Kosher Vending Industries

Over the past twenty-five years, the demand for kosher certified products has increased dramatically. Specifically, the kosher market has been growing at an annual rate of 15% for the past several years. In order to meet this demand, companies throughout the world are seeking kosher certification in order to expand their existing market and enhance sales strategies. According to data compiled in the year 2005 by Integrated Marketing Communications, Inc:
• Consumers may choose from 75,000 different kosher food products.

• Nearly 10,000 companies produce products for the kosher market.

• Approximately 3,000 new products are introduced into the kosher market annually.

• Consumers spend approximately $165 billion on kosher products, as compared to $250 million almost 25 years ago.

• According to John McMillan, a food analyst at Prudential Bache Securities, the “kosher seal “is equivalent to what the Good Housekeeping Seal meant in the 1950's.

• The Wall Street Journal quoted consultant Stephen Hall who said that health conscious folks see “benefits in the quality control and lack of additives” in kosher foods.

Millions of people throughout the world limit their food consumption, and seek out the kosher symbol to ensure that their preferences are being addressed. According to market studies, the appeal of kosher foods transcends the interest of any one specific ethnic group. Consumers of kosher foods include Jews, Muslims and members of other religious denominations, vegetarians, those with lactose intolerance, and those who believe that “kosher is better.”

Defining Kosher

Where Koshering Comes From… The term kosher means "clean, fit or proper." Its origins can be traced back to ritual requirements referenced in the Bible. These rituals were highly regarded and are still followed today, thousands of years later. The exacting attention to preparation and unmatched old world flavor explain why more than two-thirds of all kosher products are bought by non-Jewish consumers for their superior quality and excellent taste.

The Kosher Process… Only healthy animals can be slaughtered for use in kosher foods. Kosher species must have split hooves and chew their cud; this includes cattle, sheep, goat and deer. "Thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock which the Lord hath given thee as I have commanded thee." (DEUT.XII, 21)

Each animal must be properly killed, following the biblical mandate that one must not cause pain or suffering to any living creature. Then animal is thoroughly examined by a highly trained kosher inspector for adhesions, cuts or bruises. If defects are discovered, the meat is rejected.

Only the forequarters of the animal are used for kosher processing, including the chuck, rib, navel, brisket and shank. From these pieces, specialists carefully remove the veins, arteries and certain non-acceptable fats. One can be assured that only the highest quality meat is used in the kosher manufacturing process.

Once the deveining process is complete, the meat goes through the act officially called "koshering." This phase begins with soaking the meat in water for 30 minutes to further remove blood or impurities. After the meat is soaked, it is thoroughly salted. The salted meat then stands and drains for one hour, when it is rinsed thoroughly. Non-kosher meats do not undergo this "soaking and salting" process.

To receive the "kosher" certification, manufactured meat must be produced under the strict supervision of specially trained kosher inspectors. Dairy products cannot come in contact with kosher meat products. Therefore, any filler, such as milk powder in sausage, are strictly forbidden. The kosher inspector also makes certain all items in the sausage making process are certified kosher; this includes all manufacturing equipment, food ingredients (i.e., spices, meat), etc.

Watchful Inspection… Kosher inspection begins while the animal is still alive and continues until the finished product leaves the plant. This system operates under the diligent and watchful supervision of kosher inspectors, who stringently control the process from slaughter through shipping. The product is continually inspected throughout every step of the process.

Strict Quality Control… The kosher inspection emblem on all our products, bearing the names of the supervising Rabbis, indicates full compliance with all requirements in the koshering process. In addition to the kosher inspection, all our finished meat products also bear the U.S. Government Inspection emblem, indicating full compliance to all federal requirements. This double inspection represents the most highly regarded controls in the meat industry.

Only Kosher Is Kosher… When you see a label indication "kosher style," don't be fooled. It is a misnomer applied to imitation products and not an indication of full compliance with Kosher Dietary Laws. To the consumer, a kosher symbol indicates strict supervision of kosher products.

Glatt means smooth in Yiddish. If a kosher animal was slaughtered in a kosher way and, upon internal examination, the lungs of the slaughtered animal were found to be smooth or adhesion-free, then the meat from the animal is considered to be glatt kosher. While the term glatt kosher technically refers only to meat that has passed a test which checks that the slaughtered animal was not defective according to Jewish law, the term glatt kosher is used loosely today to imply a higher standard of kashrut observance.

Supervision, Kosher Cafe and the Chain of Custody

To be considered Glatt Kosher every step of the way has to be supervised by the Rabbi, or organization that is being represented or done in the correct process that the supervision allows.

1) Cooking the Product → 2) Packaging the product → 3) Storing the Product → 4) Delivering the Product → 5) Receiving the Product → 6) Stocking the Machine.

1 - We cook or package the products in our facility with a Mashgiach, supervisor, using only kosher certified ingredients.

2- We package our products with the kosher seal of our organization which will be the Kof K. This is the seal of approval that our customers will look for. Each machine, box and individual piece must have a seal of its own.

3- We store the product in an approved facility, supervised by the kosher organization making sure no non kosher items get into our products.

4- We make sure each box is delivered with the kosher seal.

5- We make sure all products are received with the kosher seal intact.

6- When stocking the machines we will have an approved person by the kosher supervision.