Kosher certification is an internationally accepted purity standard brought about by Judaic laws of food consumption. For a product to be Kosher certified, the company manufacturing it needs to adhere to the strict guidelines of Kosher Certification Agencies. Based on the Jewish belief in purity and cleanliness, there are specific requirements for the process of getting certified as Kosher.
In this article, let’s jump into what those requirements are and how to get kosher certification.
Food requirements
It’s mandatory that the entirety of the ingredients used in a product needs to be Kosher-certified.
Only ruminating animals who have cloven feet, and fowl are permitted for consumption. Other animals who do not satisfy these criteria are not allowed.
Only the fish that have detachable scales and fins are approved to be eaten.
Ill or wounded animals are not permitted to be consumed.
None of these animals are to be fed non-kosher foods.
Slaughter of these animals needs to be done in a specified way and by an agreed person.
Company Requirements
The country of the company seeking Kosher Certification must be safe enough to send a Rabbi for supervision. In case the country is facing an issue of war, safety rules need to be in place.
In addition to all ingredients being Kosher-certified, the equipment used for production needs to have a seal of approval as well. Moreover, the supplier of such ingredients must also be certified as Kosher.
A company must have a separate unit designated for the production of foods that have Kosher certification. In case a company doesn’t meet this rule, it should be well within its financial capacity to have its production process constantly monitored to ensure non-contamination.
If a company passes on its production to Contract Manufacturing Services, the contract manufacturer has to pledge to be a Kosher facility. In case this isn’t viable, more frequent monitoring and koshering of the equipment is required.
How to get Kosher Certification? What is the koshering process?
The process of getting Kosher certified is a straightforward one. Let’s understand the in-depth method of certification.
Step 1 - Initial enquiry
Contact a Kosher Certification Agency and share the basic details such as the company name, whereabouts of the company, and the product for which you seek the certification. Understand the requirements of getting certified as Kosher and see if your company and product are suitable.
Step 2 - Application form
The Kosher Certification Agency will send you their application form. The Agency will want to know intricate details about the product, ingredients, product constituents, additives, and processing aid. You will also be required to share the details of the suppliers of the ingredients and their relevant kosher certification details.
Step 3 - Evaluation and Inspection
Your application will be assessed and further documentation will be asked. Post scrutinising the application and documents, a physical inspection will be scheduled where a Rabbi will inspect the products, the facility, as well as the company. He will then determine if the company and the product are acceptable as per Judaic dietary standards and will then pass on the information to the agency.
Step 4 - Quotation
Depending on the ingredients, the production unit, and a few more things, the Kosher Certification Agency will then raise a quotation for you.
Step 5 - Payment and Contract
Once the quotation is accepted and paid by you, an official contract will be drawn up stating the terms you have to maintain to be Kosher certified.
Step 6 - Issuing the Kosher Certification
Upon your acceptance of the contract, the Kosher Certificate will be issued to you - and you can officially start marketing your product as Kosher-certified. You will be authorized to use the official Kosher logo on your product, making it easier for your customers to identify the certification.
In conclusion, the rules for Kosher certification are rigid, but they ensure cleanliness, purity, and non-adulteration of the product. The Kosher certificate generally needs to be renewed every year.
About KLBD:
KLBD is the largest kosher certification agency in Europe, as well as one of the top five in the world. The KLBD logo is recognised and respected by both manufacturers and consumers worldwide. KLBD certify some 40,000 ingredients and over 3,500 retail products across six continents.
KLBD is an acronym for Kashrut (Kosher) Division of the London Beth Din (Jewish court of law). The organisation is also known as Badatz London. The court is headed by Dayan Menachem Gelley and is under the auspices of the Chief Rabbi. The LBD, a world leading authority on Jewish and Kosher Law, is proud to have been a leading force in kosher certification for more than a century.
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