Consumer Kosher Articles
Cheeses – When Waiting is Required
Here are some common cheeses and the lengths of time for which they are aged:
An Eruv Tavshilin Q&A for Shavuos 5783
Q: What is the reason for Eruv Tavshilin? A: When the second or eighth day of yom tov falls on Shabbat, or if Shabbat falls immediately after yom tov, it is rabbinically forbidden to cook or prepare on yom tov for Shabbat. When executed properly, an Eruv Tavshilin allows one to prepare food for Shabbat on yom tov. This year, the second day of Shavuot […]
Rabbi Kalman Scheiner Talks Kosher Chocolate
When you think chocolate, you think Hershey’s. We sat down with Rabbi Kalman Scheiner, the Rabbinical Coordinator (RC) who manages OU kosher certification for Hershey’s. We probed the comprehensive meaning of the word confectionary, discussed new dairy-free Hershey’s chocolate products, arrived at a clear conclusion of what to learn from the philanthropic life of Milton […]
AI in the Food Industry
AI is already transforming the food industry. For instance, two OU kosher-certified companies have integrated AI into their operations, one to create a newly flavored product and the other to advance efficiency. Coca-Cola used AI data to track consumer habits at fountain soda machines and discovered that consumers often mixed cherry soda with sprite, inspiring […]
Coca Cola Freestyle Machines
Coca Cola Freestyle Machines enable the consumer to mix a variety of soft drink flavors to his/her own personal choice. All flavors available in the freestyle machines in the United States and Canada are products of the Coca Cola Company. We confirm that they are all produced under the certification of the Orthodox Union and […]
A Healthier Twist on Kosher Snacking: New Trends from Expo West 2023
A Healthier Twist on Kosher Snacking: New Trends from Expo West 2023 Natural Products Expo West is an annual event that brings together brands, innovators, and industry professionals in the natural, organic, and healthy products sector. Since its inception in 1981, Expo West has grown to become one of the largest trade shows in the […]
Rabbi Dovid Jenkins Speaks in the Kosher Sports Drink Arena
Spring and sports drinks are inextricably linked. It’s a time of more outdoor exercise calling for additional body replenishment. In North America, the sports drink market is burgeoning. One of the more well-known of them is OU kosher–certified Gatorade, an account managed by Rabbi Dovid Jenkins. We talked to him about the greatest kashrut concern […]
Rabbi Nachum Rabinowitz Discusses Kosher Wine and Passover
In 2023, US production of wine (including kosher wine) is on the rise, and wine is inextricably linked to Passover. We presented these two themes to Rabbi Nachum Rabinowitz, Senior OU Rabbinic Coordinator, who oversees certification for kosher alcoholic beverages and serves as the editor of the OU Passover Guide. He offered insights into both of these areas. Steven […]
Rabbi Dov Schreier Speaks OU Restaurants and Catering
Today, in a post Covid-19 world, people are looking for diets that nourish the mind in equal measure to the body. In this regard, the Mediterranean and flexitarian diets, which are related, have gained in popularity. Both emphasize plant-based eating, but consuming fish and meat in moderation is encouraged as well. Together, the properties in […]
Rabbi Gavriel Price Demystifies the Kosher Flavor Industry
Currently, cookie butter is one of a select number of flavors that are trending. I had the privilege to address questions to Rabbi Gavriel Price who manages flavor companies for the OU and is an expert in the flavor industry. He elaborated on the role of a flavorist, how confidential flavors can be certified, the […]