About ASK OU

As the leader in worldwide kosher certification, the Orthodox Union takes additional steps to serve as a leader in educating the public in matters of kosher law. Over the past several years, OU Kosher, in partnership with the Harry H. Beren Foundation of New Jersey, has developed numerous kashrus educational programs for the benefit of […]

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 […]

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