1. Alcoholic Beverages: Many require certification. Click here to view an extensive listing (Beverage List).
2. Apple Sauce: Unflavored is acceptable without hashgacha. If the ingredient panel lists any flavoring or additives, it requires a hashgacha.
3. Breath Spray and Mouthwash: May contain non-kosher glycerin and non-kosher flavors. Some Rabbonim permit the use of non-kosher mouthwash that is expelled (spit out) and not swallowed. Some do not. Consult your Rav.
4. Butter: Requires proper hashgacha. Flavorings used in the manufacture of butter may be derived from non-kosher sources. Consumers who are strict about Cholov Yisroel may not use non Cholov Yisroel butter. Though the poskim discuss such an exception to the requirement for Cholov Yisroel, the heter does not apply to butter produced with modern industrial processes used today.
5. Canned Fruit: Is acceptable without a hashgacha provided that:
A. The ingredient panel does not list grape juice, grape puree, or other grape ingredients.
B. It does not contain natural or artificial flavors.
C. It is not produced in Mainland, China.
D. It is not produced in Israel due to concerns of terumah, maaser, shmitta, etc.
The cherries in uncertified fruit cocktail should not be consumed as they are often dyed with carmine. The fruit cocktail may be eaten if the cherries are removed.
6. Coffee and Tea: Unflavored are acceptable - both regular and decaffeinated. Flavored coffee and herbal teas require supervision.
7. Cough Medicine: Most cough medicines contain flavors, glycerine and other questionable ingredients. For a more detailed discussion on this subject, please see the article titled, The Kashrus of Medications.
8. Cough Drops: May contain questionable ingredients.We recommend using certified cough medications exclusively. Only certified cough drops should be used.
9. Dental Floss: Acceptable without hashgacha. Flavored may be a problem. Mint flavored may be accepted without hashgacha.
10. Dried Fruits and Nuts: The following types of dried fruit do not present an insect problem provided that they are stored and handled properly. However, they do require a reliable hashgacha for various reasons.
Apples - often treated with stearates
Bananas - fried in oil
Cherries - infused with flavoring and coloring agents
Cranberries - infused with flavoring and coloring agents
Mangos - coloring agents
Papayas - coloring agents
Raisins from non-domestic sources - coated with oil
Apricots, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Pineapples, Prunes and Domestic Raisins are acceptable without certification, provided that the packaging indicates that they are all natural and no oils have been added.
Diced fruit requires proper certification.
Please note: Any dried fruit stored for lengthy periods of time should be carefully examined for signs of infestation prior to use.
Dried dates are acceptable without Hashgacha. However, it should be noted that Israel has become an important exporter of dried dates. Imported dates, e.g. from Pakistan, are often highly infested and should be avoided.
Dried figs are acceptable without certification, but must be checked for insects.
Nuts: As a general rule, raw nuts do not require certification. Oil roasted, dry roasted and seasoned nuts, in or out of the shell, require reliable certification. These nuts are often treated with gelatin or oils during processing.
Red cashews require certification.
Roasted peanuts in shells are acceptable without certification.
Nuts are rarely affected by worms. However, one should be careful to avoid walnuts and cashews if the shells are perforated with small holes. This may be a sign of infestation.
11. Fish: Raw fish is acceptable without hashgacha if purchased whole and scales are found intact. If it was cut at all, you must lightly scrape and then wash the area that was cut. Filleted Fish should not be purchased without proper hashgacha.
12. Fresh Fruit and Vegetables: See below - section entitled Guide to Fruit and Vegetable Preparation.
13. Frozen and Canned Vegetables: Most varieties of frozen vegetables are acceptable without certification. However, notable exceptions exist. French-fries and other potato products may be pre-cooked in non-kosher oils. Vegetables packed in a sauce require certification. Fully cooked frozen vegetables such as winter squash are not acceptable without proper certification due to the concern of Bishul Akum.
All frozen vegetables require special certification for Passover due to the fact that pasta may be processed on the same production lines. Most frozen vegetables, such as carrots, corn, lima beans, okra, peas, and string beans, may be used without any checking.
Insect prone vegetables are not made permissible by the freezing process. These vegetables should only be purchased when bearing proper certification.
Uncertified frozen varieties such as asparagus, broccoli and spinach are most difficult to check thoroughly. They are therefore not recommended.
Frozen cauliflower should be carefully examined for signs of infestation.
For a more detailed discussion on this subject, please see the article titled, The Kashrus of Frozen Vegetables.
Canned Vegetables can be produced in factories running both kosher and non-kosher on the same production equipment. We therefore strongly recommend that canned vegetables, both foreign and domestic, only be purchased when bearing a reliable kashrus symbol.
14. Fruit Juice: Frozen juice concentrate is acceptable without hashgacha, unless the ingredients include grape juice, natural flavor, or natural and/or artificial flavor. Liquid fruit juices are often hot filled in a bottling plant where non-kosher products are run on the same production lines. It is best to purchase juices that bear certification. Juice blends, fruit drinks, and other flavored drinks must bear reliable certification. Grape juice requires hashgacha as do fruit and juice products from Israel.
15. Honey: Unflavored honey does not require supervision. Honey powder does require supervision.
16. Lipstick and Chapstick: Often contain tallow (non-kosher fat). Consult your Rav.
17. Olives: Do not require supervision if packed in salt water and ferrous gluconate, and/or lactic acid (lactic acid is not a dairy ingredient).
A. Olives packed in other ingredients require hashgacha.
B. All types of olives from Israel require hashgacha.
18. Peanut Butter: Requires a hashgacha as it contains oils.
19. Pet Food: Halacha recognizes two types of forbidden substances. Isurei Achilah, forbidden food from which benefit may be derived so long as they are not eaten and Isurei Hanaah, substances from which we may not benefit in any way. Nearly all pet food contains non-kosher animal proteins. However, it is important to note that while it is certainly forbidden to prepare or serve these pet foods with kosher utensils, one is permitted to feed them to his animals. Check the ingredients! Many pet foods contain beef protein as well as a milk derivative such as casein, rendering the mixture Bassar V'Cholov, a classic example of Isurei Hanaah, which we may not feed to our animals. Most pet foods contain Chometz another example of Isurei Hanaah. They should not remain in Jewish possession during Pesach.
20. Spices and Seasonings: Spice blends and seasonings must bear a reliable hashgacha. Additionally, onion and garlic powders as well as minced onion and garlic may be treated with non-kosher flow agents. For this reason they require certification.
It should be further noted that Israel has become an important exporter of coriander, parsley, paprika, tomato and spinach powder. Products from Israel require certification due to concerns of terumah, maaser, shmita, etc.
21. Toothpaste: Though there are often problematic ingredients in toothpaste, most poskim hold it does not require supervision being that the non-kosher component may be considered batel berov. Since it is not considered a food item, shishim is not required.
22. Vitamins: May contain questionable ingredients. There are a number of vitamins under supervision of the OU and other reliable agencies.
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