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Kosher in Switzerland
The Jewish community forms a small minority in Switzerland. Nevertheless, there is a substantial range of kosher stores and kosher food on offer. A good supply of kosher food is important for the flourishing of Jewish life.
The Jewish community in Switzerland counts around 18,000 people in all. Despite this small number, there is a wide range of kosher stores, restaurants and hotels available in Switzerland, particularly in Basel, Geneva and Zurich. Securing the supply of kosher products is one of the prerequisites for these communities to thrive. The SIG supports the certification of kosher products in Switzerland and their import from abroad.
Jewish communities rely on a kosher infrastructure
A significant proportion of Switzerland’s Jews either strictly or partially observe “kashrut”, the religious dietary laws. These people depend on a well-functioning kosher infrastructure, particularly the availability of stores offering kosher products. It is therefore not surprising that in areas with a substantial Jewish population there is a range of choices enabling the pursuit of a kosher lifestyle. Kosher shopping opportunities and kosher hotels are vital not just for the domestic Jewish community, but also for Jews visiting the country as tourists or on business.
The SIG is committed to securing the supply of kosher products
One of the SIG’s key tasks is to secure a sufficient supply of kosher products in Switzerland. The SIG is active in particular with regard to kosher certification, to ensuring a favourable environment for the import of kosher products, and to keeping the Jewish community informed about kosher products on offer in Switzerland. Today, the SIG’s kosher services are organised through various commissions operating under a shared administrative framework. These include the Community of Interest for Kosher Foodstuffs IGfKL and the Commission for Community Kashrut CCK. The responsible kosher officers inspect food products to ensure that their production complies with kosher requirements and carry out the necessary inquiries with producers. The resulting local kosher lists and the «Swiss Kosher» app are a great help for Jewish shoppers. The SIG also maintains a comprehensive list of kosher stores, restaurants and hotels on its website.
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