Kosher Professionals
Automation at Scale, Assurance by Design: How OU Kosher Aligns Digital Production with Verified Compliance
Major manufacturers are pouring multi-billion-dollar budgets into digital production and logistics Major manufacturers are pouring multi-billion-dollar budgets into digital production and logistics—including OU Kosher certified brands and companies such as Oreo (Mondelez), Kellogg’s, Chobani, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo. As plants add sensors, data historians, and automated workflows, OU Kosher is evolving with them. In many cases, […]
OU Kosher’s Women’s Seminar Offers Deep Dive into Kosher Certification
ASK OU 2025 Summer Women’s Kashrus Experience Attendees Gain Rare Insights into the Precision and Professionalism Behind OU Kosher’s Work As a cooking instructor, personal chef, and author of The Giving Table cookbook, Naomi Ross of Woodmere, New York, has been well-versed in recipe development and food preparation for years Thanks to a […]
Capital on the Move: Major 2025 Investments by OU Kosher Certified Companies
The global food industry in 2025 is experiencing a wave of capital investment—not just in physical infrastructure like plants and distribution centers, but also in technology, sustainability, and food safety systems. This surge is driven by shifting consumer preferences, the need for resilient supply chains, and tighter regulatory demands. Both established players and ambitious startups […]
FDA Updates Labeling Compliance Program — What It Means for OU Kosher-Certified Facilities
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a major update to its general food labeling compliance program. The revised program, Compliance Program 7321.005, replaces the 2010 version and is now titled “General Food Labeling Requirements and Labeling-Related Sample Analysis — Domestic and Import.” It reflects the FDA’s current regulations, inspection priorities, and enforcement […]
Tariffs Are Driving Up Ingredient Prices—OU Kosher Helps You Stay Ahead
With the return of Trump-era tariffs and new duties on Chinese imports—including spices, preservatives, and food colors—ingredient costs are climbing fast. U.S. food manufacturers, especially those using garlic, ginger, turmeric, and shelf-stable additives, are seeing new pricing pressure just as they recover from pandemic-era disruptions. “Spices have already seen price increases due to rising freight […]
200 Industry Professionals Unite at Annual OU Kosher Conference Focused on Innovation and Global Kashrus Issues
Presenters and Honorees Included Leaders from International Kashrus Agencies For over 30 years, OU Kosher Rabbinic Coordinators (RCs) and Rabbinic Field Representatives (RFRs) have convened for OU Kosher’s Annual Kashrus Conference to explore advancements in kosher certification, share best practices, and strengthen global professional relationships. This year’s 31st conference marked a historic first: […]
Pas Yisroel List For 5785 – 2024
Updated September 26, 2024 – Elul 5784 The Tur (Orach Chaim, Siman 603), based upon the Talmud Yerushalmi, cites the custom for Jews to be stringent during the Aseres Yimei Teshuva to eat exclusively ‘Pas Yisroel’ bread. Even those Jews who generally do not exclusively eat ‘Pas Yisroel’ are encouraged to accept this practice during […]
OU Kosher Meets the Challenge of Certifying the Beverage Industry
A discussion of the challenges and opportunities of Kosher Certification within the beverage industry.
Kosher Fish Production: Getting Into the Stream of Things
A Q&A on Kosher Fish Production So your fish processing company is thinking about becoming OU kosher, but you have some questions? We can help! All kosher fish must have (fins and scales). Furthermore, the scales must be capable of being removed without tearing the fish’s skin (See Rema Yoreh Deah 83:1). It is not […]
The Life and Times of an Application for OU Kosher Certification
In the beginning – the first step to kosher certification When a new company submits an application for kosher certification it sets a number of people and processes in motion. This article will take you behind the scenes at OU Kosher, from the time an application is received until the letter of kosher certification (LOC) […]