Questions tagged [hechsher-certification]
Questions about kosher certification of commercial food products.
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Swallowed medicine hechser
Does medicine which is swallowed (either dry or with water), but not at all chewed need a kosher hechser? Is there a responsa on this?
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Are Colgate wisps allowed?
I am basing my question based off a question asked here.
It seems like from there the general consensus seems that toothpaste does not have to be kosher. The way the wisp works is that it is a mini ...
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Choosing a Hechsher
I am wondering if there is any listing of hechsheirim which provides ratings on their reliability as well as their leanings toward lenient psakim.
I have heard horror stories of hechsheirim which are ...
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"Not Pas Yisroel" certification Gardein, a frozen grocery item
Gardein is a brand of frozen food certified Kosher by Kosher Check.
Under their logo on the packaging for Seven Grain Crispy Tenders they've put the words "Not Pas Yisroel." The instructions ...
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What is this "vvk" or "AAk" hechsher?
A dietary supplement claims to be kosher:
The Ⓥ is probably to indicate it is vegan, and isn't the hechsher of the Vaad Hoeir of Saint Louis, but the ᓫ𝗄 remains a mystery.
I've checked all the lists ...
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Why do we check clothing for Shaatnez - isn't it a מיעוט (שאנו מצוי)?
Is it really necessary to check clothing for Shaatnez (the biblically forbidden admixture of wool and linen)?
In all my years of shopping (in Jewish and non-Jewish stores, US and worldwide) I have ...
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May one take vitamins without a hechsher? [closed]
I.e, vitamins from big pharmacies. Are there kashrus issues? Must they be certified?
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Identity Magen David/Star of David symbol with K in the middle certification
I have seen a kosher symbol with a Magen David and a K in the middle on a few product. I tried to google specific keywords but could not find anything. So I will attach a screenshot I found.
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Items not labeled Kosher for Passover [duplicate]
What halachic concern(s) are there with items which are 100% non chametz and do not contain chametz (e.g. olive oil - or for that matter avocado, cottonseed and whatever other types of oils, pure ...
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Does a vegetable oil that is used for Shabbos lamps need a hechsher?
Does a vegetable oil that is used to light the Shabbos lamp need a hechsher? I am talking specifically about extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil.
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Certified vs. Uncertified Costco Salmon
Salmon is generally considered by kashruth authorities to be distinctively identifiable as kosher from the appearance of the flesh. Nonetheless, I've noticed that the local Costco sells (side by side) ...
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The Secret of Nature Valley
What, if any, might be legitimate halachik concerns with uncertified Nature Valley granola bars? Their "Crunchy" line of products seems to be certified as OU pareve(?) However, many of their other ...
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Case Study: Kashrut of Tapioca Starch
I have heard different answers from representatives of the cRc and the Star-K regarding the kashrut of un-certified tapioca starch. While both agree that it requires a hechsher for Pessach, the Star-K ...
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Does anybody recognize this kashrus symbol? Rectangle K US
As the title says, does anybody know this kosher symbol? It looks like a large K with the letters U and S on top and bottom of it, inside of a rectangle. The product brand is Super Cakes, subsidiary ...
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Triangle-K hechcher for butter [duplicate]
I know there are issues with the Triangle-K hechcher and I know we've talked about it:
Is there a problem with Triangle K? If so, what?
But the only butter that's kosher for Passover that I could ...
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Frequency of inspection at vegan restaurants
Does a vegan restaurant require a permanent mashgiach on the premises to be certified kosher?
For large factories that get a hechsher, supervision is limited to sporadic surprise inspections. (No ...
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Is this "Crown PL" a kosher symbol?
The international food company Pampa sells a tin of herring fillets in oil, but I do not recognize this symbol on the back and cannot find information on the Internet of whether this is actually a ...
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Why are junk foods, which are poor for your health, certified kosher?
Why do rabbis allow hechsherim on junk food and other foods which are clearly bad for you health? Many products are clearly not good for you such as soda pop, baked goods with trans fats, food with ...
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Who certifies the hechsher magen David with a K replacing the right side?
This symbol appears on Trader Joe's Organic Tahini.
I have searched in a lot places, but cannot find it. The product is made in Greece. Anyone know who gives this hechsher and if it is reliable?
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Kosher Supervision [closed]
Is it okay for a food manufacturer to have two supervisions? (OU and Kof-K) If our raw materials are under OU supervision and our co-packing finished goods are under Kof-K. Do we need to streamline ...
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Just the word "kosher" on a package
I have seen packages which just have the words "kosher, pareve" on them and no other hechsher can be found. Does that make it kosher, because the words is all the hechsher it needs?
Additionally, who ...
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Toveling an item with Hashgacha
Many years ago, my parents bought me a jar of cider which had a hashgocha clearly visible on it. The cider came in a handled mug with a top (like this https://is.alicdn.com/img/pb/572/105/517/...
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Why would a disposable plastic containers need a hechsher?
Why would a disposable plastic container, such as the one depicted above, need an O-U?
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Maris ayin and kosher certification
What reasoning is used by mainstream kosher certification agencies to certify food items containing only kosher ingredients but packaged and/or designed to look and/or taste non-kosher. For example, ...
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Are there any kashrut issues with Kay Kosher?
Are there any kashrut issues with Kay Kosher?
Apparently it certifies U-Bet syrup. I grew up non-kosher but am currently keeping, and I want an egg cream.
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Is Dr. Pepper Kosher?
Is Dr. Pepper, a soft-drink with particular popularity in Texas, kosher? What about the vintage version that is sweetened with sugar as opposed to artificial sweeteners? There is no hechsher on the ...
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Should everyone be makpid on cholov yisroel for foods manufactured outside the U.S.A.? [duplicate]
As far as I understand, many American Jews eat "cholov hacompanies" (=non-CY) because there is a very good heter for it from the Igros Moshe. However, R'Moshe's heter seems to apply only to dairy ...
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With what packaged foods is there a concern of bishul akum?
I have heard that foods fit for a king's table ("oleh al shulchan melachim") must be bishul yisroel; however, I am wondering to what extent this applies to packaged foods, if at all. Are any packaged ...
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Do fresh noodles need a hashgacha?
I saw this video earlier today and it got me thinking: nothing in the recipe for fresh ramen noodles (as opposed to instant ramen) requires a hechsher on its own, as the ingredients are: flour, water, ...
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What's with the plain-"K" hechsher?
I had taken for granted that packaged foods marked with just "K" are not necessarily kosher--that is, that "K" is not a real hechsher--because the company prints that symbol itself, and it does not ...
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Are Lindeman's fruit lambic beers endorsed as kosher by any other agencies?
Lindeman's Beer has a hechsher from the Triangle K. This hechsher is recommended (by many kosher agencies) only for certain products. Is there another organization that has also verified the koshrus ...
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Do those who keep Cholov Yisroel eat products marked "K-DE"?
Some hechshers have the designation "DE" for "Dairy Equipment." Do those who keep Cholov Yisroel eat food with this designation? (I am mostly talking about the minority who consider [American] cholov ...
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Is Cup-K reliable?
I've recently seen a hashgacha around NYC called Cup-K or CupK. However, I have been able to find precious little about it and what I have found seems mostly to consist of unsubstiatable rumours. Does ...
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Japanese Ritz crackers and OU certification
In Japan there are some food products that are identical to American brands but with Japanese packaging. For example, here is the Japanese box for Ritz crackers:
Ritz are certified kosher in America (...
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How frequently should Shatnez laboratories be checked?
Many cities have a laboratory where individuals can take their clothes to check if there is shatnez and if necessary to remove it.
Often these laboratories are under the supervision of the local Beis ...
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In Israel, what is the difference between l'mehadrin and badatz
In Israel, what is the difference between l'mehadrin and badatz? Also, is there a regular kosher that is different from these two?
Do they differ with respect to kashrut standards (e.g., require pas ...
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Plain seltzer on Pesach
The 2016 Passover Directory published by the Star-K (Orthodox Jewish Council of Baltimore) says:
Any unflavored seltzer may be used.
A 2016 Twitter post by the Chicago Rabbinical Council says:
...
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Coca Cola on Pesach
Yabia Omer writes that Citric Acid isn't a issue on Pesach. Does that deem Coca Cola Kosher for Passover even without a hechsher as a Sefardi?
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If eggs have a hechsher, must you still check them for blood spots?
In general, one checks the yolks of raw eggs for blood spots before using them. However, is it strictly necessary to do this with eggs that have a hechsher on the box? Please provide an authoritative ...
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Need for Certification of Sake
Does anyone know why all the kashrut organizations (that I know of), require all sake (the Japanese alcohol) to have a hechscher? I would think that since junmai sake is required by law to contain ...
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Why do soft cheeses made by gentiles, like cottage cheese, have a hechsher, while others like mozzarella not have a hechsher?
I noticed Rav Abadi says all soft cheeses made by gentiles are kosher.
Do other poskim also hold like him?
If yes please post who.
Both cottage cheese and mozzarella require rennet, so I'm not ...
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Is there a concept of "bitul beshishim" with regards to fish?
Years ago, some brands of Worcestershire sauce as well as a few salad dressings were marked "OU fish". This meant that one was not allowed to use this sauce on a piece of meat or have it on the same ...
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Identity of Star-of-David kosher symbol
What is the certifying agency that uses a kosher symbol comprised of a Star-of-David containing another odd-looking symbol within it?:
It is carried by, e.g., Byrne Dairy milks (of New York State)....
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If a food product has a heretical/idol worship image on it, and a hechsher as well, may one partake of it?
There is this food/drink product that has a Christian symbol and other associated things, and yet there is also a hechsher.
Assuming the hechsher is accepted to be reliable etc., may one consume (i....
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Why does medical marijuana need a kosher supervision?
Today, NY State joined several others in opening clinics to dispense medical marijuana. Distribution of this is restricted to patients who have severe illnesses such as Parkinson's Disease, epilepsy, ...
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Why would spring water or mineral water need a kosher certification?
Nearly every popular U.S. brand of spring or mineral water that I've seen has a kosher certification symbol on the bottle. Amonng them are Perrier and Saratoga (mineral / sparkling) and Poland Spring ...
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Why should a kashrus certification agency change their standards?
Today I learned that the Oasis Mediterranean Foods company (located in Toledo, OH) has lost their hechsher on stuffed grape leaves. Formerly the entire product line was certified by Star-K, so I ...
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Does MSG require a hechsher?
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a popular food additive that lends umami (savory) flavor. Do pure MSG crystals require a hechsher?
user3318
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do blanched, slivered almonds need a hechsher?
I have seen blanched, slivered almonds sold in packages. Hypothetically do these need a hechsher? I am aware that blanching involves heating so I imagine there could be kashrut concerns, but on the ...
user3318
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Why doesn't Kellogg's print the symbol of their certifying agency on their boxes
I have separated my previous question about Kellogg's cereals into different posts based on the comments on that question.
The cRc recommends Kellogg's cereals with only a k on the box. In my ...
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