If you are a fan of the Optavia diet and also follow a dairy-free lifestyle, this post is for you.
One aspect of Optavia’s commitment to healthy living is taking steps to ensure their products adhere to kosher dietary laws, which are outlined in the Torah.
This includes obtaining certification and labeling from a certified Rabbi or other organization.
This way consumers know they are buying kosher products that abide by Jewish dietary laws and offer convenient, nutritious, delicious Fuelings that promote healthy habits.
Let’s take a closer look at how Optavia meets these guidelines for compliance with kosher standards in the food industry, as well as why it is important for companies like Optavia to do so.
Optavia kosher certification and labeling
Although most of the Optavia fuelings have a kosher dairy certification symbol, this doesn’t mean they are Kosher or Pareve.
(Kosher or Pareve means the food items are free from meat, dairy, and derivatives of meat and dairy.)
So as an Optavia customer, you can easily verify the kosher certification of Optavia products.
Products that are certified as kosher will have a symbol indicating the certification.
The “UD” symbol ensures that the product contains dairy or has been made on equipment that also processes dairy products.
According to the Orthodox Union (OU) kosher certification, an “UD” kosher product requires one to wait a specific period of time after eating meat before being allowed to consume the product.
Here’s the photo of Optavia’s dark chocolate cherry shake mix sachet.
Just above the barcode, you can see the UD symbol, which indicates that it has been certified as a kosher dairy by the Orthodox Union organization.
Moreover, this type of product must not be heated with any vessel or cutlery that has been utilized for meat, as it may render them un-kosher.
So this makes it easier for people following a kosher diet to comply with Jewish dietary laws.
List of Optavia fuelings with kosher dairy certification
Optavia Bars
- Campfire S’mores Crisp Bar
- Caramel Delight Crisp Bar
- Chocolate Cherry Ganache Bar
- Chocolate Mint Cookie Crisp Bar
- Cranberry Honey Nut Granola Bar
- Creamy Double Peanut Butter Crisp Bar
- Dark Chocolate Coconut Curry Bar
- Drizzled Berry Crisp Bar
- Drizzled Chocolate Fudge Crisp Bar
- Frosted Cinnamon Spice Crisp Bar
- Frosted Cookie Dough Bar
- Honey Chili Cranberry Nut Bar
- Raisin Oat Cinnamon Crisp Bar
- Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chip Bar
- Zesty Lemon Crisp Bar
Optavia Breakfast Style Fuelings
- Golden Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix
- Golden Pancake Mix
Optavia Crunchers, Poppers, and Sticks
- Zesty Cheddar & Italian Herb Crunchers
- Jalapeño Cheddar Poppers
- Cinnamon Sugar Sticks
- Honey Mustard & Onion Sticks
Optavia Desserts
- Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
- Chocolate Fudge Pudding Mix
- Cinnamon Cream Cheese Swirl Cake Mix
- Decadent Chocolate Brownie Mix
- Coffee Soft Serve Mix
- Mint Chocolate Soft Serve Mix
- Golden Butterscotch Blondie Mix
- Sweet Blueberry Biscuit Mix
Optavia Drinks
- Frothy Cappuccino Drink Mix
- Velvety Hot Chocolate Drink Mix
- Buttermilk Cheddar Herb Biscuit Mix
- Cheesy Buttermilk Cheddar Mac
- Honey Sweet Potatoes
- Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Rustic Tomato Herb Penne
- Sour Cream and Chive Mashed Potatoes
- Spinach Pesto Mac & Cheese
Optavia Shakes
- Caramel Macchiato Shake Mix
- Creamy Chocolate Shake Mix
- Creamy Vanilla Shake Mix
- Dark Chocolate Covered Cherry Shake Mix
- Mocha Shake Mix
- Rich Dark Chocolate Shake Mix
- Peanut Butter Shake Mix
- Tropical Fruit Smoothie Mix
- Wild Strawberry Shake Mix
Optavia Snacks
- Puffed Ranch Snacks
- Sharp Cheddar & Sour Cream Popcorn
Optavia kosher pareve products
Conversely, when a product displays the “U” symbol, it indicates that it does not contain any meat or dairy (nor any dairy or meat derivatives).
It also has not been produced on equipment that also processes dairy products.
Not all Optavia products have kosher pareve certification.
According to the information provided by Optavia, only 11 out of 70 of their products are kosher certified with the “U” symbol.
Here’s the photo of Optavia Smoky BBQ Crunchers.
As you can see, the symbol, right next to the GFCO mark, shows this product has a kosher pareve certification.
So far, it’s not clear how often Optavia products are inspected in their production facilities or if there is a kosher supervisor on staff at Optavia to ensure compliance.
Optavia Kosher For Passover
Passover is a special holiday for Jews that requires specific dietary regulations, such as avoiding leavened bread and other leavened products.
If you are preparing to purchase Optavia Fuelings during Passover, it is important to check the product’s packaging.
Below I’ve listed all Optavia products that are kosher for Passover.
List of Optavia fuelings with kosher pareve certification
- Cinnamon Crunchy O’s Cereal
- Maple & Brown Sugar Oatmeal
- Apple & Cinnamon Spiced Oatmeal
- Red Berry Crunchy O’s Cereal
- Smoky BBQ Crunchers
- Red Bean & Vegetable Chili Mix
- Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup Mix
- Puffed Sweet & Salty Snacks
- Olive Oil & Sea Salt Popcorn
- Mixed Berry Flavor Infuser Drink Mix
- Strawberry Lemonade Flavor Infuser Drink Mix
So, are Optavia products suitable for a kosher diet?
Whilst some products may feature a kosher certification symbol, indicating that they are suitable for those on a kosher diet, others may not adhere to the same restrictions.
Always double-check the product’s packaging (or the website) for any updates or changes regarding the list of ingredients and product descriptions.
