Star-K kosher symbol
The kosher symbol of STAR-K, a nonprofit certification agency based in Baltimore: a K inside a five-pointed star.
How to read it
STAR-K was chartered in 1947 as the Orthodox Jewish Council/Vaad Hakashrus of Baltimore and is a nonprofit agency. It certifies food products, appliances, establishments and industrial food chemicals, with a presence in 48 states and 63 countries, and counts itself among more than 1,400 kosher certification agencies around the world.
Also searched as: Star-K.
Related symbols
STAR-K also uses STAR-D, for kosher dairy that is not cholov Yisroel, and STAR-S, for its Sephardic mehadrin certification.
In US labeling rules
For meat and poultry, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service allows the word “kosher” only on products prepared under rabbinical supervision.
Read next
- Next in Certification markscRc kosher symbolThe kosher symbol of the Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc), a nonprofit, community-based kosher certifier.
- The same shape in Topographic map symbolsNorth arrows and declination diagramThe diagram of three lines in the margin of a USGS topographic map shows three different norths: true north (the star), grid north (GN) and magnetic north (MN, with a half arrowhead). The angles between them are the declination.
More certification marks
The same shape elsewhere
Browse symbols drawn with letters and numbers or stars.
Sources
- About STAR-K, STAR-K Kosher Certification
- STAR-K Kosher Certification, STAR-K Kosher Certification
- Meat and Poultry Labeling Terms, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Researched, edited and approved by Rory Hansen before publishing. Last reviewed September 25, 2026. How we research
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