Articles
National Animal Crackers Day – April 18
According to Wikipedia “An animal cracker is a particular type of small cracker or cookie, baked in the shape of an animal, usually an animal either at a zoo or circus, such as a lion, a tiger, a bear, or an elephant. The most common variety is light-colored and slightly sweet, but darker chocolate-flavored and […]
Liquor & Liqueur That’s Kosher for Passover (And Year-Round)
In The Spirit of The Holiday When enjoyed responsibly, liquor and liqueur products can enhance the Purim (Shulchan Aruch O”C 695:2) and Yom Tov “spirit” (O”C 529:3). While it is certainly preferable to consume alcoholic beverages with a reliable hechsher, during Pesach it is essential to use only such reliably certified drinks. Let us examine […]
Kosher Certification & Controlled Environment Agriculture
Kosher Certification Evolves With the Continuous Technological Changes in Food Production Since the OU’s first product certification of Heinz vegetarian baked beans in 1923, the OU’s processes for certification evolved with food production technology. A deep understanding of food production, technology and science have made it possible to meet our customers where they are. The […]
India and the OU Kosher Connection
According to the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, U.S. total imports of agricultural products from India totaled $2.6 billion in 2019. Leading categories include spices ($271 million), rice ($230 million), essential oils ($184 million), processed fruit & vegetables ($142 million), and other vegetable oils ($133 million). OU Kosher has been active in India for […]
GLK’s OU Kosher Line of Veggie Snacks and Food Service Products Keep Pace With Trends
GLK has consistently innovated and adapted throughout its 4 generations of food production history. It was the first to use stainless steel vats to produce kraut as well as vacuum systems for loading and unloading tanks, high-speed vertical form-fill-seal equipment, and an automated shredding and sorting process using state-of-the-art lasers and optics. They’ve also developed […]
How OU Kosher Certified Companies are Coping Despite COVID-19
With the challenges of COVID still with us, the cold reality is that many food industry manufacturers have had to strengthen their stamina and creativity to survive. Since the beginning of the pandemic, OU Kosher has been here for our customers to provide you with our team of experts and business tools to help you make it through these […]
Cornell-led Panel Releases Report on Agri-food Innovation
To deflect future world food crises created by climate change and growing consumer demand, a Cornell-led international team of economists, scientists and business experts has created a road map for global agricultural and food systems innovation, reform and sustainability. The group’s report – “Socio-Technical Innovation Bundles for Agri-Food Systems,” funded by the Cornell Atkinson Center for […]
Kosher Food Trends We Will be Seeing in 2021
COVID-19 has upended almost every aspect of our daily lives, not the least of which includes our eating and food-purchasing habits. Ordering take-out, having groceries delivered and cooking at home are some major lifestyle changes. Newly certified Kosher products are a direct correlation of what’s going on in the world of food. At OU Kosher, we get the chance to forecast […]
OU Kosher Condemns European Court of Justice Ruling on Shechita
NEW YORK – OU Kosher, the world’s largest kosher food certification agency, today condemned the European Court of Justice’s affirmation of a Belgian law requiring stunning an animal prior to its slaughter which effectively serves as a ban on ritual animal slaughter for kosher and halal food. “The decision of the Court is an affront […]
Chocolate Production
Chanukah is a time of year when people enjoy getting together (safely!), playing dreidel and distributing those ubiquitous gold and silver chocolate coins. Have you ever wondered what goes in to making those chocolate coins kosher? In this article we examine how chocolate is manufactured and what halachic issues may arise. A chocolate coin starts […]