By Roy Mabasa
Around 160 Kosher-certified Philippine food companies are now ready to export their products to Israel and compete in servicing the needs of the US$12.65-billion Kosher market worldwide.
(PIXABAY / MANILA BULLETIN)
Rabbi Joel Weinberger, director of the PS Kosher Food Works, Inc. presented to Philippine Ambassador to Israel Neal Imperial a directory of the Kosher-certified Philippine food companies, which can export their products to Israel.
The accredited companies can now export their respective products such as frozen fish and other seafood, coconut products, fruit and vegetable chips, corn flakes, carrageenan, canned tuna, juices, sugar, among others.
“I believe that there is great potential to export more Philippine Kosher-certified products to Israel. We are happy to note that more and more export-oriented Philippine companies are becoming aware of the value of Kosher certification and the untapped market for their products,” Weinberger said during the recent turnover of the directory.
The word Kosher is an adaptation of the Hebrew word “kāšēr” meaning “fit” or “proper” and it refers to food that conforms to the regulations of kashrut or Jewish dietary law.
The principles governing kosher are rooted in the Written Torah (the Bible) and the Oral Torah. Jews have observed these laws for over 3,000 years.
The indicator of kosher and non-kosher depends on two variables: the source of the ingredients and the status of the production equipment. Kosher certification, which is the guarantee that the food meets kosher requirements, revolves around these two criteria.
During his meeting with Weinberger, ImperIal welcomed the growing maturity and sophistication of Philippine food manufacturers in seeking out new markets in the Middle East, Europe and the US, where Kosher food is equated with healthy food.
The growing list of companies, he added, is an indication of the Philippine companies’ readiness to comply with required certifications to enter Israel’s mainstream market.
Also, the Philippine Kosher-certified food companies will participate in the 2019 International Food Exhibition (IFEX) which will be held on May 24-26 at the World Trade Center in Manila.
PS Kosher Food Works is a member of the Israel Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ICCP) and involved in the promotion of Kosher and United States Organic Certification inquiry and export assistance to the members of the organization and the general public.