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 and insurance costs,” said Bryan See, global marketing manager for ExcelVite, in Food Dive. “With tariffs, it will definitely impact costs further.”
In this volatile environment, OU Kosher is more than a certification agency—it’s a strategic partner.
Ingredient Intelligence: Tap Into OU’s Global Insights
OU Kosher certifies more than 1.3 million ingredients across 100+ countries. Our team of Rabbinic Field Representatives (RFRs) visits thousands of facilities annually, providing OU with real-time, on-the-ground intelligence about ingredient supply chains, pricing shifts, and sourcing trends—especially in Asia and Latin America, where many alternative suppliers are based.
This broad ingredient intelligence means:
- You can identify kosher-certified ingredient alternatives outside high-tariff regions, including India, Southeast Asia, and South America.
- You gain access to OU’s Ingredient Search Tool to pivot quickly without compromising compliance.
- You receive guidance on ingredient substitutions with minimal reformulation or production downtime.
Respond to Tariffs with OU’s Global Certification Network
“The new tariffs will apply to food colors and preservatives, as well as spices and other shelf-stable ingredients from China,” according to Food Business News.
For OU Kosher-certified companies, this challenge also brings opportunity. With OU’s global certification network:
- Ingredient companies can position new supply sources for North American buyers seeking alternatives.
- Food manufacturers can work with OU to qualify backup or secondary suppliers—many of whom already hold kosher certification—without starting from scratch.
Kosher Certification as a Supply Chain Advantage
OU Kosher certification gives companies a built-in framework for ingredient traceability and transparency. In a time when regulatory oversight and market pressures are tightening, having OU Kosher as part of your compliance and quality system ensures:
- Confidence in the origin and integrity of your ingredients.
- Flexibility to diversify supply chains across multiple regions.
- Enhanced ability to adapt to regulatory or economic shifts without halting production.
“Suppliers and manufacturers are already working to diversify supply chains,” Forbes reports. “But that takes time, investment and often reformulation.”
OU Kosher helps you do it faster—with an existing map of the kosher ingredient world, and expert guidance from staff who understand both religious and commercial requirements.
Put OU Kosher’s Tools to Work
Need to find an alternative ingredient or understand what’s happening in a specific market?
Reach out to your OU account rep—or explore our tools on OU Direct and the OU Ingredient Search—to access verified kosher sources and make smarter sourcing decisions faster.