Tevilat Keilim: A Primer
In a world of proliferating products and differing kosher standards, one is frequently confronted with the awkward decision to accept or reject food or drink offered by a host(ess).
Wine Is Fine, But Liquor….Brandy, Cognac And Other Distilled Wine Spirits
As we approach the Purim season, we can be thankful that today there are many reliably kosher-certified brandies, cognacs and liquors on the market. Let’s examine the kashrus issues of distilled wine spirits.
Cigarettes
The author of this article, and the Orthodox Union, do not endorse smoking. Indeed, we shall see below that many contemporary poskim opposed smoking altogether. However, some earlier authorities did discuss various aspects of smoking. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with information about the halachic aspects of smoking on Pesach, Yom Tov, and all year round.
OU & Tribune Co. Affiliate Plan “Certified Kosher” Coupon Marketing Initiative
For the first time in the months to come, a weekend advertising insert with cents-off coupons will be “OU certified,” as it appears in major newspapers nationwide with the famed OU Kosher symbol displayed on every product. The inserts are a program of the Orthodox Union and Forum Publishing Group, a media company wholly owned by the Sun-Sentinel Company of South Florida, which in turn is owned by the Tribune Company of Chicago.
Dolly (Madison) Kosher Ice Cream Production
Ice Cream Is An Age-Old Dessert Favorite. Historical annals and popular anecdotes date the invention or discovery of ice cream (or something like it!) back thousands of years.
Clarification on OU Certification of NY Le Marais
A response to recent allegations about kashruth violations at Le Marais Restaurant in New York City.
A Technological Success, OU KOSHER Direct Website
Just four months after introducing its six-part website, OU Direct, with the slogan “Managing your account has never been simpler,” the Orthodox Union Kosher Division announced today that the one thousandth user has logged into the system, which was designed to simplify financial contacts between the OU and the companies it certifies, as well as to facilitate the kosher certification process itself.
The Power Of Pareve
Pareve means that 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. A pareve salad dressing, ice cream sorbet, chocolate mints or confectionary delicacy can be enjoyed with both a sumptuous steak dinner as well as with a refreshing dairy luncheon. Essentially,pareve is the universal kosher category. In an astute Bakingbuyer comment, Betsy Hater points to an ever-successful pareve bagel as an example of how bakeries can reach a wider clientele.“Bagels by nature are pareve, as they typically include no meat, or dairy, only pareve ingredients such as flour, water, yeast, sugar, malt and molasses. However, Reyna Paulker, co owner of Bagel Fair in Indianapolis, IN, notes that many bakeries use oils based on animal fats or whey instead of wheat gluten.”
At Dreyer’s They Know, OU is the Symbol that Sells
Earning the prized packaging symbol declaring OU kosher certification can be a daunting challenge and a rigorous process for a business as complex as Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Inc. At Dreyer’s, the product line is extensive, the ingredient list is long, suppliers are many, and products are made at six plants in five states. But Dreyer’s knows that once it has earned the right to apply the OU symbol to its packaging, consumers will take note. And, when consumers take note, so too do grocery stores buyers.
Back for a Second Year: OU’S oupassover.org – Expert Answers for Passover Queries
To answer questions that frequently arise during the Passover season, when the dietary laws are different and even more stringent from the ones that govern the rest of the year, the Orthodox Union Kosher Department for the second year has made available www.oupassover.org.