The food product development of a Kosher product involves much more than selecting certified ingredients or having the appropriate documentation in place. Production must ensure that foods comply with Jewish dietary laws, affecting raw materials, processes, machinery, industrial cleaning and traceability.
This is a fundamental difference compared with other standards commonly used in the food industry.
A company may hold food safety and quality certifications such as BRCGS and, additionally, manufacture products under Kosher certification. However, Kosher production has its own specific requirements and controls, which must be met during the relevant production runs.
At Frumen, we understand this reality. That is why, when we undertake a Kosher food product development project, we consider both certification requirements and the technical needs of the industrial application from the outset.
The objective is to achieve a product that delivers the result expected by the customer while also being suitable for manufacture in accordance with the requirements established for Kosher production.
What Kosher production really involves
Understanding this is essential for any manufacturer considering a project for the Israeli market or other markets where certified products are required.
Kosher refers to compliance with Jewish dietary laws, or kashrut. These rules determine which foods may be consumed and establish conditions relating to their ingredients, preparation and processing.
In an industrial environment, this means that assessment does not end with the raw materials.
Kosher production requires different elements of the process to be controlled in order to ensure that the product is manufactured in accordance with the conditions established by the certification.
These include:
- Selection and approval of raw materials.
- Industrial cleaning.
- Equipment and machinery used.
- Traceability of ingredients and batches.
- Prevention of cross-contamination.
- Compliance with the procedures defined for production.
In addition, Frumen’s Kosher production runs are subject to rabbinic supervision, which validates and verifies the facilities and the corresponding production batches.
This means that certification must be understood as part of the production process itself, rather than simply as documentation associated with the product.
Food product development and Kosher: designing with the production process in mind
This perspective changes the way an R&D project should be approached.
A coating system may include breadcrumbs, predust, batter, seasonings and other ingredients. It is not enough to develop a combination that achieves the desired texture, adhesion, colour or coating coverage.
The selected raw materials and planned manufacturing process must also be compatible with the requirements established for Kosher production.
For this reason, incorporating these requirements from the earliest stages of food product development reduces the need for subsequent modifications.
If a formulation is first designed exclusively from a functional perspective and certification is only considered at the end, incompatibilities may arise that require raw materials to be replaced, the formulation to be modified or certain tests to be repeated.
Our approach is different: we analyse the project requirements from the outset in order to work towards a solution that is technically viable and compatible with the planned manufacturing conditions.
Raw materials and traceability in Kosher production
The selection of raw materials is one of the first critical points.
The ingredients used must comply with the requirements applicable to the production run in question. This requires precise knowledge of which raw materials are included in the formulation and their correct identification throughout the process.
Traceability therefore becomes essential.
It is not enough to know the theoretical formulation. Control must be maintained over the raw materials and batches used during manufacturing.
In an industrial plant, this requires coordination between Quality, Production, Procurement and other departments involved, ensuring that the product actually manufactured corresponds to the formulation and conditions previously approved.
Industrial cleaning, machinery and prevention of cross-contamination
Machinery and production facilities are another fundamental aspect of Kosher production.
The requirements are not limited to which ingredients are used; they also concern how and where the product is processed.
Industrial cleaning procedures therefore take on particular importance. Equipment and facilities must be in the required condition before the relevant production run begins.
Preventing cross-contamination is part of this control.
This requires defined procedures and proper coordination among the teams involved in equipment preparation, cleaning, production and control.
Kosher production therefore cannot depend exclusively on the department responsible for certification. The established requirements must be translated into the day-to-day operation of the production facility.
Rabbinic supervision as part of Frumen’s Kosher production
Another key element is rabbinic supervision.
At Frumen, every production run carried out under these standards is subject to rabbinic supervision, which verifies and validates both the facilities and the production batches.
This supervision makes it possible to confirm that the required manufacturing conditions are being applied in practice.
For this reason, when we talk about our Kosher solutions for industrial customers, we are not simply referring to having a certificate.
We are referring to a manufacturing process that is subject to specific requirements and the corresponding supervision.
This distinction is particularly relevant for Procurement, Quality and R&D departments that need to approve suppliers for international projects.
Kosher and BRCGS: different requirements that can coexist within the same production environment
It is also important not to equate Kosher certification with food quality and safety standards such as BRCGS.
They serve different purposes.
At Frumen, we have systems and certifications designed to guarantee food quality and safety. On this foundation, certain production runs can also be carried out in accordance with the specific requirements of Kosher certification.
This means that production must simultaneously comply with established food quality and safety controls and with the specific requirements of the Kosher standard whenever these are required.
For a B2B customer, this combination provides a particularly valuable framework for projects intended for markets with demanding supplier approval requirements.
Industrial performance and certification must progress together
Meeting Kosher requirements is essential for certified production, but an industrial manufacturer also needs the ingredient to perform correctly in its application.
That is why, at Frumen, we integrate certification into a broader food product development approach.
For a breaded product, we may need to study factors such as particle size, coating coverage, adhesion, colour, texture, performance after freezing or behaviour under different preparation methods.
The requirements are not the same for chicken, fish, cheese, plant-based products or other applications.
The challenge is to find a solution that combines compliance and industrial performance.
A product that meets certification requirements but fails to deliver the expected performance on the production line would not fully meet the customer’s needs. Likewise, an excellent technical solution will not be suitable for the project if it cannot be manufactured in accordance with the established Kosher requirements.
Kosher production opens up opportunities beyond the Jewish market
The ability to manufacture according to Kosher standards also has an international dimension.
Although Kosher originates from compliance with Jewish dietary laws, products manufactured according to these standards can be aimed at markets far broader than the Jewish market alone.
Working under processes that require raw material control, traceability, cleaning, prevention of cross-contamination and supervision can also be valued by customers who place particular importance on food quality and safety.
For this reason, having the capability to undertake this type of production can facilitate access to demanding international markets, in addition to meeting the specific needs of projects aimed at consumers who require Kosher products.
For international manufacturers and distributors, the question therefore becomes not only:
“Does the product have Kosher certification?”
but also:
“Is the supplier prepared to manufacture under these requirements in a controlled, traceable way that is compatible with the project’s industrial needs?”
What to consider when choosing a supplier for Kosher food product development
For an industrial manufacturer, approving a supplier for this type of project requires assessing both its technical and production capabilities.
It is important to verify the specific product to be used, the raw materials involved, the available documentation and the conditions applicable to its production.
It is also essential to understand how aspects such as traceability, cleaning procedures, machinery and the prevention of cross-contamination are managed.
Finally, the product must be assessed from an industrial perspective: how will it actually perform in the application for which it is being developed?
This comprehensive approach is particularly important when the coating system forms part of a product that will subsequently be frozen, fried, baked or subjected to high-volume industrial processing.
Frumen and food product development for Kosher projects
At Frumen, we develop industrial breadcrumb and coating solutions adapted to different applications, and we have the capability to carry out production runs under Kosher certification.
These production runs are carried out in accordance with specific requirements relating to raw materials, industrial cleaning, machinery and traceability, with the aim of preventing cross-contamination. In addition, each production run is subject to rabbinic supervision, which verifies and validates both the facilities and the production batches.
Within this framework, our work as specialists in food product development focuses on identifying the solution that best meets each customer’s technical requirements. To do so, we analyse the product to be manufactured, the characteristics of the industrial process, the final application and the desired sensory result.
Depending on these objectives, we can work on variables such as ingredients, particle size, colour, degree of toasting, texture and performance during processing and final preparation.
In this way, certification and technical development form part of the same project from the outset. It is not simply a matter of supplying a certified ingredient, but of ensuring that the selected solution also meets the requirements of the industrial application.
Our objective is to combine the specific requirements of Kosher production with the performance, quality and food safety required by each product development project.
Kosher food product development for demanding markets
Successfully approaching a Kosher project requires understanding that certification is part of the production process itself.
From raw materials and industrial cleaning to machinery, traceability, prevention of cross-contamination and rabbinic supervision, every stage must comply with the established requirements.
This way of working makes it possible to meet the needs of the Jewish market, while also opening opportunities with other customers and international markets that place particular value on controls associated with food quality and safety.
At Frumen, we place our experience in food product development at the service of manufacturers that need to combine these requirements with something equally important: ensuring that the product performs when it reaches an industrial production line.
Are you developing a product that requires Kosher production? Tell us about the application, the process and the result you need so that we can assess the most suitable solutions together.
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