Court Dismisses Challenge to Hebrew National's Kosher Certification

In Wallace v. ConAgra Foods, Inc., (D MN, Jan. 31, 2013), a Minnesota federal district court dismissed a suit by consumers who claim that ConAgra misrepresented on packaging that Hebrew National products are made of "100% kosher beef." Plaintiffs claim that the method of cattle slaughter used by the contractor that slaughters cattle for ConAgra fails to meet standards for kosher slaughter even though a certifying agency, Triangle K, certifies the beef as kosher. The court concluded that whether products meet the standards for kosher meat "is a religious question that is not the proper subject of inquiry" by a civil court, even though this will leave consumers without a remedy, other than not purchasing Hebrew National products or those certified by Triangle K. (See prior related posting.)