Reliable Certifications
Below are some Kashrus certifications KosherQuest recommends catagorized by country. If you have a question on a symbol not listed below, feel free to ask. Click here to download printable PDF and here to download a printable card.
United States of America
California
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Kosher Supervision of America – KSA |
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California K Igud Hakashrus of Los Angeles (Kehillah Kosher) |
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Rabbi Judah Dardik |
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THE HEART "K" (Kehillah Kosher) 345 NORTH LA BREA AVENUE – SUITE #204 LOS ANGELES, CA 90036 Phone: (323) 935-8383; Fax: 480-393-4655 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Avrohom Teichman |
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Kosher Information Bureau 12753 Chandler Blvd. Valley Village, California 91607 Phone: (818) 262-5351 Fax: (818) 766-8537 e-mail: eeidlitz@kosherquest.org Web site:www.kosherquest.org Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Eliezer Eidlitz |
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Kosher LA (KoLA)
9025 Wilshire Blvd. Suite #301
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
(310) 246-3417
email: KosherLA@gmail.com
Website: www.kosherla.org
Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Moshe Benzaquen, Rabbi Jonathan Benzaquen
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Kosher Certification Service |
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Rabbinical Council of Orange County & Long Beach (Orange K) |
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Rabbinical Council of California (RCC) |
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Vaad Hakashrus of Northern California |
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Chabad of Fresno |
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Vaad Harabanim of San Diego |
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Knesses Israel Torah Center 916 481-1159
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Colorado
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Scroll K / Vaad Hakashrus of Denver |
Florida
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Florida K and Florida Kashrus Services |
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Kosher Organics |
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South Palm Beach Vaad (ORB) |
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Kosher Miami – KM The Vaad Hakashrus of Miami-Dade PO Box 403225 Miami, FL 33140-1225 www.koshermiami.org info@koshermiami.org Tel: 786-463-9931 Fax: 305-437-8107 Rabbi Mordechai Fried, Rabbinic Administrator Rabbi Meir Shaffren, Rabbinic Coordinator |
Georgia
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Atlanta Kashrus Commission |
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Kosher Savannah |
Illinois
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Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc)
HaRav Gedalia Dov Schwartz, Av Bais Din
Rabbi Sholem Fishbane, Kashrus Administrator
E-Mail: info@crcweb.org |
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Midwest Kosher 2857 West Pratt Blvd Chigago, IL 60645 Tel: (773) 761 4878 E-mail: mtarkieltaub@yahoo.com
Rabbonim Hamachshirim: |
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Org. of Orthodox Kashrus Supervision
Phone: (773) 539-8049 |
Kentucky
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Louisville Vaad Hakashruth |
Louisiana
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Louisiana Kosher Committee |
Maryland
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Star-K Kosher Certification (chalav Yisrael) & Star-D Certification (non-chalav Yisrael) |
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Vaad Harabanim of Greater Washington |
Massachusetts
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The Diamond K |
Michigan
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Chabad House of Western Michigan Kashrus Division |
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Council of Orthodox Rabbis of Greater Detroit (K-COR) |
Minnesota
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Blue Ribbon Kosher |
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Coordinated Kosher Supervision |
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Rabbi Aryeh Geretz |
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United Mehadrin Kosher |
Missouri
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THE "OV" Kosher Inspection Service of The Vaad Hoeir of Saint Louis Rabbi Sholom Rivkin (314) 569-2770 |
Nevada
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Chabad of South Nevada
Phone: (702) 259–0770 |
New Jersey
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Double U Kashrus Badatz Mehadrin USA |
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Rabbi Shlomo Gissinger |
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Jersey Shore Orthodox Rabbinate (J.S.O.R.) |
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Kashrus Council of Lakewood N.J. |
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Kof-K Kosher Supervision |
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Vaad Hakashrus of Raritan Valley |
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EarthKosher Kosher Certification Agency |
New York
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The Association for Reliable Kashrus |
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Beis Din of Crown Heights Vaad Hakashrus |
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Certified Kosher Underwriters |
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Chabad Lubavitch Arizona |
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Congregation Arugas Habosem |
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Congregation Yetev Lev D’Satmar |
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Central Rabbinical Congress (Hisachdus Harabanim) |
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Debracin (Rabbi Shlomo Stern) |
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Rabbi Binyamin Gruber |
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K’hal Adas Vishnitz |
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K’hal Adas Jeshurun (Breuer’s) (KAJ) |
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K’hal Chizuk Hadas of Flatbush |
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Rabbi Benjamin Kaplinsky |
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Young Israel of West Hempstead |
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Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Krausz (Udvarer Rav) |
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New Square Kosher Council New Square, N.Y. 10977 Rabbi C.M. Wagshal, Rabbinic Administrator Phone: 845 354-5120 Email: NSKOSHER@THEJNET.COM
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National Kashrus (NK) |
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The Organized Kashrus Laboratories (O/K) |
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The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations (OU) |
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Kehillas Yaakov Pupa, Monsey |
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Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum (Nirbater Rav) |
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Rabbi Aaron Simkin kosher@mac.com
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Rabbi Nuchem Efraim Teitelbaum (Volover Rav) |
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Vaad Hakashrus of K’hal Machzikei Hadas of Belz |
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Vaad Hakashrus of Buffalo |
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Vaad Hakashrus of the Capital District
877 Madison Avenue |
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Vaad Hakashrus of Kiryas Yoel |
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Vaad Hakashrus of Mechon L’Hoyroa |
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Vaad Hakashrus of Rochester (VKR) |
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Vaad Harabanim of the Five Towns and Far Rockaway |
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Vaad Harabanim of Flatbush |
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Natural Food Certifiers |
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Vaad Harabonim of Queens |
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Machon L'Kashrus |
Oregon
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Congregation Kesser Israel |
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Oregon Kosher
Rabbi Zalman Krems |
Pennsylvania
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Community Kashrus of Greater Philadelphia Rabbi Dov Brisman |
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The Lehigh Valley Kashrus Commission (LVKC) |
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Rabbi Yitzchok M. Leizerowski Phone: (215) 342-7414
Philadelphia |
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Vaad of Lancaster / Cong. Degel Israel 1120 Columbia Ave., Lancaster, PA 17603 Phone: (717) 397-0183; Fax: (717) 509-6188 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Shaya Sackett |
Tennessee
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Vaad Hakehilot of Memphis |
Texas
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Dallas Kosher (Vaad Hakashrus of Dallas) |
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International Kosher Supervision/Texas “K” Chicago Rabbinical Council |
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The Houston Kashruth Association |
Virginia
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Vaad Hakashrus of Tidewater |
Washington
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Vaad Harabanim of Greater Seattle |
Wisconsin
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Kosher Supervisors Of Wisconsin |
England
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Federation of Synagogues |
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Kedassia, The Joint Kashrus Committee of England| 140 Stamford Hill, London N16 6QT Phone: (44208) 802-6226 Fax: (44208) 809-7092 Rabbinic Administrator: Mr. Yitzchok Feldman |
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K’hal Machzikei Hadas Edgeware 7 The Rise, Edgeware, Middlesex HABBNS Phone: (44208) 958-1030 Fax: (44208) 958-3036 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Eliezer Schneebalg |
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London Beth Din Kashrut Division 735 High Road, London N12 0US Phone: (44208) 343-6253 Fax: (44208) 343-6254 Email: gita@kosher.org.uk |
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Machzikei Hadas Manchester 17 Northumberland St., Salford M7FH Phone: (44161) 792-1313 Fax: (44161) 792-8592 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi M.M. Schneebalg |
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Manchester Beis Din 435 Cheetham Hill Rd., Manchester 8 Phone: (44161) 740-9711 Fax: (44161) 721-4249 Rabbinic Administrator: |
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Dayan Osher Yaakov Westheim |
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Gateshead Kashrus Authority |
Canada
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Kashrus Council of Canada (COR) 4600 Bathurst St. #240, Toronto, Ontario M2R 3V2 Phone: (416) 635-9550; Fax: (416) 635-8760 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Mordechai Levin |
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Montreal Vaad Hair 6825 Decarie Blvd., Montreal, Quebec H3W3E4 Phone: (514) 739-6363; Fax: (514) 739-7024 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Jaffe |
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Orthodox Rabbinical Council of British Columbia |
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Badatz Toronto |
Argentina
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Ajdut Israel Kosher |
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U-K Kashrus Organization |
Australia
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Kosher Australia (Melbourne Kashrut) 81 Balaclava Rd. Caulfield North. Victoria Phone: (613) 9527-8337; Fax: (613) 9528-4262 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Mordechai Zev Gutnick |
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The NSW Kashrus Authority| P.O. Box 7206, Bondi Beach, NSW 2026 Phone: (612) 9365-2933; Fax: (612) 9365-0933 Rabbinic Administrator: Moshe D. Gutnick |
Israel
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The Beis Din Tzedek of Agudas Israel Moetzes Hakashrus
Phone: (9722) 538-4999; Fax: (9722) 538-5145 |
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Badatz Mehadrin |
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The Beis Din Tzedek of the Eidah Hachareidis of Jerusalem Binyanei Zupnick |
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The Beis Din Tzedek of K’hal Machzikei Hadas - Maareches Hakashrus |
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Chug Chasam Sofer |
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Rabbi Moshe Yehudah Leib Landau |
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“OU” in Israel OU Israel Center |
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Rabanut Hareishit Rechovot |
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Rabanut Yerushalayim Mehadrin Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Adler |
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Shearis Yisrael |
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S.I.K.S. Ltd./ Services International Kosher Supervision |
Brazil
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Communidade Ortodoxa Israelita Kehillas Hachareidim Departmento de Kashrus |
China
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HKK Kosher Certification Service Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi D. Zadok
11/A Kingsford Height
17 Babington Path
Mid Levels Hong Kong
Tel: 852 2 540-8661 Fax: 852 2 549-9334
e-mail: zadok@hongkongkosher.com
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France
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Adas Yereim of Paris Rabbi Y.D. Frankfurter |
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Rabbi Hilel Pewzner (Rav of Lubavitch - France) |
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Rabbi Mordechai Rottenberg (Chief Orthodox Rav of Paris) |
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Rabbi Shmuel Yaffa-Schlessinger |
Mexico
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Kashrut Department of Maguen David Community in Mexico City Lafontaine #229, Polanco 11550, Mexico City Phone: (525) 203-9964 Fax: (525) 250-6681 Rabbinic Administrator: Rabbi Nisim Hilu |
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Chabad Lubavitch Guadalajara Rabbi Abraham Srugo Phone: 5233 36424490 Nextel: 5233 38707343 E-mail: rabbi@chabadmx.org Page: www.chabadmx.org |
Notes
- D — Dairy
- DE — Dairy Equipment (no actual dairy in ingredients, hence it can be eaten after a meat meal, but not together with meat)
- P — Passover; Kosher for all year including Passover (Note: “P” NEVER designates pareve)
- Pareve — Non-dairy and non-meat
- Chalav Yisrael — Kosher supervised milk used in ingredients
- Pas Yisrael — Jewish baked goods
- Yashan — Not from current grain crop
History of Kosher Certification
Introduction to Kosher Certification
These developments in the food industry have been paralleled by the growth of kosher certification organizations formed to assure consumers that appropriately processed foods can be bought with confidence.
As a matter of fact, it has been estimated that approximately one third of all shelf products in our supermarkets are certified kosher. This makes the kosher industry in the U.S. a 30 billion dollars a year business. Although only a relatively small amount of this is dedicated strictly toward the kosher consumer (about $2 billion), the interest in kosher food is rapidly growing. Some adhere to kosher laws from conviction, such as seventh day adventists, Muslims, and vegetarians. However most of the interest comes from people who feel that the kosher certification is their best guarantee that the products and its ingredients are being watched carefully and properly. Some large corporations have found it profitable to acquire kosher companies, such as a recent (1992) acquisition by Sara Lee of the $85 million a year Besin Corp., which produces Sinai and Best products. This trend appears to be on the rise. In the U.S. alone, there appear to be at least 5 million people who buy products based on their being kosher.
A food manufacturer obtains kosher certification usually by requesting it. The reasons for the request can vary from the company’s own desire to produce a kosher product to appeals from industrial customers or consumers. Sometimes company "A" requests supervision, and in the course of the investigation of its ingredients it becomes clear that Company "B"s products will also require certification. Some certifying organizations solicit companies. Others, such as the O/U, provide certification only upon application by a food manufacturer.
Once contact with a certifying agency is made, the detective work begins. The manufacturer must supply a complete, detailed list of every ingredient in the product, including preservatives, release agents, stabilizers or other inert ingredients. In addition, every step in the manufacturing process, every cleansing agent used on the equipment and all other products produced on the same premises require close investigation and supervision.
The certifying agency must track down each ingredient to its ultimate source. If, for instance, the ingredient is meat or a meat by-product, the item cannot be kosher unless the meat source itself is strictly kosher. Wine and wine by-products, cheese, and some dairy by-products (such as whey) present the same problem. Any oil used in the manufacture of foodstuffs has to be traced back to the oil processor. Many vegetable oils are produced in machinery that is also used to process animal fats and oils. The Federal Food and Drug Administration acknowledges that "100 percent vegetable oil" may in fact have a percentage of animal fat in some batches. In such a case, of course, the oil is not recommended.
Some ingredients with innocuous sounding names need special attention. "Natural colors" have been known to be derived from insects, "softeners" from whale oil, and "artificial flavors" from cats. Therefore, the supervising agency must conduct a complete and intense investigation into the origin of all the ingredients.
The process by which ingredients are produced must also be carefully checked. In fact, it is necessary to check the processing locations to verify that hygienic standards are not so lax as to allow insects or worms to contaminate the food product. Unfortunately, lax hygiene in food processing is more common than people wish to believe.
The results of all these investigations are forwarded to the rabbinic authority (or board) of the supervising agency. If changes in ingredients or processes are required, the manufacturer must make the changes before the agency will do further work. Once all is acceptable, the rabbinic authority will determine the amount of on-plant supervision necessary. This information is written into a contract and then sent to the manufacturer. The contract also specifies that the manufacturer agrees to make no changes of ingredients or suppliers without prior written consent of the agency. The actual on-site inspector (mashgiach) will verify that the company is complying with the contract.
Should the manufacturer cease to comply with the contract, the agency either will see that the necessary changes are made or it will revoke its certification. Because organizations like the O/U or Chaf-K have registered servicemarks, unauthorized printing of these symbols on labels is a violation of Federal law. These certifying agencies have legal redress against possible abuse by manufacturers of their symbols. Some states have laws against falsely advertising that a product is kosher. Also, when reliable certifying agencies know that a particular product will no longer be under their supervision, they will publicize that fact widely. However, these safeguards are not enforceable when only the letter K is used for kosher certification.
The cost of certification to the manufacturer is minimal. For non-profit agencies, cost depends on the amount of on-site work. Agencies making a profit might have a minimum annual charge and fees depending on the gross annual sales of the product. The individual supervisor (mashgiach) is typically paid for each visit he makes to the plant (He usually receives less per visit than an auto mechanic makes per hour). The mashgiach is paid by the certifying agency and not by the manufacturer. There is usually no increase in the price of the product due to its kosher certification, because the cost of certification is generally met by increased sales. The O/U reports that in over 45 years, fewer than 12 companies discontinued their certification programs because sales did not increase. Thus, kosher supervision benefits the manufacturer and the consumer, who can be confident that foods may be consumed without violating the kosher standards. If this were the whole story, this chapter would not be necessary. But the fact is that standards, even of national certifying organizations, can vary significantly.
Perhaps our suspicion of the legitimacy of the kosher status of some products can be illustrated most clearly with the following actual letter from a certifying rabbi to a food manufacturer. All identifying information has been deleted. The footnotes explain the problems raised by the letter:
Dear Mr. ____________,
It was a pleasure to hear from you. I am happy to inform you that I certainly will grant kosher certification to (name of product). You may identify these products with the K insignia.However, I would very much wishto know the names of the suppliers and the ingredients.I expect to be at the ______________ plant during February,and perhaps at that time the manufacturing procedure of these new productscould be explained to me.
With warm and most cordial wishes for all the best,
Sincerely yours, Rabbi ________________
Our notes:1. The manufacturer did not need this line to have permission to print a K on the label. The K is not a copyrighted symbol nor even a certification that the product is kosher. 2. "Wish," not "need"!3. The rabbi asks this AFTER stating that the product is kosher. Is he a prophet?4. That is, the actual investigation of the product, the manufacturing process, and the ingredients will not be completed for a month. During that time, the manufacturer will with the rabbi’s authorization—be printing K’s on his labels, thinking that it is kosher and misleading the public into believing that the product is kosher despite the absence of evidence. Let us suppose that the rabbi were to discover that the product is absolutely not kosher. What would he do about the thousands of items on grocery shelves? Would he recall them? With what authority? Indeed, one can only wonder whether a rabbi with such lax standards ever tried to recall a product that he discovered was not kosher.5. This statement makes it abundantly clear that the timing of the certification before the investigation cannot be explained as a carry-over from a previous year.6. We cannot find any reason that a rabbi who has not seen the process or even come to understand it from a phone call would consent to authorize a food producer to label a product as kosher. We feel, therefore, that only someone with very low standards of kashrus would trust any certification by this rabbi.
