New Kosher certification to require environmental and corporate responsibility

[Ian David]

Expanding the definition of 'kosher'
By CARLY ETTINGER AND DANIEL OPPENHEIMER, The American Jewish World
Sunday, 22 July 2007

Rabbi Morris Allen of Beth Jacob Congregation in Mendota Heights, a suburb of St. Paul, Minn., is passionate about both kashrut (Jewish dietary laws) and social justice. These concerns have developed into the Hechsher Tzedek (justice certification) movement, which brings social justice in the workplace into
the discussion of kashrut.

<snip>

"It is not enough anymore in the 21st century to say that a product is kosher according to the ritual debate," Allen said. "It is also necessary to ensure that a product matches our ethical debate."

The Hechsher Tzedek program will seek to certify foods that are produced in proper and healthy working conditions. Products that are certified will be stamped with the official seal.

To evaluate the social justice standards in the kosher food industry, the program will look at six areas: wages and benefits, worker health and safety, animal welfare, corporate transparency, employee training and environmental impact.

More:
http://www.cjnews.com/TOPScnCJN/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12871&Itemid=86

[Fierce]

1. Rabbi Allen might be the one who...

...threatened to pull the kosher designation from a slaughterhouse that was having labor trouble. It was awesome.

[JudyM]

2. This is great. Especially in my view, the animal welfare part.

There ought to be the choice for people to buy meat from animals that are raised and killed humanely, and there's nothing else out there now that helps in that purchase choice. Organically fed, cage free, etc type designations do not cover how the animals are killed, which is so often shockingly barbaric.

[Ian David]

3. Humane treatment of animals has always been part of Kashrut.

The problem is, when the laws were written, a sharp knife across the throat was the very height of "humane" slaughtering technology.

Hopefully, this will be updated as well.