3
votes
4answers
93 views

food containers - why is hechser needed? [duplicate]

I want to buy a vacuum sealer for food. The vacuum bags do not have a hechsher. Normally, I buy ziplock bags that are OU. To keep this general, I am hoping someone can elaborate on the reason and ...
0
votes
2answers
26 views

Finding Kosher Fruit Flavored Snacks

Anyone know of a kosher fruit flavored snack, similar to these? According to oukosher.org there exists a "Scooby-Doo! Fruit Flavored Snacks 10 Count Carton" that is OU Parve, but I cannot find it ...
5
votes
1answer
54 views

Confectioners glaze - non alcoholic

Recently I read an article by Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff regarding confectioners glaze. Confectioners glaze is manufactured from shellac, "a glandular secretion of the lac insect, Kerria lacca, a ...
2
votes
1answer
105 views

Throwing out food with “questionable” hechsher - bal tashchis?

If one receive cooked food from a person that perhaps used ingrediants from a hechsher that one normally wouldn't eat is it bal tashchis to throw out the food? With packaged, store-bought food it ...
1
vote
1answer
303 views

What foods do not need a Pesach hechsher?

Which foods are kosher for Pesach with only a "year-round" hechsher, or with no hechsher at all?
1
vote
2answers
96 views

Does every thing need a hechsher?

Do objects used in food preparation and foods that have no or little chance of being not kosher really need a hechsher? Please cite sources, if you can.
0
votes
0answers
31 views

Can you buy a fillet of kosher fish from a non-kosher store? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Fresh fish need hechsher My wife complains that filleted fish at the kosher butcher is very expensive. Some people buy from the local grocery store, which is not ...
5
votes
4answers
398 views

Is Extra virgin olive oil kosher by default?

I was given extra virgin olive oil as a gift from Italy (picture below), and I wanted to see if that type of olive oil is treated like fruits and vegetables, or does it needs to have certification on ...
1
vote
0answers
109 views

Eating treif under hashgacha

What happens if someone eats at a restaurant with a kosher certification (hashgacha) but is served, and unknowingly eat non-kosher? What are the spiritual and halachic ramifications to all parties ...
4
votes
1answer
165 views

what is kosher meat?

I have heard different theories about Kosher foods, such as They sacrifice animal in a proper way They recite God's name when sacrificing the animal They only eat front limbs of animals. The rear ...
3
votes
2answers
149 views

What forbids eating in a Jewish-owned restaurant open on shabbat?

Many restaurants in Israel, when asked about their kashrut status, reply that they are open on Shabbat. Thus, no hechsher. This also exists in establishments that would have a relatively easy time ...
6
votes
0answers
127 views

The stolen maple syrup and kashrus

Does anyone know if there is going to be a kashrus problem with maple syrup next year? A rather large amount of maple syrup was stolen last year. The thieves did not keep it in the original casks, ...
12
votes
2answers
609 views

Why assume coffee is kosher

Why can it be assumed that coffee from coffee shops is kosher? Why couldn't the equipment become unkosher through exposure to non kosher ingredients or when being cleaned? For example the Canadian ...
0
votes
1answer
117 views

Non-kosher, non-Jewish-run, Sushi Restaurants

Is the food served at a non-kosher, non-Jewish run sushi restaurant considered non-kosher because of the non-kosher-ness of the knives, the bishul akum of the rice, or both?
2
votes
2answers
134 views

Does it make logical sense to “not hold by OU kashrus”?

Apparently there are some people who do not rely on the OU for kashrus. I have seen a few online references (i.e. this Matzav post) that claim this makes no logical sense, since virtually every other ...
6
votes
4answers
518 views

Which rabbis permit food being kosher just based on the ingredients?

Kosherstarbucks.com give options of what to order based on different halakhic standards. They include the "No Utensils List" (CRC-recommended), the Regular list, and the Kosher by Ingredients list ...
2
votes
0answers
40 views

Dead Fly on Hot Oily Pan [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Does a pot that cooked food with a bug in it need to be kashered afterward? Fly lands on hot oily pan and duly dies. Kashrut implications? (Of the pan, not the fly :p )
2
votes
1answer
59 views

Efshar LeSoḥato Asur - because or even though?

I'm trying to comprehend the concept of "אפשר לסוחטו אסור" (roughly: "if it's possible to extract it - something prohibited from something otherwise permitted - it is prohibited"). As far as I can ...
7
votes
1answer
155 views

Timtum Halev not b'derech achila

Does the notion of Timtum Halev -- dulling of the heart (spirutal damage) which Rabbeniu Bachaye explains in Vayikra 11:43 -- apply when the non kosher food was put in one's body without doing it ...
5
votes
2answers
280 views

Does instant coffee (regular - not decaffeinated) need a Hashgacha?

There are certain raw ingredients that do not require a Hashgacha (salt, water, eggs, etc.). Does instant coffee (regular - not decaffeinated) need a Hashgacha? If yes, why?
6
votes
2answers
868 views

At a non-kosher restaurant, is sliced raw fish kosher?

At a non-kosher restaurant, is thinly-sliced raw fish kosher? Let's assume one sees the preparer clean the knife and cut from the whole fish. Also, let's assume this raw fish is sashimi — ...
11
votes
1answer
170 views

In a bulk food store, must I ask to see the original label every time I return and buy my favorite food?

I know that where I live, some foods don't need kosher certification. But most do. Say I go to a reliable bulk food store, ask to see the original bucket that a certain food came in, see a reliable ...
1
vote
1answer
195 views

Is Japanese whisky kosher?

Here's an interesting article about whisky produced in Japan. Have any of the Kashrut authorities said anything about whether such whisky requires supervision? Do any such whiskies have supervision? ...
8
votes
4answers
604 views

Who determines the kosher status of “new” foods?

Who determines the kosher status for "new" processed foods (e.g. Jell-O)? A few orthodox rabbis' approval? General consensus by the Jewish religious community? Certain kosher standards organizations? ...
6
votes
3answers
386 views

Can I trust a non-kosher home's coffee pot?

I thought I heard that its ok to use a coffee pot in a non-kosher home, but I could be mistaken. Does anyone know?
2
votes
1answer
1k views

Reliability of the OKS

I dont know if this type of question is allowed but I was told to ask it here The symbol is on some restaurants in the NY tri-state area (like Crumbs Bake Shop for example) and I have heard of quite ...
1
vote
2answers
185 views

Can jews eat unclean animals when blood is removed?

http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0512.htm Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh within all thy gates, after all the desire of thy soul, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God ...
7
votes
3answers
97 views

Is there any reason (based on the laws of kashrut) that one cannot brine kashered meat?

On Seasoned Advice, there is a question regarding brining kosher birds. Is there any halachic reason that one cannot brine meat that has already been kashered?
10
votes
2answers
311 views

In what way is kosher chicken different from brined chicken?

Over on Seasoned Advice, there have been a number of questions related to the nature of kosher meat and the amount of salt absorbed by the meat. Most recently, In what way is kosher chicken different ...
0
votes
0answers
202 views

Can I kasher a ceramic mug? [closed]

I have a ceramic mug which may have been used for a non-kosher hot beverage. I'm really not sure, I'm thinking I used it for coffee made at my parents' house a while back, though I'm not entirely ...
3
votes
0answers
88 views

Can I use Bounty to drain my food? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Kashrus of Paper Towels Using paper towels such as bounty can be very useful when on a diet for draining the oil off of foods. However, I heard rumors that bounty is ...
4
votes
1answer
174 views

Does consuming raw meat make one Fleishigs?

If one is making meat, and while the meat is still raw licks his/her fingers, does s/he become Fleishigs (to wait the appropriate amount of time before eating dairy)? Essentially if we boil (excuse ...
7
votes
3answers
396 views

How much does one have to eat to become Fleishigs?

Is there a minimum amount of meat or chicken required to be eaten in order to change one's status to being "fleishig" (i.e. so that he would have to wait before eating dairy)? [same question can be ...
11
votes
5answers
7k views

What Issues Exist with the Tablet K Hecksher?

The Tablet-K hechsher is quite common on products in US supermarkets - especially cheeses. There seems to be a strong sentiment that it is not an acceptable hechsher, but I've heard no halachik ...
5
votes
2answers
215 views

Can an immersion heater be used to kasher a sink? Does anyone have experience with this?

Normally, to "kasher" or "kosherize" a metal sink (from non-kosher to kosher, or before Passover), you clean it out well, make sure it's used for nothing hot for 24 hours, then pour boiling water all ...
8
votes
2answers
371 views

What's the halachic advantage of double (or triple) wrapping food?

I've heard of both double and triple wrapping when it comes to shielding a food item in an oven with regards to Kashrus. What exactly does double or triple wrapping accomplish that one wrapping ...
5
votes
1answer
125 views

How to prevent holes when double wrapping food?

When cooking milk in a meat oven (or kosher food in a treif one) I often find that when one wraps using aluminum foil, small holes appear (probably from the heat). I was wondering if anyone knows a ...
6
votes
3answers
179 views

Can Whole Fruits or Vegetables Have Non-Kosher Additives?

Many (perhaps all?) fruits and vegetables grown these days contain various "other stuff" such as pesticides and protective coatings. I suppose that fruits whose peels are removed do not pose a ...
12
votes
4answers
797 views

Is a rare steak kosher?

If you have a steak medium to rare, such that it's still pink in the middle, is it kosher? At what point is meat cooked enough?
2
votes
2answers
182 views

“Safe” Foods in Non-Mehadrin Situations

Given the fact that both Mehadrin and Non-Mehadrin exist, what are foods that can be safely eaten in non-mehadrin places? I.e. they would not be problemaic. (also, assuming Shemittah is not a ...
2
votes
4answers
143 views

Is there a higher standard of kashrut for chicken analogous to “chalak beit yosef” for beef?

If I understand correctly, if someone wants to keep an extra-super-high standard of kashrut for themselves, s/he can look for "chalak beit yosef" beef, which means ("super-glatt") the lungs had ...
6
votes
1answer
120 views

Place Mats - Why and When?

When are placemats needed when eating, and why are they needed?
14
votes
4answers
251 views

When did kosher bakeries, restaurants, etc. start requiring supervision?

If my neighbor Shmerel keeps kosher and otherwise appears to be observant to the best of my knowledge, then I'd be allowed to eat in his house (assuming I'm invited), eid echad ne'eman b'issurin, his ...
7
votes
3answers
348 views

Kosher symbols on non-food items

I just bought a box of 100 sandwich bags and on the box there is an (U) symbol. This is neither unique nor uncommon. Why do marks of hechsher appear on non-food products? Is there anyone in the world ...
6
votes
1answer
424 views

Is Vegemite kosher?

Is Vegemite kosher? What hechsher?
3
votes
3answers
245 views

Are there any national brands of tuna that are Bishul Yisroel?

Are there any national brands of tuna in the USA that are Bishul Yisroel?
4
votes
5answers
177 views

What other work can a mashgiach do in a kosher restaurant today?

In a kosher restaurant today, must the mashgiach (kosher inspector) spend 100% of his time watching everything, or can he do some other work in the restaurant? How much work? I know this may vary ...
5
votes
2answers
81 views

At what point was it recommended to have a separate kosher certifier (mashgiach) for local Jewish businesses?

If I understand correctly, you can generally walk into an observant Jew's house (upon invitation) and if he says the food is kosher, you assume the food is kosher. Now if the same fellow has a kosher ...
3
votes
2answers
111 views

Bishul Akum Technology

Is there Bishul Akum when Using a Microwave being that it is not Cooking as it was in the times of CHAZAL?
5
votes
3answers
425 views

Is there a kashrus issue with paper towels?

Is there any concern about using paper towels with hot food? I know there are some who advise against using the first few and last few sheets during Pesach, due to the presence of starch-based glue ...

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