Questions about kosher certification of commercial food products.
14
votes
4answers
465 views
Does a Food Mashgiach have to Sacrifice his Life?
Suppose a Mashgiach of a food establishment is threatened to "keep quiet" about some of the questionable behaviors [for purposes of the question, consider both actual non-kosher, and possibly ...
14
votes
4answers
247 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 ...
13
votes
2answers
447 views
Why doesn't the OU put DE on food packages anymore?
The OU used to put DE next to the OU symbol when a product was Dairy Equipment. Such a product can not be eaten with meat but can be eaten right afterwards (you don't need to wait the amount of time ...
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 ...
11
votes
2answers
3k views
Is there a problem with Triangle K? If so, what?
I want to know what the OU's or any other Orthodox kashrut agency's problem is with Triangle K. I have read about the Ralbag family which founded and runs the Triangle K and they are clearly Orthodox. ...
11
votes
1answer
169 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 ...
11
votes
1answer
374 views
Kosher Cheese without a posted hechsher
I live in a remote area of Canada and don't have access to a kosher market to buy cheese. There are many European imports in the local super, and I was wondering if there is a list of cheeses which ...
9
votes
2answers
386 views
A site to search Kosher Symbols by characteristics?
Several years ago, I found a website that let me search and sort Kosher symbols by look and other characteristics. It seemed like each symbol was tagged with its distinctive features. This was very ...
9
votes
3answers
111 views
Must I check the kashrut certificate every time I visit a bakery or restaurant?
Say I visit a bakery, restaurant, jail, hospital, or nursing home. And say I already know that the food there is kosher. Must I still check the kashrut certificate every time I visit?
(Gershon ...
8
votes
4answers
603 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? ...
8
votes
5answers
337 views
Which Kosher Certifications are trusted by all?
There are many hechsheirim in today's world, but unfortunately, not everyone considers all of them to be on par with their standards. Nonetheless, I am assuming (and you may correct me if I'm wrong) ...
8
votes
4answers
190 views
If a product with a Hechsher doesn't say dairy does that mean it's pareve?
I'm not sure when this practice started, but I noticed that many/most/all Kosher Certifications indicate whether a product is dairy or not. Does a lack of such a marking indicate that the product is ...
8
votes
2answers
306 views
How can people drink 7-11 Slurpees and soda?
There is no real Hechser on 7-11 Slurpees. How do people drink them? Is going on the Star-K's list okay? What about soda from the machine? I found that 7-11 switches the spouts sometimes. So even if ...
8
votes
3answers
126 views
Shofar Certification
When purchasing a Shofar, is it necessary to look for a 'hechsher' to ensure that it was manufactured properly (e.g, no cracks), or can its suitability be determined just by visual examination?
7
votes
3answers
765 views
Mehadrin vs. Non Mehadrin
What's the difference between mehadrin and non-mehadrin certifications.
(e.g. at http://www.kosherinjerusalem.com/where_to_eat/kosher-hotels)
7
votes
2answers
178 views
Are there any hechshers that certify food as kosher for B'nei Noach?
Are there any hechshers that certify food as kosher for B'nei Noach? Or any restaurants that offer such food? If not, how do observant B'nei Noach ensure that the meat that they eat was definitely not ...
6
votes
4answers
199 views
asking to see a kashrus certificate
A restaurant has a sign on its window, or a notation in an advertisement, indicating that it's under the kashrus certification of Rabbi So-and-so or Agency Such-and-such. The first time someone walks ...
6
votes
2answers
192 views
Is there anywhere in the world I can still get a hot chocolate without a hechsher?
~150 years ago in Eastern Europe, the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch wrote that you could usually go buy a coffee, tea, or hot chocolate without having to worry about its kosher ingredients (or bishul akum). ...
6
votes
2answers
115 views
Brochos Listed on Food Packages
I noticed that many times there are Brochos listed on food packages (e.g. "ברכתו מזונות"). Is there any standard with regards to who is supplying the Halachic data? Is it generally the Hashgacha ...
6
votes
1answer
423 views
6
votes
0answers
126 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, ...
6
votes
0answers
267 views
Does bagged lettuce need a hechsher?
Does one need a hechsher on commercially available bagged lettuce? Or is the standard washing process used by the producers sufficient to remove all insects of halachic significance?
Anecdotally, ...
5
votes
2answers
279 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?
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Which hechsheirim are reliable?
How can I find out which hechsheirim are reliable and which ones aren't?
5
votes
5answers
325 views
Why do some people oppose Tav haYosher?
Is there a halachic reason to be opposed to Uri L'Tzedek and Tav haYosher? Why do some frum Jews oppose it?
Really the only things that I can find is that Uri L'Tzedek is left-wing and led by YCT ...
5
votes
4answers
180 views
Unsupervised meat and closed restaurants/butchers
How does Basar SheNith'alem Min Ha'Ayin (meat that has disappeared from view) apply vis a vis restaurants/delis/supermarkets/butchers that have closed for the night/weekend/holiday? I was just ...
5
votes
1answer
117 views
Where are these mysterious OU documents?
I was recently reading a Halachically Speaking article and noticed that in many places in the footnotes, a reference to an OU Document is made. For example:
Refer to OU Document A-94
Is this ...
5
votes
1answer
74 views
Claims on food labels: says who?
Sometimes a food item under rabbinical supervision claims on its package label not only to be under that supervision but also to contain only yashan grain, or to not contain sh'ruya, or to contain ...
5
votes
1answer
97 views
What are the kashrut standards of the various nationwide (and regional) kashrut agencies?
I'd like to see a resource developed which transparently compares the standards of the various kashrut agencies. Just like I can retrieve an incredibly in-depth comparison chart from Wikipedia ...
5
votes
0answers
190 views
Fresh fish need hechsher
Does fresh fish from a supermarket or fish market require a hechsher? I would be tempted to believe that a fish known to be of a kosher variety would not need certification since there is no shechita ...
4
votes
4answers
638 views
Does soda need a hechsher?
I have noticed that many cans of pepsi don't have a hechsher (kosher symbol) on them. Do they need one?
4
votes
3answers
351 views
kashrus of mouthwash, toothpaste, lip balm
What are the halachic and factual issues involved in, and various rabbis' holdings on, whether flavored mouthwash, flavored toothpaste, and flavored lip balm need to be kosher, or need a hechsher ...
4
votes
0answers
26 views
Cities' רבנויות's accepting others' food
Years ago, IIRC, I heard the following from a respectable source:
By Israeli law, if the רבנות of one city certifies a food as kosher, then the רבנות of any other city must allow that food as an ...
3
votes
5answers
206 views
What was the first product to receive Kosher certification?
What was the first product to receive Kosher certification?
3
votes
4answers
87 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
Is Rabbi Barnett Hasden's “Ner Tamid K” hechsher recommended?
Does anyone here know anything about the reliability of "Rabbi Barnett Hasden of Ner Tamid K in Staten Island, NY"?
3
votes
1answer
81 views
cocoa spread kashrus lapesach leniency
I have a tub of Hashahar H'aole (sic) "special cocoa spread" ("k'rem muvchar limricha"), a product of Israel exported to be marketed in the States. Its listed ingredients are "sugar, vegetable oil, ...
3
votes
2answers
92 views
Why do we use a tight heuristic for fish egg kashrut and not trust supervision?
I recently listened to this podcast from the OU Kashrut Division on the kashrut of Bowfin eggs in particular and of fish eggs in general, and I learned something interesting about the kashrut of fish ...
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 ...
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
191 views
Does cheese without a hekhsher tref dishes?
I've heard that Rav Soloveitchik ztz"l used to eat non-hekhshered cheese. Can you explain how the creation of hashgachah agencies has changed whether things need hashgachah, and would it be reasonable ...
2
votes
1answer
211 views
“Hospitality” Cereal Kosher?
It's a generic brand. I don't have access to the box and can't find any way to check…
2
votes
0answers
99 views
Resources for the Kulot (leniencies) that the Rabbanut in Israel Takes [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Mehadrin vs. Non Mehadrin
I am preparing a chabura on the leniencies that the Rabbanut in Israel takes. With the understanding that the various Rabbanut branches around ...
1
vote
2answers
95 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.
1
vote
1answer
74 views
Waiting to reveal Kosher issue in order to get to the root of the problem
Suppose a Mashgiach realizes that a store is selling Treif meat, however is unsure as to the source of the problem. If he announces immediately that this store is selling something not Kosher he may ...
1
vote
1answer
302 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
1answer
192 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?
...
-5
votes
1answer
79 views
slander or truth abou OU Kashrus [closed]
I don't want to look like a total jerk but i heard from someone whose sister is married to an important rav that the OU kashrus is not so reliable as you might believe. they depend on paperwork that ...
