Kosher Food Production

Book excerpt: Following an introduction to basic Kosher laws and theory, author Blech details the essential food production procedures required of modern food plants to meet Kosher certification standards. Chapters on Kosher application include ingredient management; rabbinic etiquette; Kosher for Passover; fruits and vegetables; food service; and the industries of baking, biotechnology, dairy, fish, flavor, meat and poultry, and oils, fats, and emulsifiers. A collection of informative and entertaining articles – specifically geared to the secular audience of food scientists – then follows, giving readers insight and understanding of the concerns behind the Kosher laws they are expected to accommodate. Kosher Food Production serves as an indispensable outline of the issues confronting the application of Kosher law to issues of modern food technology. Basic Kashrus – Leading off the book is a section introducing the reader to Kosher Laws and Theory. Food Production Principles – Information covered includes Kosher food plant design, cleaning and detergents, GMPs for Kosher facilities, and more. Industry-specific Discussions of Kosher Application Food, Beverage, and Ingredient Articles – These enlightening chapters, examine how Kosher regulations impact modern food production for over 40 categories of food items by describing the relevant Jewish history, tradition, and law. The Bottom Line – These brief, bulleted summations at the end of each chapter recap the key things to remember about Kosher food processing of the food, beverage, or ingredient covered. Glossary of Kosher Terminology – A listing of Jewish Kashrus-related terms, which may be unfamiliar to the lay food scientist, is included at the back of the book