Supermarket shopping while on holiday just got a lot easier thanks to the new feature on the Is It Kosher? app, a product of the Kashrut Division of the London Beth Din (KLBD).
The app – a search engine for food items in the UK which outputs a ‘YES’ or ‘NO’ verdict to the question of the item’s kashrut status – now allows users to simply take a photo of the item with their smartphone camera, rather than typing out its name.
Such a feature leverages AI technology, and it functions like similar food-identifying apps, like MyFitnessPal, which allows users to scan their meals and returns its calorific content.
The feature should be particularly useful in the summer months when shoppers are travelling or spending time away from home comforts.
A spokesperson for KLBD said: “The addition complements the platform's extensive range of resources, including supermarket product information, fresh produce guidance, and practical kosher advice – all designed to help consumers make informed choices with confidence.”
They added that “further exciting enhancements [are] already being explored”.
A video on KLBD’s Instagram account shows a woman scanning items including Solero ice creams and haddock fillets in a Waitrose, with the app returning an instant verdict.
One comment underneath the post says: “Well done to all involved in developing and deploying this feature! Very exciting one for sure.”
Another reads: “What an amazing idea! It will definitely come in handy.”
Rabbi Elie Schoemann, director of KLBD, told the JC: “We are very proud to launch this latest feature which is a real game changer for the kosher community in the UK. The feature is particularly useful during the summer months, providing trusted kosher information for users travelling around different parts of the UK.”
To access the new feature, users should ensure they have updated the app to the latest version. The new feature is also available on the website.
How did the JC get on with Is It Kosher’s new feature? Go to @thejewishchronicle on Instagram to find out.
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