World Kosher Day to Launch Feb. 1 as Annual Global Celebration

HOUSTON – The launch of World Kosher Day (also known as National Kosher Day) will be celebrated Feb. 1, according to the Kosher Institute of America. 

"The kosher industry includes millions of certified products, yet most people have no idea what goes into that small kosher symbol on their favorite foods," said Rabbi Nosson Dubin, dean of Kosher Institute of America. "World Kosher Day celebrates these rigorous standards and honors the professionals who ensure them."

While 14% of kosher consumers purchase it for religious reasons, the majority choose it for other benefits — 62% cite food quality as their primary reason, 51% choose it for general healthfulness and 34% for food safety, according to the Kosher Institute of America. 

Kosher certification involves strict oversight: trained inspectors monitor facilities, verify ingredients and ensure products meet exacting standards, the Kosher Institute of America said. 

World Kosher Day envisions a global celebration with no prescribed format, the institute said. A restaurant in Paris might create a special kosher-certified tasting menu. A certification agency in Chicago could offer supermarket tours explaining kosher inspection. An educator in London might host a session on kosher food standards. A college student in South Africa might try keeping kosher for 24 hours.

The Kosher Institute of America said the initiative welcomes participation from certification agencies, restaurants, food companies, inspectors, educators and individuals curious about kosher food.

Resources are available through certification agencies like OU Kosher, OK Kosher, Star-K, cRc, and Kof-K, and other national and regional agencies. Kosher.com provides recipes and cooking shows. World Kosher Day will feature curated guides at worldkosherday.com.

For more information, visit worldkosherday.com.