The United Synagogue

Kosher FAQs

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Are all Smoothies allowed?

Smoothies often contain grape juice and thus even the varieties not containing grape juice may be problematic due to shared use of equipment.

Are Walkers Baked crisps kosher?

As Walkers Baked is a complicated product, it is not approved and would require kosher certification, like Kettle Chips which carry the KLBD logo. In order to make Walkers aware of the interest in this product we are asking all enquirers to submit an email request to ask the company to have Walkers Baked kosher certified. You can do this via their website www.walkers.co.uk. Click on 'Contact Us' and submit query.

Am I allowed to drink in Starbucks?

It is fine to have a coffee where the water is dispensed from an urn that only dispenses water and that it is served in a disposable cup.

We don’t approve any of the food products that are sold in Starbucks.

I have a product that The Really Jewish Food Guide lists as parev but it says on the packet ‘may contain milk’. Is the product milky?

These days many companies have become very conscious about people who are intolerant to lactose. Being lactose intolerant means that the body does not contain enough of the enzyme lactase to break down lactose, the sugar found in milk, to glucose. Intolerance levels vary so that some people can have a full glass of milk and no more, while others cannot even have a product that was made in a factory where dairy was present. Dairy can be present for several reasons including traces from previous dairy productions left on machinery or equipment; this can be present even after cleaning or koshering. There can also be ‘dairy dust’ in the air which could settle in extremely small amounts on equipment or ingredients which are to be used for the parev production. Food manufacturers cannot afford to be responsible for someone having an allergic reaction, so under these circumstances, they will often state that a product may contain milk.

According to Jewish law, these ‘traces’ have no significance and the final product will be considered parev.

Am I allowed to buy any drinks?

All soft drinks are permitted, unless they contain grape juice or non-permitted E-numbers. Drinks containing Fruit Extract should be avoided, as the extract could be from grape, which must be produced under Rabbinical supervision. Please note that Smoothies often contain grape juice and thus even the varieties not containing grape juice may be problematic due to shared use of equipment.

Which E-numbers are not allowed?

Most processed foods nowadays contain food additives and are referred to according to a standardised set of EEC numbers – E numbers.

Certain E numbers are derived from animal and vegetable sources. When present in kosher products E numbers will be of vegetable origin approved by the London Beth Din. The following numbers are not kosher:


E120 E422 E432 E433 E434 E435
E436 E441 E470 E471 E472a,b,c,d,e,f
E473 E474 E475 E476 E477 E481 E482
E483 E491 E492 E493 E494 E495 E542
E570 E572

Which yoghurts are approved?

Yoghurts are generally permitted except where they contain gelatine, E120 (which may be listed as cochineal or carmine), grape juice or any other problematic emulsifiers or stabilisers.

May I buy any type of nuts?

Generally, all plain nuts are approved and do not require certification. However, many of the large nut manufacturers produce dry and oil roasted nuts which would require approval. There are several companies that have been investigated by the Kashrut Division. Their products are listed in The Really Jewish Food Guide.

I recently bought a can of tuna that The Really Jewish Food Guide approves. However, I thought cooked foods have to be cooked by a Jew in order for them to be kosher?

In order for cooked food to be considered kosher, one of the requirements is that the cooking process be started by a Jewish person. This usually means that the oven must be switched on or that the gas is lit by a Jew.

However, there are several exceptions to this rule, the most notable of which is whether the food is fit for a King or not. There are two main interpretations of this exception. The first, given by the Chazon Ish, suggests that the cooked food would be forbidden if it was suitable to be eaten by an extremely wealthy person. Therefore, the Chazon Ish forbade tinned sardines on the basis that “the King of England eats sardines for breakfast”. This strict line was adopted by many other rabbis.
However, Rabbi Soleveitchik believed that the food only had to fit to be served at a Kings table, irrespective of whether the King would actually eat it or not. According to this lenient approach, almost all tinned food, including fish, is allowed since food served at a king’s table or at a royal banquet would be cooked fresh.

I am planning on going to a 'kosher style' restaurant for a meal. Does this mean there shouldn't be any Kashrut problems? How about vegetarian restaurants?

Eating in anything but a supervised kosher restaurant can be fraught with problems and could even result in non-kosher food being consumed. Even if one were only to order fish, there are of course many varieties of fish that are not kosher. Fish stock made from non kosher fish could also be used to flavour kosher fish. In a regular restaurant it is also not unknown for vegetable soups to be boosted with the chef's stock or bouillon containing all sorts of non-kosher meat and bones.

Most processed foods and ingredients nowadays contain food chemicals such as emulsifiers E471, glycerol monostearate, calcium stearate, gelatine and many others all of which often have an animal origin. Customers are often unaware of these ingredients which could be used in vegetarian dishes.

Many vegetables also require checking for infestation since their consumption is strictly forbidden according to Torah law. At a kosher restaurant, a kosher supervisor will spend many hours checking all the vegetables used. A non-kosher restaurant may serve the vegetables with much of the insect life still present if not actually alive and kicking!

At both a 'kosher style' and vegetarian restaurant the pots and pans being used may well have had non-kosher food cooked in them at some point. A well known principle in Kashrut, borne out by scientific evidence, is that utensils absorb and exude previous substances cooked in them.

A further problem is that ordinary wine, wine vinegar, cheese and cheese derivatives are all strictly prohibited in Rabbinic law. The inclusion of any such items would make a "kosher-style" or vegetarian meal thoroughly non-kosher!
And finally, true kosher cuisine requires Bishul Yisrael - some "jewish input" to the cooking, for example, that all cooking equipment has been switched on by a Jew. This of course will only happen at a supervised kosher restaurant.

Can I use any toothpaste?

All toothpastes and mouth washes are permitted since they are not eaten. Even if one was to swallow a small amount, this would not be considered the normal way of eating.

Why are none of the regular margarines listed in The Really Jewish Food Guide?

Margarine is only kosher when made under rabbinical supervision. Only supervised brands can be relied upon as non-supervised brands can contain emulsifiers and other ingredients of dubious origin. They are often produced on equipment used for animal, fish or dairy products.

Is all pasta kosher?

All plain dried pasta, including pasta containing egg is permitted. Pasta which is coloured and flavoured with vegetable extracts such as spinach or tomato is also permitted. However, some black pastas are coloured using squid ink which is not kosher; therefore these ones should obviously not be eaten.