Georgia Governor Signs New Disclosure Law On Kosher Foods

On Thursday, Georgia's governor, Sonny Purdue, signed into law H.B. 1345 which revises the state's provisions relating to the sale of kosher food. An ACLU press release reports on developments. Georgia's previous Kosher Food Labeling Act required that any food sold as kosher must meet "Orthodox Hebrew religious rules and requirements." Last August, the ACLU filed a lawsuit on behalf of a rabbi who wanted to certify food establishments as kosher using the standards of the Conservative Jewish movement. (See prior posting.) The new law will permit this. It requires that "a person who makes a representation regarding kosher food shall prominently and conspicuously display on the premises on which the food is sold, in a location readily visible to the consumer, a completed kosher food disclosure statement..." The disclosure statement requires 15 to 19 specific representations relating the foods sold. When unpackaged kosher food is involved, additional disclosures must be made regarding the identity and affiliations of the supervising rabbi or agency.