Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Info provided by the
American Chamber of Commerce of Peru (AmCham Peru)

According to the Integrated Marketing Communications Inc. 75,000 Kosher food products were identified during the year 2003 in the U.S. market, the same ones that were created by around 10,000 industries. It also estimated that 3,000 new products enter the market annually with the sole purpose of fulfilling the 165,000 million dollar demand. Hence it is evident that these types of products are extremely dynamic and carry a huge growth potential so that our industry should observe the market demands and consider adapting their products to their regulations.

Evidently, in order to take advantage of this opportunity, it is indisputably necessary, to certify that the products to be exported as Kosher respect the established regulations of the Jewish law. There are 3 fundamental Kosher labels to consider: Meat, Dairy and Parve or Neutral. The first one, obviously, refers to products that are made of mammal and poultry meat that are permitted by the laws and basically, have been sacrificed without suffering. The dairy label, it is for the most part, referring to derived products of mammal milk which exclusively has been prepared with dairy equipment and utensils, while the Parve label, is basically used for fish and vegetables also permitted by the law, as well as grapes and wine and derived products elaborated under strict rabbinical supervision.

In order for a food product to be considered 100% Kosher, however, the ingredients as much as the utensils used in the production process must comply with the different demands. Therefore, Kosher food cannot be cooked in a pot or pan that has been used for non- Kosher food and a color preserve which derives from an insect, for instance, completely defeats the Kosher quality of the production. In Peru the Kosher certification is done through the Orthodox Union or the national or international associate certifications.

Nowadays Kosher certified products are exported from Peru. Products like fish, artichokes, pecans and paprika, but the existing opportunities are endless in order to fulfill this market niche. Once more then, dear reader, the position strategy taken can be the determining factor between success and failure.



*Translated by Joceline Frank

Frankly Speaking Inc.