Is Breaded white meat chicken with penne Kosher?

The Ingredient Breakdown

When determining if a processed meal is Kosher, we look for three main things: the source of the meat, the absence of forbidden animals, and the separation of meat and dairy. Let's look at the specific ingredients in this meal.

The primary protein is white meat chicken patties. This is inherently Kosher if the bird is slaughtered according to Jewish law (shechita). The ingredients list does not indicate otherwise, and the verdict confirms certification. However, we must look at what the chicken is mixed with. The patties contain parmesan cheese and romano cheese. In a Kosher meal, this is a significant flag because it mixes meat with dairy.

Despite the presence of cheese, the product is still listed as Kosher. This is likely due to a specific ruling regarding the cheese itself. For cheese to be Kosher, it must be made with rennet from a Kosher animal. The ingredients list enzymes and cultures. If these are derived from non-animal sources (microbial or fungal) or Kosher-certified animal sources, the cheese is permissible. Furthermore, the presence of pasteurized milk and nonfat milk in the sauce reinforces the dairy status. In Kosher certification, there are different levels of supervision. Some Kosher authorities allow hard cheese made with non-animal rennet to be eaten with meat, which might be the loophole used here, though strict observers might avoid it.

The pasta and sauce components are generally safe. The cooked pasta is made from durum wheat semolina. Wheat is always Kosher, but it must be checked for bugs, which is a standard processing step. The spiced tomatoes and tomato puree are fine, though the spices always warrant a check for bugs (specifically aphids), which are common in dried herbs. Finally, the breading contains wheat flour, wheat gluten, and wheat starch, making the meal contain gluten, but not non-Kosher grains.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, this meal is a standard frozen entrée. It relies heavily on soybean oil and modified potato starch for texture and shelf stability. The calorie count is likely driven by the fried nature of the chicken patty and the oil in the pasta.

The ingredient list includes maltodextrin and sugar (implied by the sweet profile of tomato sauces), which can spike blood sugar. While the white meat chicken provides a solid source of protein, the inclusion of soy protein concentrate suggests some filler is used to bulk up the patty. It fits within a standard diet, but it is a processed food high in sodium and likely saturated fats due to the palm oil and cheese content.