Although Halloween and Christmas are not observed by most Jews, there's still plenty of kosher holiday candy.
hat make kosher candy are already certified kosher, so why shouldn't they make Halloween candy?
Besides, points out Lubinsky, many consumers of kosher foods are not Jewish. This is part of the reason kosher food sales are growing, and candy along with it, at about 12% to 15% per year, he said.
Albertson's, Inc of Boise, Idaho, is one of the leading supermarkets for kosher products, according Lubinsky, now that it is acquiring American Stores. "Albertson's has an aggressive program for kosher in many different cities," said Lubinsky.
Anne Alenskis, a spokeswoman for Albertson's, told SN, "We try to meet the needs of all our communities. Most of the national brands of Halloween candies are kosher," she noted.
To be kosher, candy must be processed without any objectionable ingredients, such as animal fats or artificial flavoring that comes from nonkosher animals. It cannot mix dairy ingredients with ingredients that come from the meat of animals, and it must be supervised by a rabbinic organization or rabbi.
Candy makes an important gift item for any Jewish holiday, noted Lubinsky, but particularly for Hannukah, which starts Dec. 4 this year, and for Purim, which is celebrated in the spring. A specialty item for Hanukkah is chocolate in gold foil, "but all candy goes," Lubinsky said.
