When serving communities through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), it is important to consider a participant’s perspective on cultural and religious practices around food. Participants choosing to follow a kosher diet may not be able to take all items available through TEFAP.
Kosher Diets
Participants following a kosher diet require a kosher certification on beef, poultry, fish, fish products, and other animal meats. With few exceptions that must be authorized by experts in kosher food requirements, kosher certification is also required on any product that has been processed and/or packaged. Kosher products will never contain both meat and dairy ingredients. Pork and shellfish products are not permitted in a kosher diet.
Kosher Certified Foods
Some USDA Foods are certified kosher by an established certifying authority, meaning the product has been processed in a facility that maintains the integrity of the kosher certification. These items are identified on the TEFAP foods available list with an “(K)” next to the item name.
Non-Certified Acceptable Foods
Other products on the TEFAP foods available list, such as fresh produce, dry legumes and eggs in their shells may be acceptable to kosher-observant households without a kosher certification. It is important to work with leaders and experts in your local kosher-observant community to identify what non-certified items will be acceptable to your participants, as levels of observance may vary between communities.
Kosher Foods in TEFAP
Use the dropdowns below to see items available through TEFAP that may be acceptable to kosher-observant households. The six digit number included with each food is the material code used in Web Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM).
- Fruits
Kosher Certified May be Acceptable without Certification Applesauce, Unsweetened, Canned (K) - 100207 Apples, Braeburn, Fresh - 100523 Pears, Extra Light Syrup, Canned (K) - 100223 Apples, Empire, Fresh - 100517 Apples, Fuji, Fresh - 100522 Apples, Gala, Fresh - 100521 Apples, Granny Smith, Fresh - 110543 Apples, Red Delicious, Fresh - 100514 Apples, Fresh - 110561 Oranges, Fresh - 100283 Pears, Bartlett, Fresh - 111424 Pears, Bosc, Fresh - 111423 Pears, D’Anjou, Fresh - 111422 Pears, Fresh - 110560 - Vegetables
Kosher Certified May be Acceptable without Certification Tomato Sauce, Low Sodium, Canned (K) (H) - 110610 Mixed Produce Box, Fresh - 111427 Beans, Green, Low Sodium, Canned (K) - 100306 Potatoes, Round, Fresh - 101019 Corn, Whole Kernel, No Salt Added, Canned (K) - 100311 Potatoes, Russet, Fresh - 101017 Sweet Potatoes, Fresh - 111058 - Legumes
Kosher Certified May be Acceptable without Certification Beans, Garbanzo, Canned (K) - 111060 Beans, Black-eyed Pea, Dry - 100374 Beans, Great Northern, Dry - 100380 Beans, Kidney, Light Red, Dry - 100385 Beans, Lima, Baby, Dry - 100378 Beans, Pinto, Dry - 100382 Lentils, Dry - 100388 Peas, Green Split, Dry - 111055 - Protein Foods
Kosher Certified May be Acceptable without Certification Peanut Butter, Smooth (K) - 111170 Almonds, Natural, Whole, Shelled – 100907 Salmon, Pink, Canned (K) - 110580 Eggs, Fresh - 100936 Walnut, Pieces – 100908 - Grains
Kosher Certified May be Acceptable without Certification* Bakery Mix, Lowfat (K) - 110902 Cornmeal, Yellow – 100471 Flour, All Purpose, Enriched, Bleached - 100400 Flour, White Whole Wheat - 110857 Oats, Rolled, Quick Cooking - 111074 Rice, Medium Grain - 100487, 100488 Rice, Long Grain - 100491, 100492 *Please work with experts in your local kosher community to determine acceptability. Acceptability without certification may vary from community to community.
- Dairy
Kosher Certified May be Acceptable without Certification*
Yogurt, High-Protein, Blueberry, Chilled (K) - 110400Milk, 1%, Fresh – 111200, 111173 Yogurt, High-Protein, Strawberry, Chilled (K) - 110401 Milk, Skim, Fresh – 111405, 111175 Yogurt, High-Protein, Vanilla, Chilled (K) - 111750 Yogurt, High-Protein, Vanilla, Chilled (K) - 110402 *Please work with experts in your local kosher community to determine acceptability. Acceptability without certification may vary from community to community.
Additional Resources
For more information and resources, please visit the TEFAP website. If you need additional information about participating in TEFAP in your area, please reach out to your state agency.
Storage and Distribution Strategies for Kosher Foods in TEFAP presents strategies to better serve kosher-observant households.
Webinars hosted by FNS regarding Kosher foods in TEFAP:
- Supporting Kosher and Halal-Observant Communities Through TEFAP
- Procurement and Storage Strategies for Kosher Observant TEFAP Participants
For more information about USDA’s Jewish community partners, the following organizations may be helpful: