Jonathan Kamens wrote:
> Sqwertz > writes:
>> Obtaining payment from another by threat of harm is certainly
>> extortion.
>
> Obtaining payment from another for a service rendered is not extortion.
> Companies that do not wish to have their products certified kosher do
> not need to avail themselves of the service offered by the
> certification agencies and thus do not need to pay for it. Ther eis no
> "threat."
>
> Products that are not certified kosher are not purchased by Jews who
> care about such things. This is not a "boycott," it is capitalism in
> action.

But the real reason for the huge increase in the number of certified
kosher products is because products that are not certified kosher are
also not purchased by non-Jews that care about such things. Since so
many non-Jewish consumers prefer to buy kosher products, a company that
didn't get certification would have far lower production volumes, and
higher costs that far exceed the cost of inspection and certification.

For those like Sqwertz, they could form a company that produced foods
that were certified to not be kosher, and could charge higher prices for
such foods because they would be specialty foods not intended for the
mass market.