Kosher Dictionary

Managing your Kosher program

Your OU Account Manager and Representatives

• Rabbinic Coordinator (RC): Rabbinic account executive, based in the N.Y. City headquarters of the OU, who oversees Kosher accounts.
• Rabbinic Field Representative (RFR):Rabbinic supervisor who visits the manufacturing facilities and oversees Kosher production.

Letter of Certification and Reports

• Letter of Certification (LOC): Certificate of Kosher certification issued by the supervising agency for a particular company and/or facility. This letter typically lists certified products and their Kosher status (i.e., Dairy, Pareve, Fish, etc.)
• Schedule A: A list of ingredients, approved or not approved, for OU certified facilities. The Schedule A provides additional information for each ingredient, such as group number, status, and Kosher requirements.
• Schedule B: A list of certified products for OU certified facilities. The Schedule B provides additional information for each product, such as brand name and approved Kosher symbol (i.e., OU, OUD, OUP, etc.).
• Schedule C: A list of fees for OU certified companies and facilities
• Schedule D: Unique Kosher requirements for OU certified facilities

Application Forms

New products and ingredients should be submitted online through OUDirect

• Application for Kosher Certification: First time application for a new company, plant and/or co-packing plant. This application may also be submitted online
• Request for ingredient Approval Form: Request for an addition, deletion, update and/or replacement of a raw material to a 'Schedule A'. When available, these requests should be accompanied with an item specific Letter of Kosher Certification (Indicate on the Letter the specific item being applied for). This request may also be submitted online.
• Product Approval Request Form: Request for authorization for production of new product(s) to be OU Certified. These products are added to the Schedule B. This request may also be submitted online
• Product Termination Form: Notice of termination of production for any OU labeled product. This request may also be submitted online
• Request for Private Label Authorization Form: Prior to production for a new Private Label company where packaging bears the OU, a private label contract will be executed.
  NOTE: in some instances, it may be determined that the manufacturing situation involves a co-packing situation which is treated differently than a private label.
• Private Label Termination Form: Notice of termination of production for a private label company.

Kosher Terminology

The following are definitions of some non-English kosher certification terms you may come across:

• Pareve (or parve): Pareve means neutral. With regard to Kosher, pareve refers to food that does not contain meat or dairy ingredients and was not produced on equipment used for meat or dairy products. Kosher law proscribes the consumption of meat and dairy products together. Pareve products, which are neutral, may be consumed with either meat or dairy.
• Yoshon: Yoshon means old. With respect to Kosher, Yoshon refers to flour milled from wheat, oat, spelt, rye and barley that was planted prior to the second day of the previous Passover. There are two opinions whether Yoshon is a Kosher requirement. The OU does not require Yoshon but certifies products as Yoshon upon request. Products that are Yoshon are generally labeled as such.
• Bishul Yisroel: Kosher law mandates the participation of a Kosher-observant individual in the cooking process of certain specific foods. At a minimum, the Kosher observant individual must ignite the flame used in the cooking process. This is referred to as Bishul Yisrael.
• Pas Yisrael: Pas Yisrael is similar to Bishul Yisrael but relates only to baked products that contain wheat, oats, spelt, rye and barley. Pas Yisrael is baked with the participation of a Kosher observant individual. At a minimum, the Kosher observant individual must ignite the flame used in the cooking process.
  There are two opinions whether Pas Yisrael is a Kosher requirement. The OU does not require Pas Yisrael, but will certify products as Pas Yisrael upon request. Products that are Pas Yisrael are generally labeled as such.
• Cholov Yisrael: Cholov Yisrael refers to milk and milk products that were supervised by a Kosher-observant individual from the time of milking until the bottling. There are two opinions whether Cholov Yisrael is a Kosher requirement. The OU does not require Cholov Yisrael, but will certify products as Cholov Yisrael upon request. Products that are Cholov Yisrael are generally labeled as such.
• Glatt: Glatt means smooth. With respect to Kosher, Glatt refers to an animal whose lungs have been inspected and have been shown to be clear of questionable adhesions that may render the animal non-Kosher. Colloquially, Glatt is used to describe a higher level of supervision, though in this context, it reflects no specific standard.
• Mashgiach Temidis: Constant Kosher supervision. This is often described as "special supervision."
• Kosher for Pesach or Kosher for Passover: Kosher law has special requirements for the preparation of wheat, oat, spelt, rye barley to allow their consumption during the Passover holiday. Products that are Kosher for Passover may be consumed on Passover and are generally labeled OUP or OU Passover.

Group Numbers

Group numbers are used as a system of categorizing ingredients into generic groups with common Kosher requirements. There are six groups, and each group is assigned a specific number

• The group numbers appear on the Schedule A adjacent to each ingredient
• Status of ingredients and their Kosher Status may change
• An ingredient/raw material may have additional requirements, indicated by the special comments (e.g. Rabbi's Stamp, Lot Letter, Rabbi's Signature or Special Production Sticker).

*An ingredient with Israeli origin may only be used when the Schedule A specifically states 'Israeli Origin'.

• Group 1: 'Ingredient Name' on the Schedule A must match the name on the label. These ingredients are intrinsically kosher and further processing does not affect their kosher status. Any source is acceptable.
• Group 2: Group 1 specifications + specific 'Source' on the Schedule A must match the source on the label. Normally the Source will be the manufacturer and not the distributor.
• Group 3: Group 2 specifications + specific Kosher Symbol on the container. All of these ingredients require Kosher Certification.
• Group 4: Bulk liquid (in tanker, rail car, isotank, barge ship etc.), from specific 'Source' only. Shipping documentation must indicate specified source. Separate Kosher Certificate for delivery vehicle required.
• Group 5: Bulk liquid (in tanker, rail car, isotank, barge ship etc.), from specified 'Source', with Certificate of Rabbi who supervised the loading. Shipping documentation must indicate the specified source.
• Group 6:
  
  • 'Allowed' (Incompatible): For use in non-Kosher products only when 'allowed' and only as per OU instructions.
  • 'Not Allowed' (Compatible): Not allowed on the premises for any reasons
  • 'Pending Ingredients': Ingredients that need further review to determine their acceptability within your Kosher Program. Additional information may be requested including a spec sheet, MSDS, COA, flow chart, or an Orthodox Union representative may need to make an inspection of the source plant. These ingredients are not allowed in the plant until written approval from the Orthodox Union has been received.