What does kosher mean?

Kosher means a food meets the requirements of kashrus, Jewish dietary law, covering which foods are permitted, how they're produced, and how they're combined — most famously keeping meat and dairy separate.

What's the difference between meat, dairy, and pareve?

Meat includes meat, poultry and their derivatives; dairy includes milk and anything made from it; pareve is neutral (fruits, vegetables, grains, eggs, kosher fish) and may be eaten with either.

What does Pareve mean on a label?

Pareve means the product contains no meat or dairy and was not made on dairy or meat equipment, so it can be eaten alongside either a meat or a dairy meal.

What does DE mean on a kosher symbol?

DE stands for Dairy Equipment: the product has no dairy ingredients but was made on equipment that also runs dairy, so it can generally be eaten after a meat meal but not together with meat.

What does a P on a package mean?

On a kosher symbol, P means Passover, not pareve. It indicates the product is certified kosher for Passover.

How much does kosher certification cost?

It depends on your products, ingredients, and facility. Pure Kosher provides a clear, no-obligation quote up front, and many small producers find it surprisingly affordable.

How long does kosher certification take?

Most straightforward products are certified in a matter of weeks, from ingredient review through facility inspection. Complex facilities take longer, and Pure Kosher gives a realistic timeline at the first conversation.

Will retailers recognize the Pure K symbol?

Yes. Pure K is built to meet normative kosher standards, so it is accepted by retailers, distributors, and export markets.

It depends on its source and production. Conventional gelatin is often from non-kosher animals, so it needs reliable certification; kosher gelatin comes from kosher-slaughtered bovine sources or kosher fish, and many products use plant-based alternatives like pectin or agar.

What is Cholov Yisroel?

Cholov Yisroel is a stricter dairy standard requiring that the milking process is supervised by a Jew from start to finish. Pure Kosher offers Cholov Yisroel certification for companies whose customers observe it.

Yoshon refers to grain from the five species that took root before a given year's Passover; grain that takes root afterward is chodosh. Pure Kosher can verify and certify Yoshon status when needed.

What makes a product kosher for Passover?

Passover adds restrictions beyond year-round kosher, most notably avoiding chametz (leavened grain) and, for many, kitniyos. Products must be specifically produced and certified for Passover.

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