Is Chitosan Kosher?

Familiar with the term Kosher? The word kosher is actually an adaptation of the Hebrew word meaning “fit” or “proper”. It refers to foodstuffs that meet the dietary requirements of the Jewish dietary laws.

Now, is chitosan kosher, or does it meet the dietary requirements maintained by the Jewish Law? Let’s find out.

In the first place, it is necessary to note that the barometer of kosher and non-kosher depends on two variables: the source of the ingredients and the status of the production equipment. Also note that kosher certification, which is the guarantee that the food meets the Jewish law requirements, revolves around these two criteria.

The Source of the Ingredients

Generally, the guidelines for the sources of kosher and non-kosher materials originate in the Bible. The interpretations as well as the decision of the Rabbis of the post-Bi8blical era have added detail, explanation and organization to these Jewish dietary laws. In particular, the laws maintained prohibited sources. These include all flesh of animals which lack either split hooves or do not chew the cud. Pork is a concrete example. Also, poultry and meat are acceptable from animals that are slaughtered by humane method dictated by the Jewish law and carried out by specially trained slaughterers. And, when it comes to fish, the only types of fish allowed are those that have both find and scales. Note that this requirement would exclude seafood such shrimps and lobsters.

I have stressed the words “shrimps” and “lobsters” here for one particular reason: chitosan is derived from these seashells. As you may know, chitosan is derived from chitin which is taken from the exoskeletons of crustaceans, like shrimps and lobsters. Unlike the oyster shells which are rock hard, these shells are softer and can impart flavor. For example, shellfish broth is made by simmering these shells in water or oil, thereby extracting the flavor from the shells. It was clearly stated under Halacha or the Jewish Law that any part of the body of a non-kosher species which has flavor and is not rock, may NOT be consumed.

Status of the Production Equipment

One particular rule maintained by the Jewish Law is that equipment used to manufacture products containing non-kosher ingredients may acquire non-kosher status. However, equipment that does not meet this requirement can be restored to a kosher mode, usually depending upon the way in which the product was produced. For example, usage of a non-kosher product, like a soup, in conjunction with liquid, requires treating the kettle with boiling water to restore its status. Those products that were produced where there is no liquid cooking medium require a different technique, but the equipment must be treated by high heat for it to qualify on the certification under the Jewish dietary law.

Given those rules, chitosan which undergoes the process known as decalcification in which the crustacean shells first go through a hydrochloric acid bath, is a non-kosher. In this process, the protein is removed resulting in chitin, which is the second most abundant organic substance in nature after cellulose.

Note that chitosan is also commercially produced from a squid tissue known as pen. The squid pens are connective tissue that bend like stiff plastic and can emit a fishy odor. Obviously, squid pens to which chitosan come from are not kosher.

The Jewish Law states that a product derived from a material that does not meet the requirements set is also non-kosher. Hence, chitosan and chitin which are currently derived exclusively from seafoods that are excluded from the Jewish dietary law certification are non-kosher.