OU vs cRc Kosher Certification: What's the Difference?

The OU (Orthodox Union), headquartered in New York, is the world's largest kosher certification agency. The cRc (Chicago Rabbinical Council), founded in 1932, is a regional rabbinical council whose kosher division has grown into an internationally recognized certifier. Both are universally accepted. The main differences are structural: the OU is primarily a certification body, while the cRc is a full community rabbinical organization that also certifies.

Side-by-side comparison

What the OU is

The Orthodox Union's kosher program has run since 1923 and now covers more than 1 million products worldwide. Its circled U is the most recognized hechsher anywhere, with letter designations for dairy (OU-D), meat (OU-M), fish (OU-F), Passover (OU-P), and plain OU for pareve items.

Find OU-certified restaurants on Kosher Connect.

What the cRc is

The Chicago Rabbinical Council is a different kind of organization. Founded in 1932, it is a regional Orthodox rabbinical council. Kosher certification is one of its functions, alongside communal work such as a beth din and community education. Its kosher division, cRc Kosher, certifies manufacturers around the world and supervises restaurants and caterers, with its deepest coverage in Chicago and the Midwest.

That structure matters for consumers in one practical way: if you eat out in Chicago, the cRc is the certification you will see most often. Find cRc certified restaurants on Kosher Connect.

Standards and rulings

Both agencies work from the same body of kosher law, and their conclusions align on almost everything. Occasional differences show up in technical ingredient questions or Passover policy, the same kind of margin that exists between any two major agencies. The cRc also publishes consumer guidance, including lists of acceptable agencies, which many communities outside Chicago use as a reference.

Neither agency is a stricter or more lenient version of the other. A product or restaurant carrying either symbol meets the standard.

Frequently asked questions

Is cRc certification accepted outside Chicago? Yes. The cRc is one of the major agencies, and its certification travels. Its restaurant supervision is concentrated in the Midwest simply because that is where its community is. Why does Chicago use the cRc instead of the OU? Local restaurant supervision usually belongs to the local kashrus organization, which knows its own community and can inspect frequently. The OU certifies restaurants too, but regional councils handle most local dining. Do the OU and cRc ever disagree? On rare technical questions, like any two agencies. On the fundamentals of what is kosher, they agree. What if a product has a cRc symbol and an OU ingredient inside? That is normal. Certified manufacturers routinely use ingredients certified by other reliable agencies.

Finding certified restaurants

Every Kosher Connect listing shows its certifying agency. Compare OU and cRc listings, browse kosher restaurants in Chicago, or see what's nearby on the explore page.

Related reading: OU vs OK kosher certification.

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Sources & references

• OU Kosher: About Us - Official overview of the Orthodox Union's certification program
• Chicago Rabbinical Council - The council's official site, covering its founding and services
• Kosher Connect certification directory - Agency profiles and certified restaurant listings