Kosher certification symbols on vitamins and supplements

By the KosherVitamins.com team · Updated November 6, 2026

The small symbol on a vitamin bottle tells you which kosher agency stands behind the product, and the letters next to it tell you whether it is pareve, dairy, fish or kosher for Passover. Here is how to read them.

Why the symbol matters for supplements

Major agencies treat vitamins and supplements as food. The OU writes that dietary supplements "are considered food and, as such, require kosher certification," and the Star-K notes that vitamins often contain non-kosher ingredients, such as gelatin, that may not be listed on the label. A reliable agency symbol printed on the bottle is the simplest way to know a product has been checked.

The major agencies

Many supplement brands use one of these. For example, Bluebonnet, Solgar and Country Life certify many products with KOF-K, NutraBio and Freeda use the OU, and Maxi Health lists certifications such as OU and Badatz. The certification for each product is listed on its page in our store.

What the letters next to the symbol mean

• No letter or "Pareve" – neither meat nor dairy. At the OU, a plain OU means pareve.
• D (Dairy) – contains a dairy ingredient, or was made on dairy equipment. The OU advises not to assume a D is "only" about equipment, and says it does not certify consumer products with a separate DE designation, so treat OU-D as dairy.
• DE (Dairy Equipment) – used by agencies such as the cRc and OK for products with no dairy ingredients that were made on dairy equipment. According to the cRc, a DE product should not be eaten together with meat, but it may be eaten right after meat without waiting.
• F or Fish – contains a fish ingredient (common with fish oil). The OU says not to eat it together with meat; it may be eaten with dairy (many Sephardim avoid fish with dairy; follow your custom).
• P – usually means kosher for Passover, but check the agency. At the OU, "OU-P" means kosher for Passover and pareve. At the OK, "OK P" means Passover, and the product may be pareve, dairy or meat. A plain symbol without the P does not mean kosher for Passover.
• M or Meat – contains meat (rare in supplements).

A plain "K" is not an agency

A letter K on its own cannot be trademarked, so anyone can print it. It only means the manufacturer says the product is kosher; there may be no agency behind it. Rabbinic sources say a plain K "cannot be relied upon" as a kashrus certification on its own. If you see only a K, check with the company which agency certifies it, or ask your rabbi.

Tips for reading a supplement label

• Look for the symbol on every package. A brand name does not mean every product in the line is certified, and the OU says its symbol must be printed on the package, not added with a sticker or a sign.
• Check again from time to time. Products get reformulated, change suppliers or switch agencies.
• Words like "kosher gelatin" or "K-gelatin" without a reliable agency symbol can be misleading, says the Star-K.
• If you keep a particular standard (for example Cholov Yisroel or a specific Badatz), ask your rabbi which agencies he accepts.

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Frequently asked questions

More guides

• How to tell if a vitamin or supplement is kosher
• Kosher capsules and gelatin: softgels, veggie caps and fish gelatin
• Kosher for Passover vitamins and supplements
• Kosher fish oil and omega-3
• Kosher probiotics: dairy vs. pareve
• Kosher vitamin D: D3, D2 and vegan options
• Is glucosamine kosher? Shellfish vs. vegetarian glucosamine

Sources

• OU Kosher: all OU symbols explained
• OU Kosher: eight points to remember when looking for the kosher symbol
• OU Kosher: vitamins require kosher certification
• OK Kosher: the kosher symbols clarified
• OK Kosher: is the letter K really a trademark?
• STAR-K: about Star-K
• STAR-K: vitamins and non-kosher ingredients
• Bluebonnet Nutrition: about us (KOF-K)
• Solgar: B-Complex product page (KOF-K certification)
• Country Life: FAQs (KOF-K)
• NutraBio: about us (OU)
• Maxi Health: about
• cRc: DE (dairy equipment) policy
• KSA: kosher certification symbols
• Din Online: the letter K