Consumer Kosher Articles

Thanksgiving and Cranberries

If I were to ask you what connection exists between the end of a famous song, a president, a general, a bouncing ball and a well-known British-American journalist, what would you answer? Interestingly, the answer comes by way of a superfood known as cranberries. In the fadeout to the song, “Strawberry Fields Forever,” John Lennon […]

Shemitah – Glossary of Terms

Heter Mechirah A legal instrument to sell Jewish-owned land in Israel to non-Jews and thereby circumvent the shemittah status of produce grown on those lands. Otzar Beis Din A harvest and distribution system of produce run by rabbinical court in accordance with shemittah restrictions. Proceeds of the sale of produce (at a pre-set price) goes […]

Shemitah Produce in Chutz Laaretz: Its Laws and Applications

Introduction Our Sages teach us that all cycles of seven have special meaning (Yalkut Shemot 276). Every seven days is shabbos, purification is a seven-day process, and every seven years is shemitah. The Sifra in Bechukosai (26:31) explains that the lesson of shemitah is to internalize that even though we work the land, it belongs […]

Why Kosher Apple Cider Vinegar?

When you talk fermentation, you’re discussing nature at its best, and apple cider vinegar is a product formed through the fermentation process. Of course, to satisfy kashrut standards, a symbol is needed to certify yeast additives that initiate the fermentation process as well as ensuring there are no shared equipment issues. To make apple cider […]

Probing the Flexitarian Diet: Innovations in Kosher Plant-Based Protein Foods

The flexitarian diet has gained in popularity and with many studies saying it’s the healthiest. It’s grounded in the Mediterranean diet, and is the best of meat and plant based worlds. When discussing any kind of diet, the fundamental issue is usually protein. Proteins are the building blocks of life and are needed for many […]

A Flexible Diet the Kosher Way

If you were to attend a wedding with a standout kosher spread including meat and other items, would you feel guilty of partaking of the food due to dietary concerns? I think the answer would often be yes, but it doesn’t have to be. After analyzing where modern research has come in terms of how […]

Kosher Food for the Brain

This is mental health awareness month and mental health is trending for 2021. OU Kosher certifies products that can help in this area like Norman’s Greek Yogurt Creamy Blends – Vanilla Lavender, a soothing probiotic that can produce good bacteria in the gut which is important for the brain as well, as the gut produces 95% […]

Kosher Plant-Based Foods is a Natural Combination

OU Kosher certifies some of the newest and most innovative companies in the plant-based food market. Impossible Foods which has had tremendous success with its Impossible Burger is moving forward with a multibillion IPO. Nestle has already debuted its Awesome Burger. ADM manufactures pea proteins to mimic meat flavors and Cargill has gained a strong […]

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 […]

The Tortilla Wrap Hack

Inspired by a Tiktok posting, the “tortilla wrap hack” is the newest trend in light meal preparation. Creating a kosher wrap in this fashion has never been easier. When first introduced it received over 2 billion views on Tiktok. This new wrap also coincides with the fact that Mexican based food has returned as a […]