# How does one know if it is really Kosher? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 26, 2012, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-know-if-it-is-really-kosher/638977 "2012-10-26T22:14:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-know-if-it-is-really-kosher/638977/1 "2012-10-26T22:14:18Z")
If a product at the food store is labeled ''Kosher" how does one know if it is really Kosher? I buy a favorite rye bread. The label says Kosher. I don’t care but how would I know if I did care? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-know-if-it-is-really-kosher/638977/2 "2012-10-26T22:27:10Z")
You have to trust the manufacturer. In order to be certified the kitchens are inspected. Now is it _possible_ that after the inspection the kitchen made some change or broke some religious law so that the product is no longer kosher? Sure, but I doubt they would do it purposely at the risk of their reputation to the customers they value. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-know-if-it-is-really-kosher/638977/3 "2012-10-26T23:03:12Z")
Sometimes you just have to take things on faith. People who keep kosher are very good at that. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-know-if-it-is-really-kosher/638977/4 "2012-10-26T23:23:58Z")
Well there are [symbols](http://kosherfood.about.com/od/guidetokosherfoodlabels/ss/symbols.htm) from groups that certify whether food is kosher or not. If it has a small symbol with a k iin it then there is a good chance it is certified kosher. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-know-if-it-is-really-kosher/638977/5 "2012-10-26T23:42:07Z")
What sort of penalties are likely to befall people who mis-label their product as kosher when it isn’t? Staggering fines, public condemnation, wrath of G\*D, what? I’d be comfortable assuming that if a company has been producing kosher goods for a while, they have a substantial investment in the ability to do so and failing to maintain kosher would cripple their business if it was found out. If you suddenly see, say, Kosher Hot dogs from a manufacturer nobody’s ever heard of, I’d stick with the Hebrew National (they have to answer to a higher authority…). ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-know-if-it-is-really-kosher/638977/6 "2012-10-26T23:54:25Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > If you suddenly see, say, Kosher Hot dogs from a manufacturer nobody’s ever heard of, I’d stick with the Hebrew National (they have to answer to a higher authority…). [Hebrew National sued over non-kosher allegations](http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/19/us/hebrew-national-kosher/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-know-if-it-is-really-kosher/638977/7 "2012-10-27T00:26:50Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > What sort of penalties are likely to befall people who mis-label their product as kosher when it isn’t? Staggering fines, public condemnation, wrath of G\*D, what? Are you familiar with that scene at the end of _Raiders of the Lost Ark_? 'Nuff said. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-know-if-it-is-really-kosher/638977/8 "2012-10-27T00:53:32Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > [Hebrew National sued over non-kosher allegations](http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/19/us/hebrew-national-kosher/index.html) Well, nuts. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-know-if-it-is-really-kosher/638977/9 "2012-10-27T02:16:34Z")
Moved from Cafe Society to GQ, where it can wait till after sunset tomorrow for an answer from an observant Jew. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-know-if-it-is-really-kosher/638977/10 "2012-10-27T03:20:39Z")
It’s consumer fraud in New York state to mislabel non-kosher food as kosher and has been for nearly a century. The state hires rabbis to check not only the manufacturers, but the stores. If you do sell kosher meat, you have to keep kosher (e.g., using a separate meat slicer in the deli and keeping the kosher meat away from non-kosher). Fines are currently $2500 for the first offense and $7,500 for the second. There was some objection to this on separation of church and state grounds, but the ruling was that this was a consumer issue, not a religious one: people pay more for kosher food (especially meat), so they have right to get what they pay of, and rabbis are the authorities. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-know-if-it-is-really-kosher/638977/11 "2012-10-27T03:56:24Z")
And if nothing else, if a manufacturer put on the circle-K or circle-U logo without actually passing the inspection that goes with it, the inspecting organizations would have an ironclad trademark infringement case against them. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-know-if-it-is-really-kosher/638977/12 "2012-10-27T13:49:55Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > It’s consumer fraud in New York state to mislabel non-kosher food as kosher and has been for nearly a century. The state hires rabbis to check not only the manufacturers, but the stores. If you do sell kosher meat, you have to keep kosher (e.g., using a separate meat slicer in the deli and keeping the kosher meat away from non-kosher). > > Fines are currently $2500 for the first offense and $7,500 for the second. > > There was some objection to this on separation of church and state grounds, but the ruling was that this was a consumer issue, not a religious one: people pay more for kosher food (especially meat), so they have right to get what they pay of, and rabbis are the authorities. That’s not how [_Commack Self-Service v. Weiss_](http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/294/415/545720/) looks to me like it turned out, but IANAL In NJ, the court decision was that anything requiring the state to determine what’s kosher and what isn’t is a violation of the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. I think people who really care would rely on a private heksher (e.g., Orthodox Union or Vaad of Baltimore) in any case. ---
**Author:** ![Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shinna_Minna_Ma)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-know-if-it-is-really-kosher/638977/13 "2012-10-27T20:11:24Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And if nothing else, if a manufacturer put on the circle-K or circle-U logo without actually passing the inspection that goes with it, the inspecting organizations would have an ironclad trademark infringement case against them. There are newsletters from various organizations that have information about companies using unauthorized kashrut symbols on their products. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-know-if-it-is-really-kosher/638977/14 "2012-10-27T21:30:23Z")
I know orthodox Jews who will not eat kosher food unless it’s been declared so by a rabbi they know. Lving in NYC they don’t have much of a problem because whole stores have been declared good. On the road they’ll eat canned goods they’ve taken with them. ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-know-if-it-is-really-kosher/638977/15 "2012-10-28T16:21:03Z")
There are many, many kosher certifying agencies. ([Here’s](http://www.kosherquest.org/symbols.php) a list of some, with the symbols that they use to indicate a product is under their certification.) Each has its own standards as to specific points of kosher law, how often they have on-site inspections, etc. It’s up to the kosher consumer to decide which ones are acceptable to him/her, and shop accordingly. Many of these agencies will also certify restaurants. Anybody can put a ‘K’ on their package, including manufacturers of bacon, because K is a letter of the alphabet and can’t be trademarked. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-know-if-it-is-really-kosher/638977/16 "2012-10-28T16:52:17Z")
> [@GilaB](#): > > Anybody can put a ‘K’ on their package, including manufacturers of bacon, because K is a letter of the alphabet and can’t be trademarked. True. Although, as indicated by the link you provided, each _kashrut_ testing agency uses a specific “K” in a specific font, usually with additional marks, and then has registered it as a trademark. Folks looking for kosher products generally are aware of the marks used in their locales. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-know-if-it-is-really-kosher/638977/17 "2012-10-28T17:02:23Z")
What happens if a devout Jew discovers that he has been eating non-kosher stuff? Does he have to perform some sort of ritual-cleansing? Or is he given a pass because the act was inadvertent? ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-know-if-it-is-really-kosher/638977/18 "2012-10-28T18:50:45Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > What happens if a devout Jew discovers that he has been eating non-kosher stuff? There’s a special chemical that dissolves every molecule in their cells that contain some element that came from the non-kosher food. Their kidneys then filter it, and they piss it out. If they’ve been eating enough of the stuff, for long enough, [the result can get ugly.](http://misfitpolitics.co/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/resident-evil-zombie.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-know-if-it-is-really-kosher/638977/19 "2012-10-28T19:34:12Z")
Wow, I didn’t realize DHMO poisoning could get _that_ bad. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-know-if-it-is-really-kosher/638977/20 "2012-10-28T19:44:55Z")
I just wish this had been an old thread, then I’d score on zombie _thread_ points, as well as zombie pictures. And the kosher joke… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-know-if-it-is-really-kosher/638977.md?page=2)