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Why the world's best known brands choose the OU for Kosher certification

A Guide to Certification

CONTENTS
The World’s Best-Known Kosher Trademark

First Steps

What is Kosher?

You Value Integrity, We Value Integrity

Other Major Divisions of the Orthodox Union

How the OU
Kosher Staff is Structured


How Does OU
Supervision Work?


Communication
and Information


Getting the
Maximum Benefit


Helping you Reach the Market

Cost and Procedures

OU Facts

OUKosher.org
Home Page


PDF Version

Glossary of Kosher Terms for Companies

The following are some non-English kosher terms that you may come across along with their explanations:

Bishul Yisroel (also spelled Bishul Yisrael): Certain foods require increased a Rabbi’s involvement in the cooking process.
The OU requires Bishul Yisroel on all of those products deemed to be included in the requirements for Bishul Yisroel under Jewish law.

Cholov Yisroel (also spelled Chalav Yisroel): Milk and milk products that was supervised by a Rabbi from the time of milking.
The OU does not require products to be Cholov Yisroel, but will certify a product that is Cholov Yisroel as such.

Glatt: Literally “smooth”. An animal whose lungs contained no questionable adhesions that could pose potential Kosher problems.
It is now commonly used to describe a higher level of Kosher supervision.

Kosher L’Pesach: Kosher for Passover; containing no leaven and no legumes and manufactured with Mashgiach Temidi.

Mashgiach Temidi: A manufacturing production with continuous supervision by a Rabbi. This is often called a “Special Production”.

Pareve: A food item that is neither meat or dairy (and can therefore be eaten with either) and was not manufactured on meat or dairy equipment.

Pas Yisroel (also spelled Pat Yisroel): Bakery products that were baked by a Rabbi. This can be fulfilled by having a Rabbi turn on the oven.
The OU does not require products to be Pas Yisroel, but will certify a product that is Pas Yisroel as such.

Yoshon: Grain products that are made from certain types of “winter” grains as defined by Jewish law.
The OU does not require products to be Yoshon, but will certify a product that is Yoshon as such.