Having recently shared the news that Star-K has certified 11 El Tequileño products as kosher-for-Passover, I received a lot of questions from people asking questions as to these products, including the most popular question: Does the bottle need to say that the products were kosher-for-Passover?
When I reached out to Star-K, the response I received was “only products with Star-K on them will be certified KFP”, which still yielded a lot of questions, especially regarding batching, etc.
Fortunately, Rabbi Zvi Holland, Star-K’s kashrus administrator published a letter on Friday clarifying the matter:
This letter is to confirm that El Tequileño Tequila is certified exclusively with the STAR‑K kosher symbol. Only products that bear the STAR‑K symbol and that appear on the current STAR‑K Letter of Certification, are covered by this certification.
For the certified Passover versions that are listed on the STAR‑K Letter of Certification with the STAR‑K (KFP) designation, no “P” symbol is required and no other Passover marking is required.
It is important to note that El Tequileño produces multiple versions (e.g. Gran Reserva) that are not certified for Passover.
It is also noteworthy that they remain on the market product produced prior to the certification, that do not bear the STAR‑K symbol at all. These products are definitely not certified for Passover.
While it is currently unclear how widely available at publication El Tequileño products have hit store shelves with the symbol on the labels, in time, we shall certainly see these products more widely available with the certification on the label.
