Why do Indian companies need to Kosher Certificate?
India is blessed with plenty of sunshine, good soil, water, and favorable climatic conditions that foster agricultural production. The government too is set on boosting food processing industries in a bid to reduce waste and to give farmers remunerative prices.
Such food processing industries must serve local markets and also international markets where main profits are to be found because of bulk sales. However, competition is intense and a food processing company in India must have specialized certifications that will make buyers prefer them over others. Kosher certification is one of them.
Kosher is a Jewish term that stands for purity and conformity with well-established laws pertaining to food. Kosher certification is now gaining popularity, partly driven by the need of people who are focusing on organic, wholesome, pure foods that are free of contamination or genetic manipulation.
Even non-Jews and Muslims across the world prefer to buy only kosher because of the trust the kosher symbol generates. You will find that in some countries people insist on kosher certified foods. If you do not have this certification you cannot make a sale. Kosher means absolute quality control covering the ingredients and the way they are grown and processed to the types of equipment in use, method of preparation, and even packing and labeling.
Certification is not permanent. Anyone who obtains a certification is subject to surprise checks by inspectors and, therefore, they scrupulously follow established guidelines during food processing. The certification is valid for a year after which it is renewed again but only on scrutiny, checks and verification. Buyers know this and trust the symbol on packaged foods and buy only kosher foods.
These are compelling reasons why Indian food processing and exporting companies must seriously consider Kosher Certification. The cost is reasonable but the certification immeasurably improves profits as well as possibilities of global sales.
From another perspective, kosher teaches us about the importance of purity in food, processing it right, and adhering to high standards. If Indian companies adopt Kosher then they are going up to the next level in conforming to global standards and it changes their philosophy of doing business and of life in general. Human health and life are precious. Food is vital for sustenance and the quality of food can impact health and life. Kosher teaches manufacturers to value life and respect people.
It is easy to obtain Kosher Certifications at a reasonable cost provided you approach the right agency in India that is affiliated with a global kosher certification agency. Registration and checks can be started in as little as one month but the entire process could well last for a longer period depending on the products involved.
Anyway, at the end of it, manufacturers of food products can take pride in the fact that their foods are a cut above the rest. Food processors may spend lakhs on advertising that may have little impact but spending a part of that amount on Kosher certification is invaluable. Customers across the world trust Kosher labels and buy a product without asking questions it carries that label.