does flour need to be kosher

This article appears in the ‘Besheva’ newspaper and was translated from Hebrew. and prepared all their meals "from scratch." This does not mean challah failure! Q: For many years, when sifting flour with a sieve, I have never found insects. According to the machmirim they are forbidden, and in order to remove them, the flour must be sifted in a sieve whose netting is 70 Mesh (70 holes per inch), or be’di’avd (after-the-fact), 60 Mesh. Some have suggested that the laws of kashrut fall into the category of "chukkim," laws for which there is no reason. “Kosher” describes food that complies with traditional Jewish law. The poskim disagree whether it is necessary to sift flour that doubtfully contains worms. (Year-round, not Pesach/Passover) 6 1. Enrich Your Kosher Knowledge. There are also for limited products where kosher requirements involve the production process itself that is to say certain food products require that the kosher inspector/supervisor actually be involved in the actual production process. Apparently, because in some stores in Haredi populated areas outdated merchandise is occasionally sold at lower prices, members of Haredi society find more worms in flour and legumes. Consequently, there are some kosher certification organizations or individual rabbis whose Kosher certificate for an ingredient or product will not be accepted by other kosher certification organizations. These factors depend on the specifics of the company. We love our almond flour desserts around here. However, there are kosher certified products coming out of Iran and Pakistan, so there is a lot of grey area to take into account. If a company has been kosher certified in the past and violated its contractual terms (whether technical or fiscal violations) with its prior kosher certification organization, other kosher certifiers may be reluctant to work with this company. If you are not a food manufacturer, then please feel free to contact us directly to discuss what unique issues may pertain to the viability of your product or services becoming Kosher certified. Some people mistakenly think that every single ingredient used in a Kosher certified product requires a Kosher Certificate to be approved as kosher certified. Listed below are some products that do not require kosher certification if they do not have additives, and, if food items are not a product of Israel (if from Israel, needs reliable certification). Nevertheless, when the packs of flour are left in dirty places or on the ground, or for a long time on a shelf or in a storage room, there is a good chance that insects will puncture the packages, and hatch eggs in the flour. Some Sephardic communities allow matzos containing … In the opinion of most poskim, when there is concern that the shratzim left and returned, they are forbidden (Rosh, Maharach, Or Zaruah, Shulchan Aruch 84: 5, Shach, Taz, Plati, and Aruch HaShulchan). However, in our experience we know that there is a more critical question that must be addressed first. There are a wide range of standards, competency ratings and levels of acceptance among the community of kosher certification organizations, which should be noted is a self- regulated industry. Perhaps I will discuss this issue in my next column. All processed foods, however, must be labeled kosher for Passover by a reputable rabbinical organization. In the opinion of many, there is no need to because of safek sfeka (compounded doubt): one safek (doubt) – there may be no worms in it, and a second safek – there may be worms in it, but they did not leave, and consequently they are not prohibited (Taz 84:12; Knesset Hagedolah; Shulchan Gevoha 2; Simchat Cohen, Yoreh Deah, 149). However, white flour purchased wholesale or in the marketplace needs to be sifted. Some removable scales are still on the fish. Thus expecting Kosher certification to cost what Organic certification costs is often a mistake as this is generally not an apples to apples comparison. What Does it Mean to be Kosher? At EarthKosher, we understand that companies that contact us are protective about their proprietary processes, ingredients, formulas, suppliers, or manufacturing agents. The merging of these ingredients to make Passover matzah necessitates a meticulously monitored environment, one that prevents the product from becoming chametz , which is defined by our rabbis as fermented grain. Before understanding the cost of kosher certification, companies need to ask, “Is my product or product line capable of becoming kosher certified?” Since there are several potential obstacles that may keep food manufacturers from obtaining kosher certification, kosher certification viability cannot be assumed. And as long as the flour continues looking as good as it did before, one does not have to check it. This is a very important question. Even flour that is known to be uninfested or already sifted, if placed in the open air or in an open container for 24 hours – and on a hot day, even for a few hours – is liable to become infested, and therefore it should be sifted. For this purpose, reliable companies ensure that flour is well grounded so that most of the eggs are destroyed in the grinding process, and in order to destroy the remaining eggs, nitrogen gas is used, or the flour is heated. After the sifting, the sieve must be cleaned thoroughly, because perhaps some of the flour-dust in it may be tiny vermin that are liable to multiply. It is higher in fat and calories than wheat flour, but does not have gluten and is low in carbohydrates, making it a popular choice … pork) (Shulchan AruchYD 87:1 & 3). For example, it is common for Kosher certification agencies to conduct monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly inspections. There some poskim who say that the measurement of “miut ha’matzuy” which requires being checked from Divrei Chachamim, is more than 25 percent (Rivash), while others say it is more than 10 percent (Mishkanot Yaacov). For example: wine, vinegar, cheese, or flavorings that are not available as kosher or do not offer kosher options that have the same quality, taste, or pricing, this will make kosher certification not possible. Kosher definition is - sanctioned by Jewish law; especially : ritually fit for use. Keeping kosher is much more complex than that. Likewise, with kosher certification, the concerns of kosher products being processed on equipment, or even within the same facility, as truly non-kosher products typically apply. There are some poskim who say that the flour should be checked, because in some laws we find that when there is concern and it is possible to check, we do not posek leniently not to check on the basis of the argument of safek sfeka (Pelati 47: 7; Minchat Yaacov 80:4 footnote 14). Your liquor cabinet could itself be an inheritable item, passed down from generation to generation. One did not actually see the kosher fish soaking amidst non-kosher fish. A kosher certification organization may deem this a high risk situation and won’t get involved or the company will nix the idea due to the cost of full-time Kosher supervision of production which can at times be required by the Kosher certification agency. If a company controls the ingredients and equipment, then a kosher program is viable so long as these conform to Kosher certification requirements. How about a can of peas? EarthKosher is a proud and committed member of the Better Business Bureau committed to transparent and ethical business practices. When this is not an option in the kosher certification process, keeping Kosher certification may require the frequent kosherization of equipment and more frequent inspections. Fresh salmon fillets do not need a hechsher either, but there are other concerns regarding the knives and cutting boards that need to be addressed before the purchasing them from a … Keeping kosher is a commitment. Whisk together. While kosher certification is possible in these situations, some company’s may find this process cost prohibitive or that the requirements are too restrictive. Because she finds insects, does that mean I have to continue checking, although I’ve never found any? You mix flour and water in equal amounts, always by weight. Guide to Kashrus – Does it Need a Hechsher (Certification)? They made it so easy and, very importantly, affordable. When working with companies that provide Contract Manufacturer services, the simplest situation is where the Contract Manufacturer commits to being a fully kosher facility. Sounds pretty kosher to us. The question is: what is the size of the unit by which the percentages are determined. “When it came time to find a Kosher certifier for my new product, I did my homework. A Jew, as relevant to Kosher certification, is defined as someone born of a Jewish mother or a person who has converted to Judaism via an Orthodox rabbinic court. For many people, all processed ingredients used in Passover cooking and baking need to be specifically certified kosher for Passover. I will attempt to breakdown the halakhic issues, describe reality, and summarize the halakha. 3. Almond flour does not have gluten and has more moisture than wheat flour, resulting in baked goods that rise less and are more dense. Mix with fork until side of bowl is clean. Kosher Consumer. While any bread with kosher ingredients is considered kosher on a basic level, it is considered praiseworthy to fulfill the stricter standard of only eating pas yisroel. With other companies I found much complication, red tape, unreturned phone calls and what seemed like very excessive costs. Water, flour, salt. This article explores the kosher diet, including its foods and rules. The Torah forbade shratzim that breed on land, as it is written: “Every small animal that breeds on land shall be avoided by you and shall not be eaten” (Leviticus 11: 41). How much more kosher could you get? However, from Divrei Chachamim (rabbinical ordinance) l’chatchila (ideally), one must check it, but be’di’avad (after-the-fact), when there is no possibility of doing so, it is permissible to follow the rov, and eat it. Due to the extra supervision and costs involved, getting kosher certification for a product containing such an ingredient may be cost prohibitive for some but not all companies. These ingredients and their suppliers must also be stable. Although, as we mentioned previously, kosher law is complex and could fill many book shelves, ... meat, flour, etc.) In addition, almond flour is not as dense as wheat or coconut flour, and therefore more of this particular flour has to be used. However, in the opinion of some poskim (Pri Toar and Chochmat Adam) even if the worms crawled in the flour – it is forbidden, for each particle of flour is considered a “fruit” in its own right, and when crawling from particle to particle, they leave the place where they grew. 3). At EarthKosher we offer affordable pricing for Kosher certification, however, please understand that this assumption is a conceptual flaw, rooted in a lack of understanding about Kosher vs. Organic certification requirements. Depending on the weather, season, brand of flour, and so on, the quantities of flour listed in a recipe are not always going to be what you will need. These ingredients and their suppliers must also be stable. 4) One bite: If we focus our thoughts on the halakhic perspective, we will have to relate to each bite as a unit in itself, because this is the manner of eating, and consequently, the units must be determined accordingly. Someone who wants to ensure that flour does not get infested after opening the package or after sifting, should store it in the refrigerator. While there are countless numbers of companies that engage kosher certification agencies under these circumstances, there are many others that don’t deem these certification costs worthwhile. The reality is detergent obviously does not require kosher certification nor do many other foods, even some processed ones. Matzo that is kosher for Passover is limited in Ashkenazi tradition to plain matzo made from flour and water. The following products are not kosher: Mission Chicharrones, Mission salsas and dips, and taco shell dinner kits. This is not an accurate assumption in some cases as there are many ingredients that are generally recognized as Kosher. However, one glaringly obvious issue with almond flour is the price tag. In the case of a company or store whose flour was considered uninfested, but a few times insects were found in it, to the point where it seems that its miut ha’matzuy contains shratzim – its presumption of being uninfested ceases, and from that point on, one should be careful to sift the flour bought from that company or store. The reason why a 70 Mesh sieve is useful for sifting them, despite their being the same size of a grain of flour, is probably because their tiny legs slightly enlarge their volume. Almond Flour Muffins. What about bottled water? Today, however, as a result of the technological improvements and the demand of the public for high-quality goods free of bugs, the state of flour marketed for domestic consumption in developed countries has improved greatly. However, there are machmirim (poskimwho are stringent), who claim the reason shratzim are not found after sifting is because their color and size are the same as a grain of flour, and without special conditions, cannot be distinguished. But kosher baking is governed by certain rules. We show our obedience to G-d by following these laws even though we do not know the reason. whey, milk powder, casein) but does not apply to lactose (meimei chalav – see Shulchan Aruch YD 87:8, 81:5 and Shach87:12). Why Does Some Produce Require Special Cleaning to be Fit for Kosher Consumption? Considering how much almond flour one has to use in relation to wheat flour, almond flour … The kosher consumer brought his chickens to a reliable butcher for slaughtering, and performed the kashering process at home. Rules are the foundation of kosher food. How to use kosher in a sentence. The easiest way to establish a kosher certification program is if a company has its own facility that is exclusively dedicated to kosher certified products. The Passover holiday is an 8-day period during the Spring season. Safety issues also apply in any country where there is ongoing civil war. This extract is a kosher chemical (provided that all additives and solvents are approved), since the actual beeswax is not considered food. In order to have a kosher product you need to have kosher ingredients. Is there anything more kosher than water? It would generally be a better alternative for Passover than potato starch because it is low carb(compared to other flours), contains fiber, and contains protein. 2) A dish that in most cases has no shratzim, but in its miut ha’matzuy (substantial minority) there are shratzim – from the Torah, it does not need to be checked, since the rule is we follow the rov (majority). In Jewish law, Pas Yisroel or Pat Yisrael (Hebrew: פת ישראל ‎ lit:"Bread of an Israelite") products are grain-products that were cooked or baked with the participation of an observant Jew. If a buyer does not know the quality of the whole wheat flour from the company he bought, he should check it, and if he does not find one bug in every ten checking, it is b’chezkat naki, and does not need to be checked. Products like extra virgin olive oil, frozen blueberries, dried dates, unflavoured beer and coffee, salt and pepper are kosher without certification. Other certifications often require an annual inspection if that. Consequently, white flour marketed in sealed packages by reliable companies and by way of responsible chains and stores, and stored in one’s house in a clean place for no more than a few weeks, is b’chezkat naki (presumed not infested), and does not need to be sifted, since the rare cases where worms are found do not amount to the measurement of miut ha’matzuy. Restaurants and businesses must also sift flour, since they often buy it wholesale and low-priced, and usually do not have proper conditions to store it. Roll it out between two pieces of wax paper. Peas, water, salt. Add oil, water, and vinegar to the dry ingredients. Like any library, Mi Yodeya offers tons of great information, but does not offer personalized, professional advice , and does not take the place of seeking such advice from your rabbi . When I spoke about this with a Haredi friend, she told me she finds insects in her flour. The only problem is that it can't currently be found Kosher for Passover. These ingredient often requires full- time rabbinic supervision during production or at a minimum a more intensive and thus costly inspection regimen. Consequently, as long as the worms did not leave the flour, they are still not prohibited (Aruch HaShulchan 84: 45-46). This will involve additional costs. You may need to get a new set of knives. If a company needs to retain the right to have a free hand at sourcing ingredients without pre-approval from the Kosher certification agency, this can, depending on what these ingredients are, be an issue that blocks kosher certification from being viable. Immediately afterwards, the flour is packed in closed bags to protect it. When a Kosher Certificate is required, and if for example, ingredients are being produced in the Amazon Rainforest or in Central Africa and neither the producer, nor the company dealing directly with the kosher certification agency is willing to pay for the the kosher certification to allow for the required Kosher certificate for this ingredient this can be an obvious deal breaker. In order to have a kosher product you need to have kosher ingredients. Selections from How to Keep Kosher … Bishul Yisrael; Pas Yisroel; Separating Challah; Guides for the Kosher Consumer. In addition, there are companies that market flour that from the time of grinding is kept refrigerated, and as long as they are careful that it does not go for 24 hours without refrigeration, it does not require checking, because the eggs do not hatch in cold conditions. Foods that commonly have shratzim – must be checked, and as long as they have not been checked or cleaned of the shratzim, they are forbidden to be eaten. Look for the kosher symbol on our packaging. kosher definition: 1. Read the Cake Flour discussion from the Chowhound Kosher food community. Raw, kosher meat, fish and chicken, fruit and vegetables and other such produce are essentially kosher for Passover and need not be labeled as such, provided that they did not come into close contact with chametz. The following products are kosher: Mission corn tortillas, Mission flour tortillas, Mission wraps, Mission taco shells, and Mission tortilla chips. Beeswax may be extracted to create a chemical used in the flavor industry. Form into a ball. Nevertheless, their opinion was rejected by all Rishonim and the vast majority of Achronim. 2. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/23653 However, given that kosher certification is essentially a risk management business, most kosher certifiers are averse to these kinds of situations unless there is a solid explanation for the violations with the prior agency or clear changes that have been made in ownership or management. Just as there is no prohibition of insects that grew in detached fruit that did not leave it, so too, there is no prohibition of worms that grew in flour and did not leave. – Any kind of fruit – Any kind of vegetable, excluding those listed under kitniyot – Beef, chicken, turkey, duck, goose, or fish with scales.If keeping strictly kosher, the meat must be kashered by a kosher butcher or sold as a kosher cut of meat. But if this happened because, as an exception, they had stored the flour in a place prone to trouble, or for too long a period, it has not lost its presumption of being uninfested. Check with your rabbi. A: The issue of worms and insects, which in the Torah is called “shratzim“, comprises numerous matters. Some companies are committed to a very specific and exact ingredient. In any case, one who buys flour from a doubtful source should check it, and if it turns out not a single insect is found for every ten times sifted, it is b’chezkat naki, and does not need to be checked. (of food or places where food is sold, etc.) For example, EarthKosher has turned down requests for kosher certification in Lebanon. According to Jewish law, milk and meat should not be eaten in the same meal. It is also a common requirement in Kosher certification that companies that are wholly Jewish-owned not produce grain-based or derived products during the Passover holiday. The liquor may lose its aroma slightly, but not enough for it to be noticeable. – Eggs and egg whites – Nuts, nut flours, and pure nut butters (no additives), excluding those listed under kitniyot (peanuts, sesame seeds, poppy seeds) – Dairy products, like cheese, yogurt, and kefir, are acceptable when they are not mixed with additives (like corn syrup). Rooted in history and religion, each law is specific about what types of food you can and can’t eat. According to Jewish Law a Jews is restricted on the Passover holiday from owning products or derivatives that originate from wheat, barley, oats, spelt, or rye.

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