Kosher Concerns
 

K OK?

Q. I often see food packages marked with a plain K on the package. Are these under OK supervision? If they are not, are they under any kosher supervision at all?

A. A plain K does not indicate OK supervision. In fact, it does not necessarily indicate any kosher certification at all. While a company may not put the OK symbol or any other registered kosher symbol on its packaging without permission, the K alone is not a registered symbol.

The K means that someone in the company attests that the product is kosher. This attestation may be made because the product is actually supervised by a reputable kashrus agency.

Alternatively, it may be that there truly are no non-kosher ingredients in the product. Or it may represent no more than the judgment of someone in the company (for example, a plant manager) who somehow believes he or she has mastered the intricacies of kosher production and law, and thus can determine an item's kosher status (a ludicrous notion).

The kosher consumer must exercise extreme caution concerning an item marked with a K. Do not assume that the product is kosher. Call the company and ask whether the product carries kosher certification, and if so, whose certification. Ask the company to send you a copy of the kosher letter. Then, with the guidance of your rabbi, you can conclude whether to use the product.

Because the plain K has been the cause of considerable confusion, the OK encourages companies under our supervision to display the OK symbol on their packaging.

At times you may observe the symbol of a kashrus agency on an item and the presence of the symbol raises a question in your mind. Here too you should call the company and ask for a copy of the kosher letter.


CERTIFYING CERTIFICATION

Q. How can I tell whether a store is certified by the OK? Often I see a sign with a large OK; is that proof that you are providing supervision?

A. Unfortunately, it is all too easy to copy and put up a sign that says OK on it. This is not sufficient evidence of OK supervision. You must look for a letter of certification under our letterhead, with a current expiration date.

We have come across cases where proprietors forged a new expiration date onto an existing letter. While this is rare, if you see a certification letter that appears to have been altered or if you do not see the OK letter of certification, please contact us.