FAQ
Aleph Kosher provides quality kosher certification and kosher supervision. Our services include industrial and small business kosher certification. We serve companies in the United States, Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico and Europe.
1What is a Kosher product?
The term "Kosher" is a word of Hebrew origin that means "suitable or adequate", so it is used to refer to food products that follow Jewish dietary standards, meeting the requirements of the diet of the Hebrew Bible.
2Why should a brand obtain a Kosher certification?
Kosher food certification gives you access to a market that has grown more than 15% in recent years and continues to expand. Kosher symbols on food are seen more and more frequently. It is estimated that one million products are Kosher certified and that consumers spend more than $ 200 billion each year to purchase them. Source: SGS.
3What benefits do I get from having a Kosher certification?
The Kosher certification guarantees consumers that the elaboration of the products and ingredients they contain comply with the Kosher food policy, in addition, it is an indicator that the product meets strict standards of cleanliness, purity and quality. Therefore, the Kosher certification will open the doors of a demanding and increasingly wide public for your products.
4What foods must be Kosher certified?
Kosher products are classified into three main categories: dairy, meat and parve (neutral, does not contain derivatives of meat or dairy).
Any product or ingredient that left its natural state is no longer kosher since it is exposed to utensils that affect its composition. In products and ingredients for mass consumption, it is recommended to certify so that the end customer has the certainty that the food is 100% Kosher.
Dairy Products: Kosher dairy products must come from ruminant animals with split hooves. Additives, such as gelatins, cannot contain animal derivatives and must also be Kosher. In addition, the instruments that handle the products must be supervised and the staff must receive training for the treatment of this type of food.
Meat products: The meats that can be certified as Kosher are those that come from animals with split hooves and that are ruminants, for example, they are considered Kosher animals: cows, sheep, lambs, goats, calves and gazelles. With regard to birds, for example vultures and scavengers are excluded, as well as those birds that do not have a “tradition” of having been Kosher. All animals must be slaughtered under the supervision of a “Shojet” (ritual slaughterhouse), fat, blood and some prohibited parts must be removed.
Parve products: Under this term are those foods that do not contain meat or dairy, for example, fruits, vegetables, cereals, eggs and fish.
Milk and meat separation: Dietary guidelines indicate that dairy products and meat products should not be mixed, should not be cooked together or eaten at the same time, and cannot even be served together at the same table.
5Who are Kosher products for?
It is important to inquire about the market for Kosher products, since it is not limited to consumers from the Jewish religious sector, but also, as there is a growing concern about the origin of food, there are other types of potential consumers of these products. Those who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet turn to Kosher products by indicating if there is meat or fish in the product. In addition, a kosher logo provides products with traceability, providing confidence, cleanliness and control in production. This is supported by studies carried out in the United States, where it is confirmed that less than 2% of the population is Jewish, but the offer of Kosher products represents more than 40% of the total.
6How does having a Kosher certification help my product?
The Kosher certificate opens doors and becomes an income generator for your company. The main advantages of companies that are certified Kosher are:
● It is an internationally recognized certificate, which is why it has been positioning itself in the market and is currently the fastest growing segment of the food industry.
● Those companies looking for new markets such as the United States and Europe, have in the Kosher certification a great enhancer for their products to be accepted.
● Kosher certification provides a guarantee in the supply chain, which supports that it has been evaluated and certified by independent entities.
7Why choose Aleph Kosher?
Because we have personalized attention that is superior to other certifiers and a team specialized in costumer service, where we provide an agile and efficient service, guiding and accompanying our client throughout the process until their certification. Additionally, we have our portal https://alephkosher.org/ where each user can closely follow the steps until their certification under all quality parameters.
8What are the steps to get Kosher certification?
● Application. In the first step to obtain the certification, the data of the company is registered to initiate the application. At AlephKosher, your company data will remain confidential.
● Coordination. Once the request is made, a rabbinical expert will review everything related to the company requesting the Kosher certification.
● Initial visit. The rabbinical coordinator will conduct a thorough inspection of the production.
● Contract. If the requirements are met, the Kosher certification is meticulously drawn up. The contract is reviewed and signed under standards of high legal certainty.
● Compliance. An official Aleph Kosher representative will be appointed to review each of the company's guidelines and make constant visits to the facilities.
● Kosher certification. Once the contract is signed and when complying with the rules, the company will appear in the Aleph Kosher Food Guide listings.
9How long does the Kosher certification last?
All Kosher certification has a duration of 1 year, once this time has elapsed it must be renewed and the pertinent inspection carried out again.
10Does production equipment influence a kosher product?
Process equipment must be kosher. If it has previously been used with a non-kosher product, the equipment acquires the non-kosher status, as well as the food produced in it, even if its ingredients have been kosher. There are methods of "kasherizing" equipment and utensils, with some limitations.
11What would the certification cost?
The costs of the certification can vary depending on the type of product, ingredients that it takes and the number of visits necessary for its certification. If the plant is in an area where there are other certified companies, the costs improve.
12How long does the process take?
The time of each process depends on the product, the company, its size and the processes to be certified. It takes approximately 3 weeks after the rabbinical visit to the plant.
13If we do not yet have BPM or HACCP, can ISO apply to Kosher?
Yes, the Kosher system is individual and not bureaucratic like ISO certifications.
