A Glatt Kosher supervision is the certification and oversight process by which food and food-related facilities are verified to meet Jewish dietary laws, known as kashrut. This supervision is carried out by a trained rabbi or kosher agency, often referred to as a Mashgiach (supervisor) or an organization for hashgacha (certification).
Key Elements of Kosher Supervision:
- Ingredient Inspection
- Ensures that all raw ingredients are kosher (no pork, shellfish, or mixtures of meat and dairy).
- Verifies sources of ingredients like gelatin, emulsifiers, and flavorings.
- Facility Monitoring
- Makes sure kitchens are cleaned and kashered properly before kosher production begins.
- Prevents cross-contamination between kosher and non-kosher items.
- On-Site Mashgiach (Supervisor)
- A trained individual may be present during food production to oversee every step.
- This is often required for meat, wine, and institutional meal production.
- Labeling and Certification
- Products or establishments receive a kosher symbol (hechsher) such as “Koach Supervision”.
- This symbol tells consumers the item is kosher under the standards of that agency.
- Levels of Certification
- Glatt Kosher: Stricter meat standards.
- Cholov Yisroel / Pas Yisroel: For dairy and baked goods with extra supervision requirements.
Koach Supervision certifies that a restaurant is Glatt kosher by:
- Checking all meat is from a Glatt-certified source.
- Making sure no dairy or non-kosher utensils are used.
- Sending a mashgiach to oversee production.