Spangler Candy Kosher Information
"Kosher" in Hebrew means fit or proper, and is generally used to describe foods that are prepared in accordance
with special Jewish dietary laws. Can a processed food like soda, cookies, or potato chips be non-kosher? Yes.
This is because all ingredients and subunits in a product must conform to the dietary laws in order for the food item
to be considered kosher. Even one non-kosher ingredient can render the entire product unsuitable. In addition, kosher
food must be processed on kosher equipment. Equipment used for non-kosher production with heat, is rendered non-kosher
and must be kosherized (through a special cleaning process of hot water or intense heat) to be fit for kosher service
and use.
Kosher supervision means that a qualified Rabbi or Rabbinic organization supervises the production of a food item to
insure that the product is kosher. Supervision generally focuses on two areas - ingredients and equipment.
The kosher market extends beyond the Jewish population, and includes Muslims, Seventh Day Adventists, and vegetarians
in addition to people with milk related allergies, health conscious consumers, and discerning consumers who view the
kosher symbol as a sign of health, quality, and integrity. 1 In a consumer survey of adults who purchase kosher food,
the number one reason people buy kosher is for food quality (62%). The second most common reason people say they
purchase kosher food is "general healthfulness" (51%), and the third is food safety (34%). 2 Sales of kosher foods
total $12.5 billion in 2008, a 64% increase since 2003. 2
Spangler Candy uses the Orthodox Union as its kosher-certification service. The Orthodox Union, or OU, represents the
largest and most trusted kosher certifying agency. Close to 300 OU Rabbinic Field Representatives regularly inspect
6,000 certified plants in 80 countries around the globe. The OU symbol appears on more than 400,000 food and food-related
items - over 60 percent of America's kosher-certified products. 3
In October 2006, Spangler Candy's manufacturing plant in Bryan, and its co-manufacturing facility in Juarez were both
certified kosher by the Orthodox Union. All Spangler products made in Bryan and Juarez are kosher except for Circus
Peanuts. For the most recent detailed list and our kosher certifications, see our
Product FAQ page.
Visit the Orthodox Union web site at www.oukosher.org.
(1) www.oukosher.org - "The Kosher Advantage" 2007.
(2) Mintel Market Research 2008.
(3) Behind the Union Symbol, Summer 2005
