Kosher Labels

Kosher labels are a very efficient way to get a lot
of important information about packaged food. The language
on the label reflects the country of origin so that,
occasionally, goods from Israel will be labeled in Hebrew.
Sometimes the label will be in both languages. This article
can help you comply with religious requirements,
health and diet, allergies or just personal preference.

Components of Kosher Labels

One or more of the following may be found on the label.

1) The symbol of the certification agency.
2) Status of the food - dairy, meat or parve(neutral).
3) Production equipment used.
4) Status of the milk in dairy products.
5) Compliance of the product with various regulations.

1)We begin with certification agency symbols found on kosher labels.
Note that a simple 'K' or the word 'Kosher' is no guarantee
that the food has been inspected or is kosher at all.

2)Parve , Dairy and Meat

Kosher food segregates meat and milk. The word parve
on a label indicates neutral - neither meat nor dairy - status.
Parve indicates, in general, that there are no trace
ingredients of either category in the product.

Dairy may be indicated by 'dairy' , 'milchig' or 'D'.
Meat status might be indicated by 'meat' or 'fleishig'.
Where status is obvious - "Hamburger Patties" - use common sense.

3)DE and ME

A special status is conferred on parve food by non-parve
equipment. Equipment will acquire meat or dairy status
as a result of production. Later, when that same equipment
is used to produce food with all parve ingredients, the food
must be eaten separately. If dairy, it may not be eaten with meat
and vice versa. The usual designation is DE (dairy equipment),
or ME (meat equipment) next to the certifier's symbol. The user then
knows that he may eat the food after, but not with, the other food.

4)Cholov Yisroel

A dairy product is cholov yisroel only when designated as such.
See our article "Cholov Yisroel" to understand when this is necessary.

5)Compliance

For explanations on why the following information may be needed,
please go to "When May I Eat It" for articles on bread, cheese,
wine,Israeli produce and interactions with non-Jews

Challa taken- means that baked goods have
had challa removed when necessary.

Yoshon or Chodosh - are used to indicate the
status of the grain used in baked products.

Pas Yisroel or Bishul Yisroel - indicate the
presence of Jewish supervision where required.

Yayin Mevushal - indicates that wine has been pasteurized.
Sometimes the temperature at which this has been done is listed.
The converse - not mevushal - may appear as well.

Gevinas Yisroel - may appear - but usually does not - on cheese.
Cheese needs only a reliable certification on the label.

A range of methods are used on Israeli products to indicate
that the necessary removals have been made and that the seventh
year "Sh'mitta" is observed. A consumer should not use
Israeli products - produce or grain - without some
indication that these requirements are met.

What Kosher Labels Do Not Say

It doesn't say so outright but a "parve" or dairy indication
means that there is no trace element of meat or meat byproduct
in any ingredient of the food. There is no chance of BSE or
bird flu either. Meat products have no antibiotics or hormones
and are disease and injury free. They have been slaughtered
according to kosher standards and blood has been removed.

Read the label! A few letters can tell you a lot!