Rabbi Eli Lando recently joined the staff of the OK as Chief Customer Relations Officer. Rabbi Lando was born and raised in Israel where he received ordination as a rabbi.  Rabbi Lando is also a graduate of UBC Business Sauder school.

Rabbi Lando began his career in kosher supervision at BC Kosher in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Rabbi Lando served as director of BC Kosher for six years, where he gained much practical experience in kosher certification, meeting with kosher certified companies around the world and visiting production facilities. Throughout his career in the Kosher industry, Rabbi Lando has been an early adopter of unique customer relations approach, understanding the competitive edge it can bring to an organization.

Rabbi Lando brings a unique perspective to our organization with his in-depth knowledge of customer needs. He serves an important role in assisting our customers and driving the team to provide the highest levels of service.

Rabbi Lando and his staff looks forward to making personal contact with each OK certified company and is always available through OK headquarters to speak with you and answer any comments or questions regarding your relationship with OK Kosher Certification.

UAS Laboratories, Inc., “The Probiotic Company”, headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is one of the latest additions to OK Kosher Certification’s legion of kosher certified companies. UAS specializes in production of probiotics and other supplements, including acidophilus, coenzyme Q-10, joint supplements, and more.

UAS is a leading probiotic company, founded by Dr. S.K. Dash in 1979. Dr. Dash served as director of the Food & Drug Administration for South Dakota in the 1970s and became interested in probiotics during his tenure there. His research showed that probiotics were effective in treating many different conditions and decided to start his own company to develop probiotics using super strain L-acidophilus DDS-1. UAS introduced quality control standards to the probiotics industry and spearheaded the National Probiotics Products committee.

To continue its history of excellence and high quality, UAS is now kosher certified by OK Kosher Certification, the leader in high kosher standards and high technology. Established in 1935, the OK certifies over 300,000 products on six continents. Its highly acclaimed DigitalKosher portal allows for digital submission and tracking of all OK-certified ingredients and products, ensuring the highest level of kosher compliance and customer ease-of-use. The OK prides itself on its commitment to upholding kosher standards without compromise, while educating and providing superior customer service to its kosher certified clients.

UAS, like the OK, is a high-tech company, combining innovation with the highest standards of quality and oversight. Kosher certification under the OK provides UAS with a great opportunity to reach an ever-growing market of kosher consumers and continue to provide high quality dietary supplements to a global market. For more information on UAS Laboratories, Inc. please visit www.uaslabs.com.

The OK has recently updated the Application for New Product or Formula and the form for Approved Ingredient in Stock with Expired Kosher Certificate. The best, most efficient way to submit information to the OK is through DigitalKosher. If you prefer to send paper submissions, kindly download the new forms from the the link below and use them for future submissions.

Application for New Product or Formula 02 25 08 _3_ _8_

Application for Ingredient in stock with expired KC Revised (12.11.09)

A kosher meat product must be derived from a permissible animal that has both split hooves and chews its cud. Kosher animals are cows, sheep, goats, venison, chickens, turkeys, duck and geese. In addition, the meat must be slaughtered by a shochet (a ritual slaughterer) and kosherized through a special process (like salting to get rid of any traces of blood and deveining certain parts). Any products containing meat ingredients or meat derivatives are considered “meat” for kosher purposes. In addition, no dairy products or derivatives can be produced on a meat production line.

Application for:

• Receiving: A facility that handles only kosher meat finished products, can have both pareve and meat ingredients listed on their approved ingredient list and both types of ingredients may be received in the facility.

• Production: A kosher meat product is produced on a production line specially dedicated for kosher meat products, or properly kosherized before production. Meat products can also be produced on a pareve line, but it would change the status of the pareve line and require kosherization before another pareve product is made. Most of the time, a rabbi must be present during the production of meat products.

• Procurement: Since there are such stringent restrictions on kosher meat, most meat, products and meat derivatives on the market are not kosher.  If you require meat products, it is imperative to work closely with your rabbi and/or Account Representative at the OK to qualify a suitable source.

• Sales: Meat products are labeled with an “OK-M” symbol and may have the word glatt next to the symbol. Since meat products are complicated to certify, two logos (or seals) must be present on all sealed finished products. Sometimes, special tamper-proof seals, like holograms and tracking information, are used. Speak to your rabbi or Account Representative to discuss this in detail.

Online real-time access to your product list.

1. • Download your list as an Excel document and view all of the data behind certificates and products, including: labeler information, production location, kosher status and restrictions.
   • All changes to products (i.e. name change, etc.) that are made in K-Cert, the OK database, will be automatically updated on DigitalKosher.
   • The ability to list all of your kosher certified products on your website without commissioning your IT department.

Online, paperless submission of products and ingredients, including real-time status updates.

1. • Ingredient and product (formula) submissions can be made electronically.
   • Real time updates of your ingredient and product submissions are available for online viewing.
   • This translates into complete control of submissions and updates. You will always know the status of your submissions and will  be able to schedule productions accordingly.

One of the great features of the OK website is the Kosher Food Guide (KFG).

This guide is continuously updated with newly certified products, providing you with maximum exposure to kosher consumers.

Each time you submit an Application for New Product/Formula, there is an option to select a category for the product. By selecting a category, you enable the product to be listed in the KFG database on our website.

When a product is listed in the KFG, a consumer or industrial buyer can search for your product by category or product name. In addition, if a consumer or buyer searches for a particular category of products, your product will be included in the search results if it is part of that category.

If you have any questions about categorizing your products, or the KFG in general, please do not hesitate to contact your account representative.

If you do NOT wish for your products to be listed in the KFG, kindly email [email protected] and state your preference. If we do not receive a response and you have not indicated your preference on the Application for New Product/Formula, your products will be listed in the KFG.

A pareve (neutral) product is made from inherently kosher or kosher certified ingredients that are neither meat, nor dairy. Some examples of pareve ingredients are raw fruits & vegetables, flour, sugar, kosher fish, and eggs. (more…)

The free benefits of being associated with the OK (which are unparalleled in the industry) are geared to increase your bottom line.

OK Kosher Certification is a globally recognized brand and registered trademark, relied on by millions of consumers around the world. In our commitment to meeting our client’s needs, we have invested a significant portion of our resources into implementing extremely advanced systems to manage our processes and operations. Moreover, as we encourage our clients to enjoy a completely seamless digital experience when it comes to Kosher, we are proud to say that we have also provided them with many tools that make this possible. The direct benefits to our clients can be realized in a number of specific areas:

Part 1 – Paperless distribution of certificates to you clients.

• You can distribute your K-ID’s directly from the product list page on DigitalKosher to your clients.

• Create your own Custom Kosher certification letters.

• Your customers will receive e-mail notification of updated certificates on an annual basis.

• This will translate into valuable time saved. Personnel will not have to A) track all the companies you sent certificates to and B) resend them- we will handle both these items.

• Customers can automatically be notified of changes of any kind to your certificates without you having to resend them. (provided the certificates were e-mailed to the customer out of DigitalKosher.

• You will not have to keep track of everyone you sent a certificate to. Therefore customer service personnel and Sales representatives will save many invaluable hours.

• Ask your Account Representative for more information about our services.

Where can you find high-end food products, combined with top-notch kosher supervision and warehouse prices? Five Costco stores in the New York area provide this unique, niche product line, serving a large community of price-conscious and kosher-conscious consumers.

For over a decade, Costco kosher bakeries in Brooklyn, NY, Lawrence, NY, Nanuet, NY, New Rochelle, NY, and Hackensack, NJ have been under the kosher supervision of OK Kosher Certification, providing their customers with fresh, quality, kosher baked goods at prices that cannot be beat.

Costco – Lawrence was the pilot store for a line OK Kosher certified Cholov Yisroel cheese, along with top-quality, OK Kosher certified, Choice grade Glatt Kosher chasidshe shchita beef produced by Colorado Kosher Beef. Costco stores in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Nanuet now carry this kosher beef as well and many Costco stores already carry the Cholov Yisroel cheese.

Recently, OK Kosher Certification held its annual rabbinical conference near its headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, with over 100 rabbis from across the globe in attendance.

This year, in recognition of the unique relationship between Costco and the OK and Costco’s efforts to bring high quality kosher products to the kosher consumer, the OK chose these New York area Costco stores as the Featured Company for the 2009 conference.

Mr. Ken Aicardi, Regional Manager, and Mr. Adam Self, Manager of Costco – Lawrence, were in attendance to accept the awards on behalf of Price-Costco headquarters and the other honored stores. Plaques were also personally presented on location to: Richard Amber, Bakery Manager – Lawrence, NY; Bruce Henry, Bakery Manager – Hackensack, NJ; Carlos Sanchez, Bakery Manager – New Rochelle, NY; Craig Ragland, Bakery Manager – Brooklyn, NY; and, Cassandra St. Fleur, Bakery Manager – Nanuet, NY.