Orthodox Jews to consume Kosher certified Argan oil

Argan oil can now be bought and consumed by Jews, according to Israeli international 24-hour news and current affairs television channel, I24 News.

In a video published Monday, November the 26th, by the same channel the steps followed by Argan producers in the country are explained. The oil, dubbed Morocco’s white gold, is extracted from small nutshells collected and then peeled by women employed by cooperatives.

«The business employs over 200 women … and it is rich in vitamin E and anti-oxidants», said the same channel.

A document published by the Court of Chief Rabii Beth Din in London, Moroccan Argan oil is listed among the products certified by the Kosher certification agency, an organization that grants a hechsher to ingredients, packaged foods, beverages, and certain materials, as well as food-service providers and facilities in which kosher food is prepared or served.

The Kosher certification «is valid until 02 August 2019 and is subject to renewal at that time», wrote the Court of Chief Rabii Beth Din in the same document.

To comply with Jewish religious dietary law, Argan oil had to be «approved by a kosher auditor». «For a product to be kosher certified, and to qualify for a kosher certificate, each ingredient, food additive and processing aid used in its production must also be kosher», wrote the organization on its website.

Products may be considered non-kosher if their production lines and equipment are used to produce non-kosher products, wrote the same source.

Although Jews outside Morocco can import Argan oil from the Kingdom, the product can also be found in Israel. The oil is produced in Israel which has been growing Argan trees for years.