The author is Sue Fishkoff and the subtitle is Why More and More of America's Food Answers to a Higher Authority. This late arrival is one of my favorite non-fiction books of the year, superb both on its topic and on the history and economics of certification more generally. Here is one excerpt:
"If they want to sell their product in the United States and they are not kosher, no one will buy it," points out Menachem Lubinsky. "Coca-Cola won't buy it, Kellogg's won't buy it. They'll be cut out of the market. If you're in China or Thailand and you want to export, you have absolutely no choice but to seek out kosher certification." Some companies get certification to fill one order from a U.S.-based manufacturer and then drop it when the order is complete, only to reapply when the next order comes in.
Definitely recommended.
Then there's this.
I really hate the idea of anyone having to pay a religious tax to a particular religion to be able to sell their product (if I called it a jewish tax then I'd be called antisemetic, which I assure you I am not … plus, which particular religion it gets the money is irrelevant). It's one thing if you can't use pork or shellfish, but it's another thing if you have to seek out and pay for an affirmative certification. Listing the ingredients should be all that's required. It stinks of extortion. Plus when money is involved, bribes are involved. As long as the certifying agent gets the money and a little extra on top for himself, you can be sure there are pig brains and shrimp intestines in your "certified kosher" food. That's how bribes work. I have no doubt it's cheaper to pay a one-time or annual bribe than to buy more expensive ingredients all the time.
And just to be doubly clear, I'd say the same thing about christian, hindu, muslim, or mormon dietary restrictions that require food sellers to buy a "approved to be eaten by people of ____ religion" certificate. I'm actually surprised more religions have not gotten into this extortion racket. Why doesn't every religion seek payment from food sellers to certify their food as "holy" or whatever for members of that religion to buy and eat? I'm amazed my food doesn't say "Scientology Approved" on it.
Upon reading this post, I discussed kosher certification with a BBQ sauce manufacturing business owner. He had a couple funny anecdotes, including having his employees hold a cell phone up to a mixing vat in order for a rabbi to bless the ingredients. He went on to describe how rabbis will often change the requirement for certification depending on the firms willingness to cooperate. The rabbi will tell him that they need to do a,b,c,and d to get certification, when the firm replies that they will not be purchasing those services, the rabbi will alter the requirement in order to get the order.
This still seems to be a privately driven industry. If Kraft wanted to drive down costs, they could source from a manufacturer who didn't have to put up with the racket. However, large retailers and large manufacturers, who source materials, value the acceptableness of their products to 100% of the market over the money saved and alienating a small group.
Furthermore, the internet is an amazing place. Mention anything about Jews and all the crazies emerge. (Usually, starting with a pre-emptive denial of antisemitism.)
As a kosher-eating Jew, I'm offended by BruceM and Matt_f's bigotry. As an academic economist, I'm offended by their stupidity.
aa, I am sorry. My friend's story was sincere, he is in the industry and has to deal with it every day. I am sure there are dodgy certification firms and it is quite possible that those anecdotes are the result. I purposefully disclosed that they were simply anecdotes. At least, one has to admit, any sort of certification program does open up the door for less than respectable firms to enter the market, and quality in certification firms is a problem.
I agree that kosher certification is an area that is free from coercion, and that is why I am a bit surprised by the outcome that results. At first glance, my impression is the cost of kosher is pretty high while the market segment is small. It is interesting how profit seeking firms find an equilibrium.
I don't believe I am a stupid bigot, but as a guy who reads blogs, I am surprised that an "academic" would resort to such name calling.
@aa "As an academic economist"? Wow, you're an academic economist and you don't know how to use the subjunctive mood? With sentences containing such choice phrases as "…if there was a similar…" and "If it wasn't profitable…" as opposed to "were" and "weren't," I'm surprised you could get anything through peer review.
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