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The "Kosher tax" (or "Jewish tax") is a canard or urban legend spread by antisemitic, white supremacist and other extremist organizations.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]}

Claims

The claim that consumers are paying an extra tax on products that carry kosher certification has been made by various sources.^[1][2][3][4] Similar claims are made that this "tax" is "extorted" from food companies wishing to avoid a boycott,^[4][5] and used to support Zionist causes or the state of Israel.^[6]

University of Pittsburgh professor of sociology, Kathleen M. Blee, found that some racist groups encourage consumers to avoid this "Jewish tax" by boycotting kosher products.^[7] The 2000 Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents by the B'nai Brith Canada reported citizens being encouraged to request a refund from the government on their income taxes.^[8]

In 1997 the Canada Revenue Agency issued a news release noting the existence of flyers recommending that consumers claim a deduction on their taxes "because they supposedly contributed to a Jewish religious organization when they purchased these groceries." In it then Minister of National Revenue Jane Stewart stated, "The intent and message in this literature is deeply offensive to the Jewish community and, indeed, to all Canadians. The so-called 'deduction' described in these flyers does not exist and I urge all taxpayers to ignore this misleading advice".^[9]

Certification

Although companies may apply for kosher certification, the cost of the certification does not figure into the final cost of the product to the consumer,^[10][11] and is more than offset by the advantages of being certified.^[10] In 1975 the cost per item for obtaining kosher certification was estimated by The New York Times as being 6.5 millionths (0.0000065) of a cent per item for a General Foods frozen-food item.^[12]

Certification leads to increased revenues by opening up additional markets such as Jews who keep kosher; Muslims who keep halal; and vegans, Seventh-day Adventists, and the lactose intolerant who wish to avoid dairy products (products that are certified as pareve may meet this criterion).^{[12][13][14][15]}

According to Berel Wein, "The cost of kashrut certification is always viewed as an advertising expense and not as a manufacturing expense."^[11] Dispellers of the "kosher tax" legend argue that if it were not profitable to obtain such certification, then food producers would not engage in the certification process, and that the increased sales resulting from kosher certification actually lower the overall cost per item.^[14][16]

Obtaining certification that an item is kosher is a voluntary business decision made by companies desiring additional sales from consumers (both Jewish and non-Jewish) who look for kosher certification when shopping,^[13] and is actually specifically sought by marketing organizations within food production companies.^[14] The fees charged for kosher certification are used to support the operation of the certifying bodies themselves, and not Zionist causes or Israel.^[6]

Notes

References