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Recently, I saw this logo on a package of cereal:

Special K

I couldn't locate any information on the web about this kosher symbol. Is this hechsher reliable? Who is the head mashgiach?

This question is Purim Torah and is not intended to be taken completely seriously. See the Purim Torah policy.

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DanF
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  • Isn't this hechshered by R' Hertzheit? – Noach MiFrankfurt Mar 03 '15 at 18:08
  • @NoachmiFrankfurt - who???? – DanF Mar 03 '15 at 18:09
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    Hertz= heart, heit= health – Noach MiFrankfurt Mar 03 '15 at 18:10
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    http://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/45240/who-or-what-is-ov-kosher-symbol#comment119567_45240 – Double AA Mar 03 '15 at 19:54
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    @danf. Special K is a relatively new kosher certification similar in concept to "glatt kosher." In the case of cereals, a specially trained individual using a razor sharp machete makes a perfectly clean cut of the wheat. He then investigates the stalk(?) to assure that there is no evidence of insect infestation. If there is less than 10% infestation, the wheat can be labelled "K". Less than 5%, "Special K." – JJLL Mar 04 '15 at 04:41
  • Actually this is not a new kosher symbol, but the small (R) in the corner is. So don't worry! – ezra Mar 14 '16 at 18:20
  • @EzraHoerster Years ago, somebody almost convinced me that the R which has a circle around it, IS a kosher certification. It stands for "Real Orthodox", he said. I almost believed him, too. – DanF Mar 14 '16 at 18:23
  • O-cmon! How can this not be kosher? – DonielF Mar 06 '17 at 17:42
  • @DanF How about ©? – DonielF Mar 06 '17 at 17:42

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"K," all by itself, as everyone knows, stands for "kosher," and indicates that a product fulfills the basic kosher requirements, as attested to by the company that made it. It's perfectly fine to eat foods marked with this symbol, but you have to stop at one, based on the general principle of

עַד אֱחָד - נֲאַמִן בְאִיסוּרִים

Up to one - we'll be trusting regarding prohibitions

Some savvy companies, though, want you to be able to eat more than one of their product, so they go the extra mile and designate their foods "Special K," which means "Special Kosher", also known as "מהדרין" (Mehadrin), which is Aramaic for "running around". When you purchase a product with this designation, a representative from the company will run over to you personally, and convince you that the product is kosher. Then, you don't have to worry about being "trusting," and you can eat more than one.

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Isaac Moses
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  • How does that work -- does he meet me at the checkout line, or use the data tracking in the store's affinity card to visit my house later, or what? – Monica Cellio Mar 03 '15 at 20:51
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    @MonicaCellio The Mehadrin representatives are, as the name implies, constantly running around. If you stand near one of the products they advocate for long enough, you'll see one of them zooming by. You can then flag them down by waving a "Special K"-marked product. – Isaac Moses Mar 03 '15 at 20:56
  • Ah, thanks for the practical advice. I've seen people running around at my grocery store sometimes, but I never knew who they were or that they could be flagged down. I'll have to try that. – Monica Cellio Mar 03 '15 at 20:58
  • I can report back that this is as you say. I had no trouble flagging one of them down, and he was able to assure me about the Special K product I was holding. He also warned me that the grapes in the nearby Grape Nuts were not under supervision -- good to know. – Monica Cellio Mar 02 '17 at 02:29
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Rabbi Shushan Habira on his website says that the Special K is a symbol specific to Purim and thus is only Kosher on that day.

Gershon Gold
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I hear that "they're great." takeh

rosends
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