The Osem Group is a fine example of how to observe the laws of kashrut according to Halacha (Jewish religious law). For the last 13 years, the kashrut set-up in the facilities of this leading food manufacturer in Israel has been under the guidance of Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Harlap, the corporationâ??s Rabbi. The laws of kashrut are meticulously applied throughout the production procedure of thousands of different items, manufactured in production plants throughout Israel and the world. The kashrut supervision set-up ensures that the system functions properly in all areas pertaining to kashrut throughout the production process. This set-up which operates in a professional and scrupulous manner ensures that every kashrut-observant Jew can enjoy Osem-Nestlé products anywhere in the world without any need for concern.

All activities including development of new products, establishing a new factory, purchasing a new production line, as well as standard production procedures questions come under the supervision of Osemâ??s kashrut set-up which is an integral part of all production processes in the company whether they occur in Israel or abroad.

The team involved in the kashrut set-up acts in an advisory capacity on all fundamental aspects of kashrut and oversees all aspects of workâ??from the planning of productions lines to the on-going operation of the factoryâ??performed by the relevant units. Advice is given on the need to separate production systems for dairy products, meat products and paraveh (non-dairy/non-meat) products, storage and marking of raw materials and products, as well as establishing appropriate work procedures that accommodate and conform to the laws of kashrut. Osemâ??s kashrut team is responsible for all aspects of kashrut and members can be found in all Osem facilities and also of course at the companyâ??s headquarters. Members of this team visit the overseas suppliers of both raw materials and of finished products. They check to ensure that the entire production procedure will be acceptable to the kashrut supervising body with whom Osem will be working. The supervising bodies include the Jewish religious courts of the ultra-orthodox sects, the local Rabbinates in different areas, the Orthodox Union (O.U.) in the United States, the Rabbinate in the Israel Defense Forces, and the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.

Osemâ??s strict observance of the laws of kashrut has also paid off commercially. Kosher food products are perceived everywhere, and not just by Jews, as being top-quality and particularly healthy products, which is in line with the world trend towards health foods.