Embria’s EpiCor gets kosher certification

The firm said the certification by the Orthodox Union (OU) involved on-site inspections of its production techniques and its MetaGen4 processes.

"This kosher certification will help our customers meet regulatory requirements,"​ said Embria president Paul Faganel, adding that the development could also open up new global opportunities for the company.

EpiCor ​

EpiCor is a yeast fermentate said to have the antioxidant (ORAC) potency three times that of any known fruit. Embria also says it can cause a four-fold increase in the activity of the 'natural killer' cells that guard the immune system.

In February last year, a study published in the journal Urologic Nursing​ reported that supplementation with EpiCor can boost immunity and reduce the occurrence of cold and flu symptoms by 21 per cent.

Kosher market​

Kosher foods are those that conform to Jewish religious rules, requiring careful slaughter of animals, and even forbidding the use of machinery or utensils which had previously been used for the preparation of non-kosher food.

The market for these products has been growing strongly over the past five years.

Market researcher Mintel valued the market for kosher-certified prepared foods, as well as kosher meat, dairy and fish, at $12.5bn in 2007, a rise of 64 percent on 2003.

The figures are only for food bought because it is kosher, rather than products that “happen to be kosher”,​ (such as many potato chips), for which the total US market is roughly $500bn.

According to Mintel’s Global New Products Database, 28 percent of all US food and beverage launches during 2008 carried a kosher symbol, and kosher has been the top individual claim for new American food products since 2005.

Consumers​

Of the consumers buying kosher goods, it is estimated approximately 45 percent are Jewish, while Muslims make up the second largest market at 20 percent. The reason for this is that the market for Halal certification for Muslim consumers in the US is not as developed, and Muslims are permitted by their faith to consume kosher goods when Halal products are not available.

Kosher products are also of interest to Seventh Day Adventists, vegetarians, and people with food allergies. The labeling system clearly identifies whether products contain dairy or meat ingredients, which appeals to vegetarian and consumers with allergies.

Many people are also drawn to kosher products because they believe they are produced in cleaner environments.