are kosher dill pickles actually kosher or is it just a misnomer like how strawberries aren't berries? 🤔
If they're called kosher they legally have to be kosher.
That's why Jewish-style delis are called "Jewish-style" and not "Kosher" if they're not actually kosher. And spoiler alert, if a deli is called "Jewish-style", it's not actually kosher.
Kosher is a descriptor of the kind of food, like "halal" or "vegan" or "gluten-free".
However, the reason Kosher Dills are called "Kosher Dills" is not because they're kosher, nowadays most popular pickle brands of any kind are certified kosher, at least in the US. They're called "Kosher Dills" because the specific type of dill pickle was introduced by Jewish immigrants and first sold by Jewish pickle-vendors.
It's kind of like how Kosher Salt isn't called "Kosher Salt" because it's kosher. Halakhically, most salt is kosher and doesn't even need a kosher certification if there's no additives. Kosher Salt is called "Kosher Salt" because it's the kind of coarse, large grained salt that is used by kosher slaughterhouses and butchers to salt and drain meat of blood. (Kosher meat must be drained of blood, using a process of salting and soaking, because consumption of blood is forbidden.)
Office of War Information WW2 poster, NARA ID 515098.
#National (Patriotic) PICKLE Day!
By Miriam Kleiman, Public Affairs, half-sour fan
Fun fact about the National Archives and PICKLES!
Our DC Building stands on the site of DC’s Center Market---and pickle stand!
Department of Agriculture, undated, NARA ID 5928150.
Feds plead: “MAKE MORE SOURS AND DILLS!
Q: WHY did the federal government urge patriotic Americans to eat sour dill pickles during World War I?
A: Americans were asked to sacrifice staple items for the war effort, and sugar was the first to be rationed. Pickle manufacturers and American consumers alike were urged to switch from sweet pickles to sour and dill ones.
Sour pickles are PATRIOTIC!
FDA WWI record 1917, NARA ID 20762196
Letter from Food Administration to Onalaska (WI) Pickle and Canning Co. 6/22/1918, NARA ID 20762197.
FDA World War I poster, NARA ID 512543.
Interested in more federal records about food? Check out our wonderful online exhibit, “What’s Cooking Uncle Sam,” to learn:
What’s “Exploding ketchup”?
Why were some government volunteers called the “Poison Squad”?