Fruta Sana obtains the Kosher certificate in the food industry

Kashrut (whose pronunciation in Yiddish is “Kosher”) means correct or appropriate to be consumed. This refers to the Jewish precepts that determine exactly what foods can and can not be eaten, that is, which comply with the precepts of religion and which do not. Those who comply with the precepts of Kashrut are called Kosher.

Therefore, the Kashrut concept refers to the set of Jewish dietary laws found in the Torah (which is the text that contains the law and the identity of the Israelite people). These are millenary laws that determine the foods that are pure and that are suitable for consumption. In addition, these laws also indicate how they should be consumed and adapted to the latest food trends in the market.

Kosher certification obtained by some products, among them Fruta Sana dehydrated fruits, indicates that these products respect the orthodoxy of the Jewish religion, and that therefore they are considered pure and apt to be ingested by the practitioners of said religion. It groups from the composition and ingredients of the product to the production process, paying special attention to the preparation and cleaning of the machinery used in the preparation.

Foods are classified into 3 categories:

* Dairy (jalabí),

* Meat (basarí)

* Neutral (parve).

In the case of dehydrated products exported by Fruta Sana, they would be within group 3, that is, Neutros (parve).

The Kosher market in the food industry

The Kosher market is estimated worldwide at some 600 billion dollars a year between products and ingredients. This information is partly due to the fact that Kosher products are not only consumed daily by Jews. Muslims, vegetarians, vegans, people with allergies etc. They are also consumers of this type of products.

In addition, products with Kosher certification are perceived as healthy, natural and of better quality.

Among the countries with the highest demand for Kosher products are the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Australia, Argentina, Israel, Italy, Norway, Poland and South Africa.

An emerging market

The popularity of these products among non-Jews is partly due to the perception of Kashrut as an excellent quality label. Users concerned about animal suffering are also consumers of Kosher products. In recent years, some Kosher products have been very popular.

Many consumers say they would buy more often if there were more product diversity.

United States supermarkets as important as Pathmark, Wal-Mart, Shoprite and Albertsons have departments of Kosher products. Albertson’s, for example, provides Kosher sections in its 1750 points of sale in the USA. The growth in the consumption of Kosher products is due, above all, to basic foods such as cookies, chocolates and snacks.

The Kosher certification of Fruta Sana in Costa Rica

Kosher certification is a tool for differentiation and competitive positioning at an international level, in a market characterised by constant growth. This certification is important to promote export. Fruta Sana in Costa Rica exports dehydrated fruit to markets in Europe and Israel.

The support of the Kosher certification, because it guarantees the quality of the products and supposes a competitive advantage in the great distribution of food, helps us to continue growing in specific and differentiated markets.

The Kosher certification process carried out by Fruta Sana in its factory covers all aspects of food production, including from the ingredients used, to the equipment used for production. This was done through the Kashrut Service of the Orthodox Department of the Council of Jerusalem, Israel.

In Costa Rica, the authorised entity for certification is the Israelite Zionist Center of Costa Rica. Located in Pavas through qualified personnel, it informs about Kashrut through its informative media.