About the certification process
1. Can my products be kosher certified?
In many cases, yes. Whether a product can be certified depends on its ingredients, processing aids, manufacturing process, production equipment and other products manufactured at the facility.
Send us some basic information about your products and production site, and we can make an initial assessment of what would be required.
2. Do all of our ingredients need to be kosher certified?
Not necessarily. Different ingredients have different kosher requirements. Some may require certification from a recognized kosher certification organization, while for others appropriate technical information or documentation may be sufficient.
As part of the certification process, Fidelity Kosher reviews the relevant ingredients and suppliers and identifies any additional requirements.
3. Will we need to change our ingredients or suppliers?
Not necessarily. Our first objective is to determine whether your existing ingredients and suppliers can be approved.
Where an ingredient presents a kosher concern, additional documentation may resolve the issue. In other cases, an alternative ingredient or supplier may be required. We will discuss the available options with you before changes are made.
4. Do we need separate production equipment for kosher products?
Not always. Many kosher-certified products are manufactured in facilities that also produce other products.
The requirements depend on the equipment, manufacturing processes and other products produced on the same lines. In some circumstances, equipment can be prepared for kosher production through an appropriate kosherization procedure rather than requiring dedicated equipment.
5. What happens during a kosher audit?
During a kosher audit, we review the production processes and equipment relevant to the products being certified. This may include production lines, storage areas, cleaning procedures, raw materials and other products manufactured at the facility.
We compare the actual conditions at the facility with the information provided during the certification process and determine the practical requirements for kosher production. We then discuss our findings with you and explain any measures that may be required.
6. How long does it take to obtain kosher certification?
The time required varies according to the complexity of the products and production facility.
A straightforward certification can proceed relatively quickly when ingredient and production information is readily available. More complex facilities, special kosher standards or products requiring ingredient changes, kosherization or special production arrangements may require additional time.
Once we have reviewed the basic information about your products and facility, we can give you a better indication of the process involved.
7. How much does kosher certification cost?
Certification costs depend on factors such as the number and complexity of the products, the manufacturing facility, the required level of supervision, travel requirements and any special certification standards.
After an initial assessment of your products and production arrangements, Fidelity Kosher can provide an appropriate certification proposal.
8. What if our customer requires a particular kosher certification agency?
Please tell us at the beginning of the process.
Different customers and markets may have their own certification requirements, and some customers specifically request certification or approval from a particular kosher organization.
Fidelity Kosher maintains professional relationships with established kosher certification organizations. Where appropriate, we can help you understand your customer's requirement and cooperate with the relevant organization to find a practical certification solution.
9. Can Fidelity Kosher certify products intended for export to Israel?
Fidelity Kosher works with manufacturers supplying the Israeli market and can assess the kosher certification requirements relevant to the products and intended customer or distribution channel.
If Israel is one of your intended markets, please tell us when making your initial inquiry so that the relevant requirements can be considered from the outset.
10. What happens if we change an ingredient, supplier or production process after certification?
Relevant changes should be reported to Fidelity Kosher before they are introduced into kosher-certified production.
A change of ingredient, supplier, recipe, processing aid, equipment or manufacturing process can affect the kosher status of a certified product. We will review the proposed change and advise whether additional documentation, approval or other action is required.