Defrosting Kosher Meals in Airline Catering

Dear All,

i work for an airline catering organisation in kenya and wanted to know if somebody ha a procedure of defrosting kosher meals especially when back catering.

secondly any idea on how best to implement and sustain kaizen/lean in such a unit especially in meal production

thanks

simon

Can anyone help Smaina with this one?

Dear Maina,

Like Halal foods,Kosher certified foods requires complete segregation in terms of equipments ,materials and preparation from other foods.I would suggest that you use different defrosting equipments according to the Kosher standard requierements.

Regards,
Jeremy
Kenya

For Kosher meals, you may (it's worth checking) have to get blessed by a rabbi from the local beth din. It's worth asking the question and asking their advice anyway because even if they decide they don't need to inspect and bless the equipment, they may be able to help and also if they're happy with you, may also be able to publicise the fact you are Kosher to their standards.

Here's a website for the London Beth Din's advice on Kosher religious laws: http://www.kosher.org.uk/intro.htm

If you're serving other meals, it would be sensible to exclude foodstuffs which are non Kosher if you can. Do you really want to be showing the rabbi your process when you have a Kosher meal next to sausage and mash or a prawn pasta dish?! Also I second the idea of separate utensils. Bear in mind as well that it is forbidden to eat dairy products with meat and many orthodox families will have a separate dinner service for the two or even a separate fridge! So remember meal design cannot include dishes like lasagne lol!

I knew going out with a Jewish guy when I was 20 would be useful someday...

Dear All,

i work for an airline catering organisation in kenya and wanted to know if somebody ha a procedure of defrosting kosher meals especially when back catering.

secondly any idea on how best to implement and sustain kaizen/lean in such a unit especially in meal production

thanks

simon

Dear Simon,

I am a Kosher Supervisor / Investigating Chemist for a kosher Cert. body. So you can quote me.

All kosher meals that need to be warmed up, come in 2 parts. 1 section to be warmed up and the rest (which contains cutlery and condiments).

The hot meal comes specially wrapped in 2 layers. The reason for this is that it can then be put into an oven with non kosher food and not be at risk of cross-contamination from the non kosher food because it has these 2 layers of packaging. If the packaging is torn or incomplete in any way someone who is familiar with kosher laws would not eat it. The rest of the food that does not need to be warmed up is able to be defrosted by leaving it out of the freezer for an hour or so.

As a courtesy most airline staff actually come to me before they open the meal to remove the hot part to put into the oven. Also most caterers will have the instructions on the label.

Dear Simon,

1.You should consult Kosher Certification body in your country.
2. In my own opinion there are two critical points you should pay attention to: a) Segregation to avoid cross contamination with non-kosher materials - same as Halal requirement; b) handling staff should be in conform with Kosher requirement.

Brgds. Binh Le

Dear All,

i work for an airline catering organisation in kenya and wanted to know if somebody ha a procedure of defrosting kosher meals especially when back catering.

secondly any idea on how best to implement and sustain kaizen/lean in such a unit especially in meal production

thanks

simon

Dear Simon,

I am a Kosher Supervisor / Investigating Chemist for a kosher Cert. body. So you can quote me.

All kosher meals that need to be warmed up, come in 2 parts. 1 section to be warmed up and the rest (which contains cutlery and condiments).

The hot meal comes specially wrapped in 2 layers. The reason for this is that it can then be put into an oven with non kosher food and not be at risk of cross-contamination from the non kosher food because it has these 2 layers of packaging. If the packaging is torn or incomplete in any way someone who is familiar with kosher laws would not eat it. The rest of the food that does not need to be warmed up is able to be defrosted by leaving it out of the freezer for an hour or so.

As a courtesy most airline staff actually come to me before they open the meal to remove the hot part to put into the oven. Also most caterers will have the instructions on the label.

Thanks alot i really appreciate!!!!!!!!!