Nestlé USA’s kosher program requires significant teamwork. The kosher status for each product is coordinated among many people, including ingredient suppliers, factories, marketing, technical services, quality assurance, legal, and regulatory affairs. Each of these groups is responsible for a piece of the process, and their expertise is essential for delivering the appropriately manufactured and labeled kosher product. Coordinating the kosher program across so many groups has several advantages. First it establishes a unified corporate approach. This both aligns and ensures the completion of all kosher-related obligations. It also assists the growth of a strong relationship between the company and rabbinical groups. Opportunities to coordinate processes and contracts help reduce the cost of Nestlé’s kosher program. Along with this, administrative systems have been created to ensure successful documentation and maintenance of the kosher program.
Maintaining a tight process is key when so many different players are involved. Clearly defined policies and procedures ensure the integrity of the kosher program. Richard Hutson, Director of Quality Assurance, oversees all of the kosher labeling information for the Nestlé USA’s Confections & Snacks Division. He says the biggest challenge in obtaining and maintaining kosher status is the availability of kosher raw ingredients.
“Each product has a complex formulation that requires a multitude of ingredients. Each ingredient has to be kosher. This can be a hurdle in achieving kosher status. Despite this obstacle, Nestlé USA strives to help brands that want their products OU-labeled to achieve their goal.”
This goal has been the most difficult to achieve with manufacturing facilities abroad. In some countries, the significance of kosher practices is not well understood. It can also be difficult to find kosher ingredients and local rabbis to work with. However, with the support of local leadership and employees, it is possible to have a successful kosher program. In addition, United States coordinators must learn to address language and cultural barriers as well as allow for more time in the kosher certifying process. Another key aspect to a successful kosher program, both internationally and domestically, is a good relationship with the rabbis. An established relationship with the rabbis must occur at the corporate level as well as between the factories and the local rabbis.
According to Ken Mercurio, Director of Regulatory and Nutrition Affairs, “With so many factories and products across such diverse manufacturing lines, it is important to maintain not only a good relationship, but good communication with the OU.” The kosher team works diligently to actively communicate with the OU every time there is a new ingredient, a new co-manufacturer, or any issue the agency should be aware of. The consistent dialogue allows Nestlé USA to continue producing so many different kosher products successfully.
Nestle United States
There are many online resources out there. Just search on Google “kosher nestle USA”. I prefer this simple method. Ask Nestle by clicking here! This is the output you may see:
Nestle Canada
Nestle products manufactured in Canada are absolutely not the same as in USA or any other place in the world. You have to check the Kashruth status for each country you are visiting. To see all Canadian Kosher Nestle products – Click here
Nestle Israel
In Israel, OSEM has been acquired by Nestle. You can see it on their logo:
All OSEM products are Kosher. This what I read on their website:
The Osem Group is a fine example of observing the laws of Kashrut according to the Halacha (Jewish religious law). The Kashrut implementation at the facilities of the leading food concern in Israel, led by Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Harlap – the corporation’s Rabbi, applies the laws of Kashrut throughout the production procedure of thousands of different items, manufactured in production plants both in Israel and in the rest of the world. The Kashrut supervision [read more]