Hebrew National facts for kids
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| Type | Kosher hot dogs |
|---|---|
| Owner | ConAgra Foods, Inc. |
| Introduced | 1905 |
| Tagline | We answer to a higher authority |
Hebrew National is a well-known brand that makes kosher hot dogs and sausages. It's owned by a big food company called ConAgra Foods. In 1982, Hebrew National started a separate company for non-kosher foods called National Deli. But they sold it in 2001, and it's now a different business.
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The Story of Hebrew National
The Hebrew National Kosher Sausage Factory, Inc. began in 1905. It was started on East Broadway in Manhattan, New York City. The company was founded by Theodore Krainin, who moved from the Russian Empire (which is now Belarus) in the 1880s.
By 1921, the factory was officially checked by the United States Bureau of Animal Industry. A writer named Alfred W. McCann said in a newspaper article that Hebrew National had "higher standards than the law requires." He praised the company for its quality. Hebrew National became popular in Jewish neighborhoods in New York City.
New Owners and a Famous Slogan
In 1934, the company changed hands. Later, a Jewish Romanian immigrant butcher named Isadore Pines bought it. In 1935, Isadore's son, Leonard Pines, took over the business.
In 1965, Hebrew National came up with a very famous slogan: We answer to a higher authority. This slogan refers to Jewish dietary laws, which are rules about what foods can be eaten and how they should be prepared. It also suggested that their products were of higher quality. This slogan helped the brand appeal to both Jewish and non-Jewish customers.
In 1968, the Pines family sold Hebrew National to another company called Riviana Foods. Then, in 1976, Colgate-Palmolive took over Riviana Foods. But in 1980, Isadore "Skip" Pines, who was Isadore's grandson, bought the company back. He bought it for much less than it was sold for originally.
Sticking to Quality
In the 1980s, people became more interested in health food. This encouraged Hebrew National to keep its original recipe. They decided not to use artificial colors or flavors. This choice was successful, and the company grew. Hebrew National hoped to buy other brands and become a much larger food company.
However, their plan to create a non-kosher brand called "National Deli" didn't work as well. In 1993, a big food company called ConAgra Foods bought Hebrew National. The National Deli brand was then sold off in 2001. It's now a separate company based in Miami, Florida.
Where Hebrew National Products Are Made
For many years, Hebrew National's main factory was in New York City. In 1989, it moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. Then, in 2004, the Indianapolis factory closed. All the operations were moved to another ConAgra Foods plant in Quincy, Michigan. This helped the company make its products more efficiently.
How Hebrew National Ensures It's Kosher
"Kosher" means that food meets the rules of Jewish dietary laws. For many years, Hebrew National had its own team to make sure its products were kosher. However, some groups of Orthodox Jews felt that Hebrew National's kosher standards were not strict enough. The Conservative movement also didn't consider Hebrew National products to be kosher.
Changes in Supervision
In the early 2000s, Hebrew National made a big change. They started working with an outside group called Triangle K to certify their products as kosher. This was seen as a big improvement in their standards. In 2004, the Conservative movement decided that Hebrew National products were now acceptable as kosher.
Rabbis from both groups worked together to make sure the products were consistently monitored. They reduced the number of factories to just one. This helped them save money and keep a close eye on everything. They even had a special viewing station to check each sausage. This careful process allows Hebrew National to proudly say their products are kosher.
However, it's important to know that sometimes, even if Hebrew National hot dogs are sold as kosher in places like baseball stadiums, they might be cooked on the same grills as non-kosher hot dogs. They might also be served on dairy buns, which can be an issue for some kosher observers. Most Orthodox Jewish authorities still do not consider Hebrew National products to be kosher.
What Hebrew National Makes
Hebrew National makes many beef products. These include beef franks (hot dogs), salami, bologna, corned beef, pastrami, and knackwurst. They used to sell condiments (like mustard or ketchup) but stopped in 2010.
See also
