What Is a Hechsher, and Where to Find It on a Bag of Jerky
A hechsher is a kosher certification symbol: a small mark printed on the package by the agency that supervises the product. On a bag of jerky, it is the single most important thing to find, because it is the difference between a brand saying "kosher" about itself and an independent agency saying it. Here is where to look and what it should tell you.
What a hechsher is
The word comes from the Hebrew for "fit" or "approved." Each kosher agency has its own symbol, usually a simple logo with a letter or shape inside it. When it appears on a product, it means that agency supervises how the product is made, including the ingredients, the equipment and the process, and puts its name behind the result.
Where to find it on a jerky bag
- Front, near the brand name, on many products.
- Back, near the ingredient list or nutrition panel, on many others.
- Next to the word "meat" or a letter "M", which tells you it is a meat product. On beef jerky that designation should always be there, or be obvious.
If you cannot find a symbol, do not assume. The word "kosher" printed on its own, with no symbol, is the brand's own claim.
What to do once you find it
- Identify the agency. Search the symbol if you do not recognize it.
- Check your community accepts that agency. Standards vary between agencies. That is a question for your rabbi.
- Check it covers the finished product, not just an ingredient. Certified beef processed in an uncertified plant is not a certified jerky.
- Look for a current certificate. Serious producers publish theirs.
Things that are not a hechsher
| You see | What it actually is |
|---|---|
| "Kosher-style" | A description of a kind of food. No supervision |
| A plain letter K | Often a brand's own claim; the letter K alone cannot be trademarked |
| "All natural," "no pork" | Unrelated to kashrut |
| A Star of David on the label | Decoration, not certification |
Ours
Every bag we make, our kosher beef jerky and our biltong, is certified Glatt Kosher. The certificates are published so you can read the agency and check it yourself. For everything else to check on a bag, see is beef jerky kosher?
Try it: Is This Jerky Kosher? Label Checker. Answer five questions about the bag in your hand.
