7/27/2019 Guia General de Los Simbolos o Logos Kosher

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Guide to Popular Kosher Symbols

By Giora Shimoni , About.com Guide

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Why are kosher symbols important?

Kosher Certification Food Labels

Giora Shimoni In today's world of prepared foods, ingredients and processing methods are often unclear. Forthose interested in buying kosher products, it is helpful to have a rabbi who is knowledgeableabout Jewish Dietary Laws examine the food to make sure it is kosher. The process of koshercertification assists kosher consumers by differentiating between kosher and non-kosher items.

Kosher certification agencies examine the ingredients used to make the food, supervise theprocess by which the food is prepared, and periodically inspect the processing facilities to makesure that kosher standards are maintained. Different kosher certifying agencies tend to followdifferent kosher certification standards, some more strict and others more lenient.

Products that have been certified as kosher are labeled with kosher symbols. The symbols areprinted on the food's package. Kosher symbols are registered trademarks of kosher certificationorganizations, and cannot be placed on a food label without the organization's permission.

Kosher symbols not only ensure that the food is kosher, they also identify the kosher certifyingorganization that issued the certification. This guide identifies the kosher certifying agenciesbehind the most commonly used kosher symbols in the United States. More information abouteach agency, and the kosher standards it maintains, can be found on the agency's site.

OU

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OU Symbol of Kosher Certification

In interpreting ancient dietary laws and adapting them to modern technology, different rabbishave different views about what exactly passes as kosher. The OU symbol, belonging to theOrthodox Union, is one of the strictest kosher standards on the market today.

The OU has been certifying kosher products for over 80 years. Their first kosher certificationwent to Heinz. In 1923 Heinz Vegetarian Beans became the first American product to display theOU kosher symbol.

In addition, the OU is the world's largest kosher certifying agency. Some of the famouscompanies that carry the OU symbol include Coca-Cola, General Mills, Heinz, Kraft Foods,Nabisco Biscuit Co., Pillsbury, Procter & Gamble, and Veryfine Products. The OU certifies over2300 companies with 4500 plants in 70 countries with a total of over 300,000 labels.

The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations (OU)11 Broadway, New York, NY 10004Phone; (212) 613-8241 (212) 613-8241; Fax: (212) 564-9058Site: www.oukosher.org

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