Regarding Kosher Symbols (hekhsheirim)

Can you just read the ingredients on a label and, if nothing is treif, use the product? Absolutely. Torah requires one to eat kosher, not  or . However, the certifying agencies make one's job easier. Today, there are so many emulsifiers, stabilizers, preservatives, colourings, and other additives like vitamins, etc., that, unless you are a chemist, it is next to impossible to know the content and source of a product's ingredients. Furthermore, legally, not every ingredient has to be listed; there are "tolerances." To be kosher, all ingredients have to derive from a kosher source and be processed on kosher equipment. Thirty years ago, one could read the label and make a reliable judgment. Today, it is more difficult. Fortunately, we are blessed by the fact that kosher certification is so widespread that the consumer can find almost any product in a certified form. The following is a partial list of reliable kosher symbols (hekhsheirim). Please note that there are some 400 kosher certifying agencies around the world. Any kosher symbol (hekhsher) that is not listed can be checked with the rabbi. Incidentally, a "K" is just a letter of the alphabet and is not copyrighted. It is a manufacturer's statement that he thinks the product is kosher, and not necessarily a statement from an outside, certifying body. One has to know who is behind the "K."

	Canada
	Kashruth Council of Canada 4600 Bathurst St, Suite 240, Toronto, Ont. M2R 3V2 (416) 635-9550, Fax: (416) 635-8760 Rabbi M. Levin, Executive Director Rabbi Y. Kerzner, Chairman Rabbinical Vaad Hakashruth E-Mail: mlevin@cor.ca Website: http://www.cor.ca
	Jewish Community Council of Montreal 6825 Decarie Blvd, Montreal, Quebec, H3W 3E4 (514) 739-6363, Fax: (514) 739-7024 Rabbi Saul Emanuel, Executive Director Rabbi Peretz Jaffe, Kashrut Coordinator E-Mail: semanuel@mk.ca Website: http://www.mk.ca
	Calgary Kosher (CK) 1607 - 90th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2V 4V7 403-253-8600 Ext 213, Fax - 403-253-7915 Rabbi Akevy Greenblatt, Rabbinic Administrator Philip Wolf, Mashgiach E-Mail: calgarykosher@cjcc.ca
	Orthodox Rabbinical Council of British Columbia 8080 Francis Road, British Columbia, Canada V6Y 1A4 (604) 275-0042, Fax: (604)277-2225 Rabbi A. Feigeistock, Av Beth Din Rabbi Levy Teitlebaum, Kashrus Administrator E-Mail: info@bckosher.org Website: http://www.bckosher.org
	Vaad Ha'ir of Winnipeg C306 - 123 Doncaster St, Winnipeg, MB R3N 2B2 204-487-9571, Fax: 204-477-7405 Richard A. Stokoloff, Executive Director Gabe Brojges, Kashruth Coordinator E-Mail: RStokoloff@aspercampus.mb.ca
	Ottawa Vaad HaKashrut 1780 Kerr Avenue, Ottawa Ontario, Canada K2A 1R9 (613) 798-4696, Fax: (613) 798-4695
	Chief Rabbinate of Quebec - Kashruth Commission 5850, Victoria Ave., Montreal, Quebec, H3W 2R5 (514) 738-1004, Fax: (514) 738-2972 Rabbi Dr. David Sabbah, Chief Rabbi/Posek Mr. Robert Levy, Administrator E-Mail: rabbin.david.sabbah@rabbinat.qc.ca Website: http://www.rabbinat.qc.ca
	United States
	The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations (OU) Eleven Broadway, New York, NY 10004 (212) 563-4000, Fax - (212) 564-9054 Rabbi Menachem Genack, Rabbinic Administrator Kashrus Questions Hotline: (212) 613-8241 Email: kosherq@ou.org or bergc@ou.org Website: http://www.ou.org New Companies: birnbaum@ou.org
	The Organized Kashrus Laboratories (OK) 391 Troy Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11213 (718) 756-7500, Fax - (718) 756-7503 Rabbi Don Yoel Levy, Kashruth Administrator E-Mail: General: info@ok.org    Info on Certification: cfogelman@ok.org Website: http://www.ok.org
	"Star-K" Kosher Certification (STAR-K) 122 Slade Avenue, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD 21208 (410) 484-4110, Fax - (410) 653-9294 Rabbi Moshe Heinemann, Rabbinic Administrator Dr. Avrom Pollak, President E-Mail: star-k@star-k.org Website: http://www.star-k.org/
	Star-D 122 Slade Avenue, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD  21208-5234  (410) 484-4110 Fax - (410) 653-9294 Rabbi Moshe Heinemann, Rabbinic Admin, Rabbi Boruch Beyer E-Mail: star-k@star-k.org Website: http://www.star-k.org/
	"KOF-K" Kosher Supervision (KOF-K) 201 The Plaza, Teaneck, NJ 07666 (201) 837-0500, Fax - (201) 837-0126 Rabbi Dr. H. Zecharia Senter, Executive Administrator Rabbi Aharon Felder, Director of Kosher Standards E-Mail: info@kof-k.org Website: http://www.kof-k.org
	THE HEART "K" Kehila Kosher Rabbi Avromon Teichman (323) 935-8383
	Kosher Overseers P.O. Box 10209, Beverly Hills, CA 90213 323-870-0011, Fax - 323-567-4371 Rabbi Chaim Hisiger, Rabbinic Administrator Email: ko@kosher.org Website: http://www.kosher.org/
	The "RCC" Community Kashrus Division of the Rabbinical Council of California                       Rabbi Nissim Davidi & Rabbi Avromon Union - Rabbinic Admin Phone: (213) 489-8080; Fax: (213) 489-8077
	Vaad Harabanim of Greater Seattle 5100 South Dawson Street, Suite #102  Seattle, WA  98118-2100 (206) 760-2100  Fax - (206) 760-0905 David Grashin, Administrator
	Kosher Supervision of America P.O. Box 35721, Los Angeles, CA  90035  (310) 282-0444 Fax - (310) 282-0505  Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon, Kashrus Administrator
	Vaad Hoeir of Saint Louis  4 Millstone Campus St. Louis, MO  63146  (314) 569-2770 Fax - (314) 569-2774  Rabbi Sholom Rivkin, Chief Rabbi
	The Vaad Hakashrus of Denver  1350 Vrain Street, Denver, CO  80204  (303) 595-9349 Fax - (303) 629-5159  Rabbi Y Feldberger, Rabbinic Administrator
	Chicago Rabbinical Council  3525 W. Peterson Avenue, Suite #315  Chicago, IL  60659 Phone: (773) 588-1600 Fax - (773) 588-2141  Rabbi Dovid Jenkins, Kashruth Administrator
	Vaad Hakashrus of Dallas - THE "DK"   7900 Northaven Road  Dallas TX 75230  (214) 750-8223 - Fax (214) 368-4709  Rabbi David Shawl, Kashrus Admin Was Dallas Kashrut Council)
	The Texas K & International Kosher Supervision 351 East Price Street Suite #200  Keller TX  76248 (817) 337-4700 Phone - (817) 337-4901 Fax  Rabbi Dovid Jenkins, Rabbinic Administrator
	K’hal Adath Jeshurun (Breuer’s)  85-93 Bennet Avenue  New York, NY  10033   (212) 923-3582 Fax - (212) 781-4275  Rav Zachariah Gelley, Rav
	Atlanta Kashruth Commission  1855 La Vista Road, Atlanta, GA  30329  (404) 634-4063  Fax - (404) 320-7912  Rabbi Ilan Feldman, Dean
	National Kashrut  101 Route 306  Monsey, NY 10952  (914) 352-4448 Fax - (914) 356-9756 Rabbi Yacov Lipshutz, President
	The "MK" Manchester Beth Din Dayan 0. Westheim 061-740-9711
	Vaad Hakashrus of Massachusetts  177 Tremont Street  Boston, MA  02111  (617) 426-2139 Fax - (617) 426-6268  Rabbi Abraham Halfinger, Rabbinic Administrator
	Tri-State Kashruth, Vaad Hoer of Cincinnati 6446 Stover Avenue  Cincinnati, OH  45237 Phone:  (513) 731-4671  Fax: (513) 531-5665 Rabbi Yacov Toron, Rabbinic Administrator
	THE "CHOF KOSHER" Rabbi Solomon B. Shapiro (718) 263-1574
	VAAD HARABONIM OF FLORIDA Orthodox Rabbinical Council of South Florida; Rabbi Growner (305) 931-6204
	Capital District Vaad Hakashruth Rabbi Moshe E. Bomzer, Rav Hamachshir, Rabbi Yaakov Kellman, Kashruth Administrator 380 Whitehall Rd. Albany, NY 12208 518-489-1530, Fax: 518-489-1530
	Orthodox Vaad of Philadelphia; 7505 Brookhaven Road, Philadelphia, PA  19151  Rabbi Aaron Felder 215-545-2968; Rabbi Shlomo Caplan 215-473-0951: Rabbi Yehoshua Kagnaff 215-742-8521 Fax: 215-473-6220
	THE CALIFORNIA "K" Kehilla Kosher (Igud Hakashrus of Los Angeles); Rabbi Avrohom Teichman (323) 935-8383
	Rabbinical Council of Orange County & Long Beach (714) 846-2285
	Natural Food Certifiers 119A South Main Street, Spring Valley, NY 10977 Rabbi Reuven Flamer, Administrator 845-426-5098, 888-422-4632, Fax: 845-818-3598 E-Mail: inf@nfccertification.com E-Mail: natcert@aol.com Website: http://www.nfccertification.com
	VAAD Vaad HaKashrus of the Five Towns   Rabbi Moshe Chait (516) 569-4536
	Rabbinic Administrator of Upper Midwest Kashrut Rabbi Asher Zeilingold (612) 690-2137
	The "K-COR"Vaad Harabonim of Greater Detroit and Merkaz; Rabbi Beryl Broyde, Rabbi Joseph Krupnik (810) 559-5005
	The "Sefer Torah-Kasher" The Vaad Harabbonim of Flatbush  Rabbi Eli Skaist, Rabbinic Administrator (718) 951-8585
	BAIS DIN OF CROWN HEIGHTS Rabbi Dov Ber Levertov (718) 774-7504
	Kashruth of The Central Rabbinical Congress Rabbi Yidel Gruber (718) 384-6765
	Kosher Technical Konsultants 4537 Winding Brook Drive Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020-7805 Tel: (215) 745.3773     Fax: (215) 725.3775 Rabbi Alan Ira Silver, M.D.
	K.O.A. Kosher Supervision 72 Ascension Street, Passaic, NJ 07055 (973) 777-0649, Fax:(973) 777-2315 Rabbi Shlomo Isaacson, President - Kashrus Coordinator Rabbi Yehoshuah Buxbaum, Vice President and Head Mashgiach Rabbi Beryl Isaacson, Halachik Advisor
	Israel
	AGUDAH The Beth Din Zedek of Agudath Israel 02-385-2514
	Office of the Chief Rabbi of Bnei Brak Yechezkel St. 3, Bnei Brak 51271, Israel +972-3-6164218 , Fax - +972-3-6164219 Rabbi Moshe Y. L. Landa
	Glatt Kosher – Nevei Achiezer Rav Shlomo Mahpud, (03) 769-702 Rav Baruch Roshgold, (03) 797-172
	Bais Din Tzedek of the Eida Hachareidis of Jerusalem 011-972-2-251-651
	BELZ The Bais Din Tzdek of K’hal Machzikei Hadas 02-2-385-832 or 02-795-414
	Rabbi Moshe Y. L. Landa (/Rav of Bnei-Brak)
	Rabbi Nuchem Efraim (Noam) & Teitelbaum (Volver Rav)
	Rabbi Shlomo Stern (Debraciner Rav)
	Rabbi M. Weissmandl (Rav of Nitra-Monsey)
	Bdatz Mehadrin 10 Miriam Mizrachi St, P.O.B. 645, Rechovot 76106, Israel 972-8-939-0816/7, Fax 972-8-939-0818 Rabbi Simcha Hacohen Kook shlit'a Chairman Rabbi Avraham Rubin shlit'a Head Rabbinical Kashruth Administrator Rabbi A. Berger European Rabbinical coordinator   (324-77369982, Fax 323-2301029, Lamorinierstr 166 Antwerp 2018 Belgium) Rabbi Y Shain, USA Rabbinical Coordinator   (732-363-7979, Fax 732-363-5441, 1140 Forest Ave., P.O. Box 172, Lakewood NJ, 08701) Website: http://www.kosherconsumer.org
	Other
	H.K.K. Kosher Certification Service of Hong Kong, Rabbi David Zadok Phone: (852) 2540-8661
	Kashrut Division of the London Beth Din, Court of the Chief Rabbi Adler House, 735 High Road, London N12 0US, United Kingdom (+4420) 020 8343-6255 Fax: (+4420) 020 8343-6254/56 Kashrus Hotline: (+4420) 020 8343-6259 Rabbi Jeremy Conway, Director of Kashrut Dayan Ch. Hakohen Ehrentreu, Rosh Beth Din Dayan Menachem Gelley E-Mail: info@kosher.org.uk Website: http://www.kosher.org.uk
	KEDASSIA Kedassia, The Joint Kashrus Committee of England  67 Amhurst Park, London, England 44181-800-6833
	Beth Din of the Federation of Synagogues London 65 Watford Way, London NW4 3AQ (44) 020 8202-2263, Fax: (44) 020 8203-0610 Dyan M. D. Elzas, Director of Kashrut Dayan Y. Y. Lichtenstein, Rosh Beth Din Dayan B. Berkovits E-Mail: info@kfkosher.org Website: http://www.kfkosher.org
	Bureau De Certification Kosher Europeen 60 rue Jean Claude Vivant, 69100 Villeurbanne France 0033-04.79.88.39.82 or 0033 -04.78.24.79.57, Fax: 0033-04.79.35.52.42 Rabbi Daniel Alloun, Kashrut Director Rabbi A.Y Schlesinger, Geneve Swizerland, Av Beth Din Rabbi Moshe Alloun , Chief Rabbi E-Mail: bcke@free.fr Website: http://www.kosherlabel.com/
	Kashrut Department, Beth Din of Johannesburg, Union of Orthodox Synagogues of South Africa P.O. Box 46559, Orange Grove, 2119 27 11 485-4865, Fax:27 11 640-7528 Rosh Beth Din: Rabbi Moshe Kurtstag Dayanim: Rabbi Dr D. Isaacs, Rabbi B. Rapoport, Rabbi .Z Suchard Antony Radomsky, Kashrut Administrator Darren Sevitz, Executive Director Principal Rabbinical Inspector: Rabbi Y Baumgarten Office of the Chief Rabbi, Rabbi CK Harris E-Mail: kashrut@uos.co.za Website: http://www.uos.co.za
	Kosher Certification Limited P.O. Box 13783, Johnsonville, Wellington, New Zealand 64-4-232-6367 Fax: 64-4-232-6365 Rabbi Shmuel Zajac, Senior Rabbi of the Wellington Hebrew Congregation E-Mail: Koshercertification@ihug.co.nz Website: http://www.kosher.co.nz
	Sistema Kosher La Fontaine 229, Col. Polanco, C.P. 11560 (525) 250-203-9964 Fax: (525) 250-6681 Rabbi Nissum Hilu E-Mail: koshernhilu@mexis.com Website: http://www.kosher.com.mx
	Ufficio Rabbinico Di Trieste Via San Francesco 19 34133, Trieste, Italia 39-040-371466 or 39-040-372682, Fax:39-040-371226 Rabbi Umberto Avraham Piperno E-Mail: ravpipemo@libero.it
	Rabbi Yossef Hadad Via Pier Lombardo 16, 20135, Milano Tel/Fax: +025514709 E-Mail: rabbi@italykosher.com Website: http://www.italykosher.com/
	NSW Kashrut Authority Suite 4, 58 Hall Street, Bondi Beach, NSW 2026 P.O. Box 7206, Bondi Beach, NSW 2026 61-2-9365-2933, Fax - 61-2-9365-0933 Rabbi Moshe D. Gutnick, Kashrus Administrator E-Mail: rabbig@ka.org.au Website: http://www.ka.org.au