What Is the Meaning of Cholov Yisroel?

Ever wondered what it means when foods are certified as cholov yisroel? Or what the difference is between that and OU-D? Rabbi Elefant of the OU is here to explain!

 A very commonly asked question is about OU-D and cholov yisroel. So if you see a product that just has the OU-D without the cholov yisroel designation, you need to assume that that product is not cholov yisroel.

The definition of cholov yisroel is that there was a Jew present for the milking of the cow to supervise the milk from the milking.

The OU’s position on products that are not listed as cholov yisroel is that we don’t need to have a Jew present for that milking because as Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l said, in the United States, where there is government control, that when you buy milk, it’s certainly cow’s milk, and we need not be concerned that it’s anything else. We could rely on that and not require the Jew to be there for the supervision.

So if the product just has an OU-D, you have to assume it’s not cholov yisroel. But if it says OU-D AND cholov yisroel, of course we were careful that a Jew should be present for the milking of the cow.

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