What does "Kosher" mean?
The Hebrew word kosher means "fit." The kosher laws
define the foods that are fit for consumption for a Jew
.
What makes food kosher?
Contrary to popular belief, the Rabbi doesn't actually bless anything (though he might
pray on the job). The kosher laws were commanded by G-d to the Children of Israel in
the Sinai desert. The details and particulars were handed down through the generations
and eventually written down in what became the Code of Jewish Law.
Additional ordinances were enacted through the generations by the rabbinical authorities
as "safeguards" for the biblical laws. To the kosher consumer, life in its totality is a sacred endeavor.
Even the seemingly mundane activity of eating is a G-dly act and a unique experience.
What are examples of kosher laws?
The meat, milk and eggs of certain species of animal are permitted for consumption,
while others are forbidden. In addition, a series of laws govern
how the animal should be slaughtered and which parts of the animal can be eaten.
Meat and milk are never combined. Separate utensils are used for each, and a waiting
period is observed between eating them.
Fruits, vegetables and grains are basically always kosher, but must be insect free.
Wine or grape juice, however, must be certified kosher.
Since even a small trace of a non-kosher substance can render a food not kosher, all
processed foods and eating establishments require
certification by a reliable Rabbi or kosher supervision agency.
Why go kosher?
Many studies have concluded that the majority of American consumers who buy kosher
foods do so for perceived quality and safety reasons, rather than religious ones.
Certification enhances the desirability of a company's products to a broader customer
base and ensures that consumers are made aware of the third-party endorsement - as
well as expanding export opportunities.
Why Americans Buy Kosher
55% – health and safety
38% – vegetarians
35% – taste or flavor
16% – eat halal
16% – guidelines that they were produced
8% – good products
8% – keep kosher all the time
8% – looking for vegetarian products, either for religious or dietary reasons.
(Note: Respondents gave multiple answers in both the 2003, 2005, and 2009 studies)
How large is the Kosher market?
Packaged Facts estimates kosher food sales through grocery stores jumped from
$142bn in 2003 to $211bn in 2008, growing twice as fast as the food market as a whole.
Although the Jewish population has not grown significantly more and more consumers
are "going kosher" and demanding certification for all their staple foods.
American Jewish Population: 5,200,000 (some studies put the number of Jews in the
U.S. at more than 6 million)
The number of kosher consumers in the US: 12,100,000
Percentage of Americans who either regularly or occasionally purchase kosher products
because they are kosher (i.e. kosher hotdog): 21%
Number of year-round Kosher Jewish Consumers: 1,300,000
Total Number of Muslims and Other religions eating kosher products: 3,500,000
Number of Kosher Products in US Supermarkets: 125,000
Number of Kosher Producing Companies and plants: 10,650
How Valuable is the Kosher Market?
Dollar Value of Kosher Market: $12,500,000,000
Dollar Value of Kosher Produced Goods - USA: $305,000,000,000
Dollar Value of Kosher Ingredients Sold in USA: $370,000,000,000
Estimated sales of kosher meat with 45% being glatt or strictly kosher: $550,000,000
Average Annual Growth (2005-2008): 15%
Growth June 2008 - June 2010: 10%
40% of Annual Kosher Sales are on the eve of Passover
(percentages are for volume not dollar sales)
How could I become Kosher certified?
The intricacies of modern day food technology make it virtually impossible for anyone but
an expert in the field to know whether a processed food is free of any trace of non-
kosher ingredients. So all processed foods and eating establishments require
certification by a reliable rabbi or kashrut supervision agency.
If you are a company or industrial facility
and wish to be certified Kosher see "10 Steps to Going Kosher" .
The Hebrew word kosher means "fit." The kosher laws
define the foods that are fit for consumption for a Jew
.
What makes food kosher?
Contrary to popular belief, the Rabbi doesn't actually bless anything (though he might
pray on the job). The kosher laws were commanded by G-d to the Children of Israel in
the Sinai desert. The details and particulars were handed down through the generations
and eventually written down in what became the Code of Jewish Law.
Additional ordinances were enacted through the generations by the rabbinical authorities
as "safeguards" for the biblical laws. To the kosher consumer, life in its totality is a sacred endeavor.
Even the seemingly mundane activity of eating is a G-dly act and a unique experience.
What are examples of kosher laws?
The meat, milk and eggs of certain species of animal are permitted for consumption,
while others are forbidden. In addition, a series of laws govern
how the animal should be slaughtered and which parts of the animal can be eaten.
Meat and milk are never combined. Separate utensils are used for each, and a waiting
period is observed between eating them.
Fruits, vegetables and grains are basically always kosher, but must be insect free.
Wine or grape juice, however, must be certified kosher.
Since even a small trace of a non-kosher substance can render a food not kosher, all
processed foods and eating establishments require
certification by a reliable Rabbi or kosher supervision agency.
Why go kosher?
Many studies have concluded that the majority of American consumers who buy kosher
foods do so for perceived quality and safety reasons, rather than religious ones.
Certification enhances the desirability of a company's products to a broader customer
base and ensures that consumers are made aware of the third-party endorsement - as
well as expanding export opportunities.
Why Americans Buy Kosher
55% – health and safety
38% – vegetarians
35% – taste or flavor
16% – eat halal
16% – guidelines that they were produced
8% – good products
8% – keep kosher all the time
8% – looking for vegetarian products, either for religious or dietary reasons.
(Note: Respondents gave multiple answers in both the 2003, 2005, and 2009 studies)
How large is the Kosher market?
Packaged Facts estimates kosher food sales through grocery stores jumped from
$142bn in 2003 to $211bn in 2008, growing twice as fast as the food market as a whole.
Although the Jewish population has not grown significantly more and more consumers
are "going kosher" and demanding certification for all their staple foods.
American Jewish Population: 5,200,000 (some studies put the number of Jews in the
U.S. at more than 6 million)
The number of kosher consumers in the US: 12,100,000
Percentage of Americans who either regularly or occasionally purchase kosher products
because they are kosher (i.e. kosher hotdog): 21%
Number of year-round Kosher Jewish Consumers: 1,300,000
Total Number of Muslims and Other religions eating kosher products: 3,500,000
Number of Kosher Products in US Supermarkets: 125,000
Number of Kosher Producing Companies and plants: 10,650
How Valuable is the Kosher Market?
Dollar Value of Kosher Market: $12,500,000,000
Dollar Value of Kosher Produced Goods - USA: $305,000,000,000
Dollar Value of Kosher Ingredients Sold in USA: $370,000,000,000
Estimated sales of kosher meat with 45% being glatt or strictly kosher: $550,000,000
Average Annual Growth (2005-2008): 15%
Growth June 2008 - June 2010: 10%
40% of Annual Kosher Sales are on the eve of Passover
(percentages are for volume not dollar sales)
How could I become Kosher certified?
The intricacies of modern day food technology make it virtually impossible for anyone but
an expert in the field to know whether a processed food is free of any trace of non-
kosher ingredients. So all processed foods and eating establishments require
certification by a reliable rabbi or kashrut supervision agency.
If you are a company or industrial facility
and wish to be certified Kosher see "10 Steps to Going Kosher" .
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