New Jerseyans who shop for kosher foods in preparation for Passover can rest assured that the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs requires supermarkets, delis, and other businesses to live up to their promises when selling foods that are represented as being kosher.
The Passover holiday begins at sundown on Friday, April 3.
Because kosher is a religious designation with standards that differ between congregations, the State of New Jersey does not attempt to define “kosher” by statute or regulation. But New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act requires businesses to live up to the promises and representations they make when selling merchandise, including food, to the public.
In addition, New Jersey’s Kosher Food Protection Law and Kosher Food Regulations further protect the kosher-buying public by requiring kosher food sellers to disclose important information to the public. For example:
- Establishments that hold themselves out as selling, preparing, or maintaining kosher food must display, in a location readily visible to consumer, a statement that discloses the basis on which the “kosher” designation is made (such as that the food was approved by a kosher certification organization, or by an individual such as a rabbi).
- Establishments must display a disclosure poster in advance of Passover and through the end of the holiday.
- Packaged foods may only bear a kosher symbol (such as the “OU” used by the Orthodox Union) with prior written authorization from the person or agency represented by that symbol.
- Additional disclosure requirements apply to businesses that represent themselves as being “under kosher supervision”; businesses that slaughter meat or poultry to be sold as kosher; and other establishments.
The Division works year-round to inspect businesses that purport to sell kosher foods, and take enforcement action when necessary.
The Division’s Office of Consumer Protection has performed approximately 500 on-site kosher inspections since August 2013. The vast majority of those businesses passed inspection, with 16 receiving warnings or citations for failing to maintain required information. In order to ensure that businesses are fully informed of the law, the Division sent mailings to more than 800 kosher establishments in June and July 2014.
Information for for Consumers and Kosher Establishments:
Consumers, and establishments that sell kosher foods, can find additional information at the Division of Consumer Affairs’ website:
- Information for Kosher Food Establishments
Consumers who believe they have been cheated or scammed by a business, or suspect any other form of consumer abuse, can file a complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its website or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504-6200.