Our Mission
The Va’ad HaKashrus of Buffalo (BVK) is a non-profit organization dedicated to assuring the availability of kosher food — for the Jewish consumer and for many others with special dietary needs by certifying specific products and retail establishments as kosher.
Our Clients
Our clients include both large industrial manufacturers of food products and ingredients and small retail businesses, such as restaurants and caterers, who wish certification that what they offer is kosher. When certified, they are then authorized to print the respected 
symbol on their labeling and advertising, and the public is assured that the highest kosher standards are maintained.
On this website, potential clients will find an explanation of the certification process, an application form, and a list of our current clients.
Our Consumers
Beyond the Jewish consumers seeking kosher food for religious reasons, there is a much broader constituency for kosher products—people of other religions whose dietary restrictions may overlap with kosher; consumers who follow various specialized diets for reasons of health or personal preference; those who associate ‘kosher’ with purity and high standards.
Consumers browsing this website will find a list of the eating establishments that carry the BVK symbol and a beginner’s summary of the major rules of kosher. Individuals and local organizations who are planning a kosher function should review the ‘Event Supervision’ tab.
Our Name
“Buffalo Va’ad HaKashrus” is Hebrew for the “Buffalo Kashrus Committee.” “Kashrus” (also known as “kashrut”) is the Hebrew word for the religious laws that cover the foods that Jewish people are permitted to eat and how those foods are prepared. Food prepared in accordance with those laws is called “kosher.”