Kosher Symbols Guide
What Do All Those Little Symbols on Your Food Actually Mean?
If you have ever picked up a package of food and noticed a small circle with a U inside it, or a K with a star, or any number of other tiny logos, you have encountered kosher certification symbols -- known in Hebrew as hechsherim (singular: hechsher). These symbols are your roadmap to keeping kosher while shopping, and learning to read them is one of the most useful skills in practical kashrut.
What a Kosher Symbol Tells You
A kosher symbol on a product tells you several things at once:
- The product has been reviewed and approved by a rabbinical authority or certifying agency
- All ingredients have been verified as kosher
- The production process has been supervised to ensure kosher standards are maintained
- The category of the product (meat, dairy, or pareve) is indicated
The Major Kosher Symbols You Will See
OU -- Orthodox Union
The most common kosher symbol in the world. It appears as a U inside a circle. The OU certifies over 1,000,000 products in more than 100 countries. If you are shopping in a mainstream supermarket in North America, you will find the OU on everything from cereal to canned vegetables to snack foods.
OK Kosher
One of the largest certifying agencies globally. The OK symbol is a K inside a circle. They certify products in over 100 countries and are known for rigorous standards.
Star-K
A K inside a star shape. Based in Baltimore, Star-K is widely respected and particularly known for their expertise in industrial food production and their helpful consumer guides.
Kof-K
A K inside an elongated shape. Another major certifying body with a strong reputation and wide product coverage.
CRC (Chicago Rabbinical Council)
Sometimes shown as a triangle with a K. The CRC is well-known both as a certifier and as a resource for kosher consumers. They maintain one of the best online databases of kosher symbols and information.
cRc Hisachdus
A Chassidic-oriented certification found on many products in observant communities.
Badatz Certifications (Israel)
"Badatz" stands for Beit Din Tzedek (rabbinical court of justice). Several Israeli Badatz organizations provide kosher certification, with Badatz Eidah HaChareidis being among the most well-known and stringent.
The Letter Codes: D, M, P, F, and More
Next to the kosher symbol, you will often see a letter or word that indicates the product's category. Understanding these codes is essential for managing the separation of meat and dairy in your kitchen.
D -- Dairy
The product contains dairy ingredients or was produced on dairy equipment. It cannot be eaten with meat or used in meat cooking. You must wait the appropriate time after eating meat before consuming this product.
DE -- Dairy Equipment
The product itself contains no dairy ingredients, but it was manufactured on equipment that also processes dairy products. Technically, the food is pareve by ingredients, but there are different opinions about whether it can be used with meat:
- Some authorities treat DE products as dairy for practical purposes
- Others permit them with meat since no actual dairy is present
- Consult your rabbi for guidance on your community's practice
M or Meat
The product contains meat or poultry ingredients. Cannot be eaten with dairy. Some agencies use "Glatt" to indicate glatt kosher meat.
P -- Pareve
The product is neither meat nor dairy. It can be eaten with either. Important: "P" next to a kosher symbol means pareve, NOT Passover. Passover certification is usually written out or indicated differently.
F or Fish
The product contains fish. Fish is technically pareve, but this designation helps consumers who follow the custom of not eating fish with meat.
Passover/Pesach
When a product is certified for Passover use, it will typically say "Kosher for Passover," "P" in a specific location, or the Hebrew letter Peh. This means the product is free of chametz (leavened grains).
Reading a Complete Kosher Label
Let us walk through some examples of how to read kosher labels:
- OU-D -- Certified by the Orthodox Union; contains dairy or made on dairy equipment
- OU-P -- Certified by the Orthodox Union; pareve (neither meat nor dairy)
- OU Glatt -- Certified by the Orthodox Union; glatt kosher meat
- Star-K D -- Certified by Star-K; dairy product
- OK P Pas Yisrael -- Certified by OK; pareve; bread baked with Jewish involvement (Pas Yisrael)
- CRC-D Cholov Yisrael -- CRC certified; dairy; uses Chalav Yisrael milk
Products Without a Kosher Symbol
Not every product needs a kosher symbol. Some items are inherently kosher without certification:
- Whole, unprocessed fruits and vegetables -- Though they may need to be checked for insects
- Plain water
- Unflavored salt
- Raw, whole eggs in the shell
However, once a product is processed, packaged, or has ingredients added, certification becomes important. Even seemingly simple products like canned vegetables may contain non-kosher additives or be processed on equipment used for non-kosher products.
The Plain K: A Special Case
A standalone letter "K" on a product is not the same as a certified kosher symbol. Because individual letters cannot be trademarked, any manufacturer can place a "K" on their product. A plain K may indicate genuine rabbinic supervision (the rabbi's name or agency may be listed elsewhere on the package), or it may be self-declared by the manufacturer without professional kosher supervision. For guidance on evaluating such products, see our article on reliable vs. unreliable certifications.
Practical Shopping Tips
Building Your Knowledge
- Start with the big five -- Learn to recognize OU, OK, Star-K, Kof-K, and CRC. These cover the vast majority of certified products in North American stores.
- Keep a reference -- Many kosher certifying agencies publish guides to kosher symbols. The CRC website has a particularly comprehensive one.
- Take a photo -- When you encounter an unfamiliar symbol, photograph it and research it later
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming "natural" means kosher -- Natural, organic, and vegan products may still have kosher concerns (equipment, processing aids, etc.)
- Ignoring the category letter -- A product might be kosher but dairy -- double check before serving with meat
- Not checking every product -- Manufacturers change formulas and certifications. A product that was pareve last year might be dairy now.
- Confusing "P" for Passover -- As noted above, "P" next to a kosher symbol usually means pareve, not Passover
When Traveling
Kosher symbols vary by country. If you are traveling, familiarize yourself with the local certifications:
- Israel -- Look for Rabbanut and various Badatz certifications
- United Kingdom -- KLBD (London Beit Din) is the major certifier
- Australia -- KA (Kashrut Authority) is widely recognized
- South Africa -- The Beth Din of Johannesburg certifies most products
Learning to read kosher symbols fluently takes a bit of practice, but it quickly becomes second nature. Within weeks of starting, you will find yourself automatically scanning packages for the familiar symbols -- a small skill that makes the entire practice of keeping kosher manageable and even enjoyable.
