What is Kosher?
In Hebrew, “kosher” means fit or proper. Kosher food is any food fit for consumption according to Jewish law. The kosher rules define and categorize which foods are permitted, how they should be prepared and which combinations of foods are forbidden.
The Benefits of Kosher Certification
What does kosher certification mean?
Kosher certification means that a qualified Rabbi has reviewed the ingredient list of the product and inspected the facilities where it is produced both at the time of certification and regularly thereafter to ensure continued compliance with BVK standards.
To the consumer, the “end users” of the certification process, the logo of a respected kosher certification agency on a food product represents total assurance that all standards have been met and that they can buy with confidence.
BVK is recognized as a premier certifier with a sterling reputation. We are a Buffalo-based organization, with a range that extends far beyond Buffalo.
Kosher certification opens new markets
Most observant Jews will not eat a food unless it is certified kosher. But they are just one segment of the kosher market. The total kosher market is much larger. Those who are lactose-intolerant; Muslims, Seventh-Day Adventists and others with religious restrictions; vegetarians and vegans—all look for kosher certification to help them avoid the foods they can’t eat. Beyond these groups, there are those who appreciate the extra care and vigilance that goes into a product that is certified kosher. To them, ‘kosher’ signifies quality.
Kosher certification increases sales
According to a recent article in The Food Institute newsletter, “manufacturers whose products carry a kosher supervision symbol obtain more favorable shelf space and out-sell non-certified items of the same type by 20%.”
How does a company get certified?
Companies investigating kosher certification often feel that they are entering a world they know little or nothing about. The BVK understands this and seeks to make the discovery process as simple and friendly as possible.
Here are the easy steps:
- Fill out the simple application. There, you will find some basic questions about the products and facilities you seek to certify.
- Applying costs nothing and there’s no obligation.
- In an initial phone call, the Rabbinic Administrator of the BVK will ask you to provide a complete list of the ingredients that are used in the product(s) you want to have certified. Then he will make an appointment to visit your facility. He will inspect the equipment, watch the products as they move through production and ask about other products that may be produced on the same equipment. Based on his review, the Rabbinic Administrator will determine if your product qualifies for certification. If yes, he will write up his findings, including a custom protocol that outlines our mutual obligations and the annual fee that both parties must agree to. Up until this stage, you will have incurred no costs.
- When the terms are accepted, you will receive a letter of certification allowing you to begin immediate production of your kosher products. The BVK logo may now be displayed on your packaging and the packaging of approved private labels, and if you wish, in advertisements.
- Once you’re a certified BVK client, you can expect a continuing relationship with a responsive, collaborative partner.