What does Kosher mean?

Kosher is a Jewish term meaning “proper” or “fit” and applies to food being suitable for those of the Jewish faith. More information about Kosher can be found at www.kosher.org.au and www.ka.org.au

According to Jewish Law, all ingredients used in Kosher food require Rabbinic certification for the food to be considered to be Kosher. The following is a brief summary of the four categories of Kosher food;

1. MEAT

The meat from those animals that chew their cud or have split hooves, and all poultry. The animals must be slaughtered in a way that meets requirements and then the meat must be processed in a specific manner whilst being supervised by a Rabbinic Supervisor.
Cannot be mixed with dairy foods or it’s derivatives.

2. DAIRY

This is milk and all it’s derivatives. It must be from Kosher animals, not pigs, camels and others.
Cannot be mixed with meats or it’s derivatives.

3. PARVE (Neutral)

These are all Kosher foods not included in the first two categories. These can be mixed with either meat or dairy. Examples include; Eggs, Fish (with scales and fins only) and plants.
Fish cannot be mixed with meat or it’s derivatives.

4. NON KOSHER

a. Intrinsically non Kosher -
• All animals - except those cud chewing and with split hooves
• Most birds - except poultry
• Animals not slaughtered or processed according to Jewish Law
• All shellfish
• All insects
• All grape derived products that have not manufactured under Rabbinic supervision
• All hard cheese products that have not manufactured under Rabbinic supervision
• All mixtures of meat and dairy and their derivatives
• All mixtures of meat and fish

b. Non Kosher processing methods -
• Food and ingredients manufactured with heat processing.
• If processing equipment has not been cleaned using a special cleaning process (Kosherisation), any food made on it cannot be considered Kosher.

PASSOVER

There are extra restrictions in place for foods to be eaten during the eight day festival in April / May each year. This restriction relates to leaven products and their derivatives. These foods cannot be used without specific Rabbinic Passover certification.