Everyone likes to eat gummies, but few people consider it a food. In fact, gummies is a man-made food, and its production process involves many kosher issues.
Kosher soft gummies
Why does the production of soft gummies require kosher supervision?
Most processed foods go through many steps from primary processing to entering the market. Kosher issues can arise from the trucks that transport raw materials. Trucks may transport kosher and non-kosher products at the same time without proper cleaning. In addition, since kosher and non-kosher products may share production lines, production lines must also be properly cleaned. And even if all foods produced in a factory are kosher, there is still the problem of dairy products and neutral foods sharing equipment.
Fats
The ingredient list of processed products can only help you determine which ingredients are non-kosher, but it cannot tell you which are kosher. Many chemicals used in the food processing industry, especially the sugar industry, are derived from fats, either plant or animal - this is usually not told by the ingredient list. For example, magnesium stearate or calcium stearate is used in the production of pressed candies to make the product fall off the mold. Both substances can be of animal or plant origin. Stearates are also used as lubricants, emulsifiers, anti-caking agents, etc. in the manufacture of tablets, coatings, and the manufacture of glycerides and polysorbates.
In addition, mono- and polyglycerides are widely used in the food industry as emulsifiers. For example, they are used in bread to keep it fresh and in fast and convenient foods such as pasta, cereals, and dehydrated potatoes to reduce their stickiness. Both of these chemicals may also be of animal origin.
Flavors
Some foods, especially candies, may have certain inherent ingredients that are non-kosher. Many candies use artificial or natural flavors. The view from the relevant part of the 60 laws (bitul b'shishim) is that since the use of flavors cannot be avoided, the use of trace amounts of non-kosher substances in products is permitted.
Some very important compounds in the flavor industry are listed as "natural flavors" on the ingredient list, but are non-kosher in nature. Examples include Ethiopian civet, bull musk, castoreum, and ambergris. These flavors are natural but not kosher. Some derivatives from wine or grapes, such as grape pomace oil, are also widely used in the flavoring industry, especially in chocolate. Fragrance houses mix many compounds to create flavors that they or their customers want. The pepsin used in chewing gum comes from the digestive juices of pigs or cows.
Food Colors
Food colors are a very important kosher issue in the food industry, especially in the gummies industry. Many companies are avoiding artificial colors such as allura red, which can cause cancer and may be banned like erythrosine. And because customers prefer natural colors, many companies try to avoid artificial colors. FDA regulations require that food additives and colors be listed on the ingredient list, with the exception of flavorings, flavors, and colors without specifying the specific ingredients, but artificial colors and flavors. In addition, some coal tar colors must list the specific ingredients.
Unfortunately, the best substitute for artificial red color is carmine, which is extracted from the dried body of female cochineal insects. Cochineal is found mainly in South America and the Canary Islands. Cochineal is an extremely stable red color used in a wide variety of products - soft drinks, mixed soft drinks, fillings, icings, fruit syrups, especially cherry syrups, yogurt, ice cream, baked goods, jellies, chewing gum, and sherbet.
Colors from kosher sources may be processed with non-kosher substances such as monoglycerides and propylene glycol to enhance their functionality. Such additives are processing aids and are not required to be listed on the ingredient list. Grape juice or grape skin extracts are also often added to beverages as red and purple pigments.
Specific products
Chewing gum
Chewing gum is a product that involves many kosher issues. Glycerin is a gum base softener and is essential in the production of the gum base. The other ingredients used in chewing gum mentioned above may also come from animals. In addition, flavors need to be kosher certified. National brand chewing gum is non-kosher, but kosher products are also available.
Chocolate
More than any other sweet, chocolate is subject to kosher certification. European companies may add up to 5% vegetable or animal fats to their products to reduce the amount of cocoa butter used - and the product is still considered pure chocolate. Flavoring may also contain non-kosher grape pomace oil. If not labeled Pareve (neutral), many dark, slightly bitter chocolates and chocolate coatings may contain 1% to 2% milk to extend shelf life and prevent whitening, a whitening of the surface. Small amounts of milk are particularly common in chocolate produced in Israel.
Synthetic chocolate used for coatings contains fats from animal or vegetable sources. Cocoa gummies may have palm or cottonseed oil - both of which must be kosher - added to it in place of cocoa butter. In addition, carob products contain milk and are not listed on the ingredient list. Most carob flakes contain whey.
Chocolate may be made on equipment that is used after milk chocolate, but not cleaned between batches, and milk may remain on the equipment. In this case, the product is sometimes labeled as the dairy processing equipment. For customers who strictly follow kosher milk regulations, this type of product is a red flag. For all kosher customers, chocolate produced on dairy processing equipment is more or less problematic.
Kosher Production
Many kosher-certified product labels are made by the manufacturer according to the specifications of the contractor. The contractor must ensure that the production is in accordance with the specifications and supervise the production.
Justgood Health is a company that has successfully overcome the obstacles in the production of kosher gummies. According to Justgood Health's new product formulator, it takes several years for a product to be envisioned and finally put on the shelf. Justgood Health's gummies are produced under strict supervision at every step. First, the manufacturers are trained to understand what kosher means and what supervision is needed. Second, the list of all ingredients, including the specific composition of flavors and colors, is checked and their sources are investigated by certified rabbis. Before production, the supervisor checks the cleanliness of the machine and the ingredients. The supervisor is always present during the production of the finished product. Sometimes, the supervisor needs to lock up a necessary spice to ensure that production does not start when he is not present.
Gummies, like other products, needs to be kosher certified because ingredient lists provide little information about the production process.
Post time: Mar-01-2025