Kosher healthier and popular

Most of the growth in kosher foods has come from people outside of observant Jewish communities.

01/07/2003 Sales of kosher foods — foods that are prepared according to kashrut, the dietary regulations of Judaism — have grown wildly over the last few years, largely because of new customers who buy them not for religious reasons but because they are considered to be healthier than nonkosher products.

While regional stores, especially those in the Northeast, have long had a varied selection of kosher foods, national grocery chains are now trying to push farther into Middle America, often to places where the Jewish population is scant. National grocery chains including Pathmark, ShopRite and Albertsons have aggressively retooled their kosher offerings, as have big-box retailers like Wal-Mart and Kmart.

Other religious groups, including Muslims and Seventh-day Adventists, whose dietary laws are similar to kashrut, often turn to kosher products when food prepared according to their own religious codes is not available.

Wal-Mart, the nation`s largest retailer, has begun to offer kosher food in about 600 supercenters and neighborhood markets, although the number of offerings can vary store to store.

Kosher meat is also perceived as being healthier than typical nonkosher meat because of the strict rules regarding the slaughter and inspection of animals.

For more a detailed report click: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/28/business/28KOSH.html?8hpib

Source: Nytimes.com