Definition
Glatt kosher is a standard of kashrut (Jewish dietary law) that specifically applies to the lungs of slaughtered animals. The term “glatt” means “smooth” in Yiddish, referring to the requirement that an animal’s lungs be free of adhesions or other abnormalities [4]. While all kosher meat must come from animals slaughtered according to shechita (ritual slaughter) and pass post-slaughter inspection, glatt kosher represents a stricter standard regarding lung condition [4].
Lung Inspection
After ritual slaughter (shechita), the animal’s lungs undergo a post-procedure examination called bedikah [4]. For meat to be considered glatt kosher, the lungs must be completely smooth—free of any adhesions (sirchot) or other imperfections [4]. If the lungs have adhesions that can be removed without leaving a hole, the meat may still be considered kosher under basic standards but would not meet the glatt kosher designation [4]. This inspection is performed by a trained inspector (bodek) who examines the lungs both externally and internally.
Meat Certification
Glatt kosher certification applies specifically to meat from kosher mammals (beef, lamb, goat) and is not relevant to poultry [4]. The certification indicates that the animal passed the strictest lung inspection standards. Meat that meets basic kosher requirements but fails the glatt lung standard is sometimes labeled as “kosher” without the “glatt” designation, or in some communities as “non-glatt kosher” [4]. The glatt standard is particularly emphasized in Ashkenazi and Hasidic communities, though it is followed by many observant Jews across different diaspora traditions.
Common Usage
In contemporary kosher markets, “glatt kosher” has become a general term for a higher standard of kosher supervision, though technically it only refers to lung condition [4]. Many kosher-certifying agencies use “glatt” on meat products to indicate this stricter lung inspection standard. The term has also expanded in common usage to describe kosher restaurants and food products that maintain elevated standards of kashrut supervision, particularly in Ashkenazi communities [4]. However, the technical definition remains specific to the condition of the animal’s lungs at the time of slaughter.