Is Vegan Kosher? Is Kosher Vegan?

The Surprising Answer to the Question “Are Vegan Foods Automatically Kosher?”

With so many people choosing to adopt a vegan lifestyle, it’s no surprise that there’s been an uptick in the number of questions about whether or not vegan foods are automatically kosher. After all, if a food doesn’t contain any meat, dairy, or eggs, surely it must be kosher, right? WRONG. Read on to find out the surprising answer to the question “are vegan foods automatically kosher?”

What is the difference between Vegan and Kosher?

First and foremost, it’s important to understand that there is a difference between veganism and kosher (Kashrut) for example. Veganism is a lifestyle that seeks to exclude all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty, whether for food, clothing, or any other purpose. Kosher on the other hand is a set of dietary laws that come from the Torah (also known as the Five Books of Moses). These laws dictate which animals can be eaten, how those animals must be slaughtered, and which foods are off-limits.

2) What is Kosher?

The word “kosher” comes from the Hebrew word “kasher,” which means “fit” or “proper.” So, when a food is deemed kosher, it means that it is fit or proper for consumption according to Jewish law.

People that keep Kosher still eat meat but the animals must be slaughtered in accordance with Jewish law in order for their meat to be considered kosher.

So what does that have to do with whether or not vegan foods are automatically kosher? Well, in order to be considered kosher, a food must meet certain religious criteria. And since Judaism prohibits the consumption of certain animals and their byproducts (such as pigs and shellfish), and many vegan foods automatically don’t contain any animal by-products there is definitely an overlap.

For example if a person that keeps kosher and can’t find a kosher supermarket he or she is likely to go for a vegan option depending on their level of observance as they know that vegan food won’t contain any animal products.

However for the more observant and less flexible they would require the vegan food to be certified kosher on the packet as well, before they ate it.

Vegan and Kosher

Furthermore, in order for a food to be considered kosher, it must be prepared in accordance with specific religious guidelines which is what the Kosher stamp on the packet assures the consumer. Like this one

The Orthodox Union The Kosher Hub — The Orthodox Union Symbol

This means that even if a food itself is kosher (such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans), it may not be considered kosher if it has been cooked with non-kosher utensils or processed in a non-kosher facility.

The majority of vegan foods we see on the supermarket shelves are not certified kosher.

How do we know if a vegan food is certified kosher? By these symbols

So there you have it—the answer to the question “are vegan foods automatically kosher?” is a resounding NO. However, that doesn’t mean that vegans can’t enjoy delicious kosher meals; it just takes a little bit of extra effort (and maybe some creativity) to make sure that everything you’re eating is up to par.

Israel has become well known as the Vegan Nation with a massive 5% of its population eating vegan food. In fact plant based meats are super popular and these products allow the consumer to have that taste of meat and being able to consume diary at the same meal that wouldn’t be permitted under the Kashrut laws.

If you are a vegan visiting Israel you won’t have any trouble whatsoever finding amazing vegan restaurants that most likely will be Kosher too.

Israel and Veganism

Israel has become well known as the Vegan Nation with more than 5% of its population eating vegan food. In fact plant based meats are super popular and these products allow the consumer to have that taste of meat and being able to consume diary at the same meal that wouldn’t be permitted under the Kashrut laws.

If you are a vegan visiting Israel you won’t have any trouble whatsoever finding amazing vegan restaurants that most likely will be Kosher too.

Watch this video below to get an idea

4) In Summary

-Meat, poultry, and fish are not vegan, but if certified by a Kashrut authority these foods can be eaten and can be kosher depending on what type of meat and fish.

-Eggs and dairy are technically vegetarian (since they do not contain meat), but they are not vegan because they come from animals. These foods can be eaten by people who keep kosher but must be certified first are not therefore automatically kosher.

-Honey is not strictly speaking an animal product, but since it comes from bees many vegans choose to avoid it. Honey if certified by a Kashrut Authority can be kosher and is consumed by those who keep kosher.

-Fruits and vegetables are both vegan AND kosher! However if they contain insects are not kosher.

Other vegan-friendly foods include grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds and are kosher.

Conclusion: As more and more people adopt plant based lifestyles, there has been an increase in the number of questions about whether or not vegan foods are automatically kosher. Unfortunately, the answer is no; in order for a food to be considered kosher, it must meet certain religious criteria.

FREE 7 Day Vegan Meal Plan and Shopping List

Get your FREE downloadable 7 Day Vegan Meal Plan to get started – including shopping list

Kosher Wine is Vegan

But just before you vegans conclude that eating kosher may not be an option consider this. When a kosher food is labelled Parve it means neutral and contains no meat or dairy whatsoever so this option is totally safe for vegans to consume. Foods which are categorized as Parev and certified as kosher will never contain any animal products – so if you are a vegan struggling to find options then Kosher Parev products are your go to!

With that said kosher certified wine is one category of wine that again has zero animal products or impurities and vegans can consume without any concern.