On Thu, 20 Mar 2008 06:13:58 +1100, "Rod Speed"
> wrote:

>SMS > wrote:
>> 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.
>
>Easy to claim, hell of a lot harder to substantiate that claim.

http://health.usnews.com/articles/he...ood-safer.html
Is Kosher Food Safer?
By Deborah Kotz
Posted January 11, 2008

"Not only Jews look for the kosher symbol on food these days. In a
surprising turn of events, "kosher" has become the most popular claim
on new food products, trouncing "organic" and "no additives or
preservatives," according to a recent report. A noteworthy 4,719 new
kosher items were launched in the United States last year—nearly
double the number of new "all natural" products, which placed second
in the report, issued last month by Mintel, a Chicago-based market
research firm.

In fact, sales of kosher foods have risen an estimated 15 percent a
year for the past decade. Yet Jews, whose religious doctrine mandates
the observance of kosher dietary laws, make up only 20 percent of
those buying kosher products. What gives? "It's the belief among all
consumers that kosher food is safer, a critical thing right now with
worries about the integrity of the food supply," says Marcia
Mogelonsky, a senior research analyst at Mintel."
>
>> Since so many non-Jewish consumers prefer to buy kosher products,
>
>Easy to claim, hell of a lot harder to substantiate that claim.

See above
>
>> 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.
>
>Easy to claim, hell of a lot harder to substantiate that claim.

See above

Boron