Vitamin labels have ingredient lists, nutrition facts, and usually a few “key” descriptive terms””like hypoallergenic, gluten-free, wheat-free, or vegetarian. You’ve probably noticed the word “kosher” on more than a few bottles. But what exactly does it mean?
Kosher is the term used by Orthodox Jewish people to indicate that food and other products have been prepared according to religious law. The law, or Kashrut (meaning “fit”, “proper”, or “correct”) prohibits the consumption of certain animals, requires meat and dairy be consumed separately, instructs how utensils in contact with meat and dairy be handled, and more.
Because vitamin production involves the use of kosher-sensitive materials, such as glycerin, gelatin, stearates, enzymes, and flavorings, it’s important for those who keep kosher to know the products they’re purchasing are processed in an acceptable way. High-quality kosher vitamins and supplements are manufactured with thoroughly-sanitized equipment, with ingredients that were properly inspected, cleansed, and derived from a kosher source.