Certified Kosher

Keeping kosher is a term that some would associate with the Jewish biblical tradition of keeping meat and dairy separate, but that’s not exactly the full story. Certified Kosher foods are becoming more mainstream every day and, like many of the foods we choose to feature on Thrive Market, they adhere to specific regulations that go beyond mixing milk and meat. Certified Kosher foods are not necessarily religious in nature but happen to follow the same set of standards as traditional kosher foods. Here’s a closer look at what qualifies a food as Certified Kosher and what the term really means.

What Is Certified Kosher?

Rooted in biblical laws that describe the types of food a Jewish person may eat and how this food should be prepared, Certified Kosher means that every ingredient, and the process of preparation, is certified for orthodox kosher-compliance. These kosher foods include meat, dairy, and “pareve” (neutral). Meat and dairy may not be cooked together while pareve foods can be eaten with both meat and dairy.

Benefits of Certified Kosher

Since cheeseburgers, lasagna, and pepperoni pizza are all off the menu on a kosher diet, it can be argued that you are potentially limiting your intake of high-cholesterol foods, but that’s not to say that all kosher foods are healthy or that all non-kosher foods are unhealthy. However, since this diet does require following a series of very specific rules, eating kosher is also a mindful practice, which can help one consider his/her diet carefully.

It is also important to note that kosher food is not necessarily “safer” than non-kosher food despite being produced under strict guidelines. Like any food, it is important to follow basic safety regulations that don’t put your health at risk.

Tips for Shopping Certified Kosher

Sourcing Certified Kosher foods is easier than you might think as many brands now display Kosher Certification on their packaging. Here are a few more helpful tips:

Filter by “Certified Kosher” when shopping on Thrive Market
Check prepared foods for a seal of rabbinic supervision
Avoid cheeses that include the enzyme rennet (not kosher)
Buy baked goods from a rabbinically supervised bakery

Top Certified Kosher Brands

Shop worry-free with these kosher-compliant must-haves.

Simple Mills

This Chicago-based company offers an array of kosher, gluten-free favorites from crackers to pancakes, even creamy frosting and cake mixes. Consider it your go-to pantry staples.

Sea Salt Almond Flour Crackers

Made with a wholesome blend of almond flour, sunflower seeds, and flax seeds that are high in omega-3s, these crunchy crackers will keep you fueled with 3g of protein per serving.

Artisana Organics

This brand delivers nut and seed butters that are a step above the competition by using a temperature-controlled process to preserve nutrients like fatty acids, proteins, vitamins, and enzymes.

Raw Almond Butter

Rich and creamy, this nut butter uses only organic almonds and is produced in small batches for exceptional quality without any artificial dyes, preservatives, or high-fructose corn syrup.

Organic Valley Farms

This company got its start in 1988 and offers an extensive product line of dairy products without the use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.

Clarified Butter Ghee

This golden spread is rich, buttery, and wonderfully smooth, made by using the time-honored Indian method of making ghee whereby the milk solids separate from the butterfat.

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