to the highest standards of Russian vodka production.