Keeping Kosher in Napoli

Is it difficult to keep kosher in Napoli? Yes, it is, frankly! It’s not impossible, but it’s hard. You will not find kosher meat or chicken here, or a big cheese selection like in Rome or Milan. Manage your expectations and you will mangia comfortably (SEE WHAT I DID THERE, YOU’RE WELCOME, I’M AROUND ALL WEEK).

Shabbat in Napoli

There are no kosher caterers or kosher restaurants in Napoli. We travel a lot, but when I’m around for Shabbat, I can potentially provide some simple homecooked salads and proteins at a reasonable price. Use the “About” tab above to get in touch about that. Otherwise, if you can’t bring premade food from elsewhere or don’t have any cooking facilities at your accommodation, your best bet is to work with a kosher travel agent who can organize premade food for you. The local shul usually has a simple kiddush (wine and pastries) after the morning services.

Helpful Links

Kashrut Lista ARI (this is the latest version as of June 2022)

Kashrut guide published by the Napoli community

Italy Kosher Union click the “Product List” tab (useful for understanding general parameters)

Kosher Products in Grocery Stores

This is a guide to kosher products that are findable in Napoli grocery stores. This list is based on what I’ve learned living here and the guidance I got when I asked a local rabbi for advice. You do not have to follow this if you’re unsure about what to do. I’m not a rabbi, I’m not your rabbi. This list doesn’t cover every single product you may want to buy.

Bread: A lot of bread and pastries in Italy contain lard (strutto). VERY irritating. I was advised not to buy bread in the supermarket. If I want bread, I make it.

Milk: Milk does not need a hechsher. When I say “milk,” I’m referring to refrigerated cow’s milk. It’s not common to find other kinds of milks in the dairy section. If you’re worried about which ones are good, buy the Berna brand. Alternative milks (almond, soy, etc.) do need to be on the approved list.

Eggs: Do not need a hechsher.

Yogurt: Plain unflavored yogurt is all acceptable. Fruit yogurt has more limitations. “Magro” is low fat. “Bianco” is plain. “Bianco dolce” is plain sweetened yogurt. “Vaniglia” means vanilla.

Cheese: See the kashrut guide from the Napoli community, linked above. Philadelphia cream cheese is good.

Butter: Lurpak is the acceptable brand.

Tuna: Several of the varieties from Callipo have a hechsher. Not all though, so make sure to check. The hechsher is a K in an oval.

Lox: Smoked lox with no additives is acceptable.

Salmon: I buy fresh salmon fillets.

Sardines: Sardines in olive oil and that originate from Morocco or Tunisia are good.

Pasta: All plain fresh and boxed pasta is acceptable. Pasta with fillings are not. And don’t buy black pasta - squid ink is usually what gives it that color. Gnocchi needs to be from the approved brands on the local list.

Flour: Any tipo 00 flour is acceptable. Other varieties need to be approved.

Sugar: Look for brands from the local list.

Nutella: Kosher. Yay!

Jelly/Jams: Hero is a kosher brand that is common to the supermarkets here. The single-portion jellies have an OU on them. Bonne Maman and Wilkin & Sons are also good.

Canned Beans: I buy canned beans that are just the beans, water, and salt. Same with canned vegetables.

Condiments: Typically require a hechsher on the packaging, except some mayonnaise versions. Check the local list.

Cereal: Lots of cereals either have a hechsher or are acceptable without one. Most are manufactured in the UK and have UK supervision. Check the local list for which varieties need the hechsher on the box and which don’t.

Olive Oil: Any brand of extra virgin olive oil made in Italy is acceptable. Non-EVOO does need a hechsher. Brands that are kosher don’t always have a hechsher on the packaging, so check the local list.

Tomato Sauce (Passata): Some brands have hechshers, many don’t but are acceptable. Check the local list.

Cookies, Crackers, and Snacks: Lots of cookies on the local list, not so many crackers. Snack-wise, you can get applesauce packets, potato chips, and granola bars, all from the local list. All chocolate is acceptable (this is how it was described to me. You may want to seek additional info on chocolate with flavorings or fillings).

Coffee and Tea: I will buy any unflavored roasted coffee. (Side note, most are ground very fine, because they are meant for stovetop espresso.) If you want to be extra careful check the local list.

Understanding the Local Kosher Products List

The local kosher products list is called Lista Prodotti Kasher ARI and is linked above. Below I’ve posted a screenshot of what the list looks like with an explanation of the column headers. In general, Google translate is your friend here. If you’re coming to Italy my advice would be to study this in advance, because trying to figure it out for the first time while you’re standing in a narrow grocery aisle with 500 nonnas bumping into you isn’t the easiest way to learn.

Sottocategoria = Food category

Tipologia = Flavor or variety

Marca = Brand

Dettaglio Prodotti = Product details, usually the product name

Formato = If the product needs to have been made at a certain factory or come in a certain size (not relevant to every food)

Hekhsher = Which kashrut agency supervises it

Status = Green means pareve, blue dot means dairy derivative

Note = There are several options under this category:

A blank box with nothing written there at all = this means the product is kosher WITHOUT needing a hechsher on it to indicate its status

“Hekhsher sulla confezione” = you need to look for the kashrut symbol of the supervising agency on the packaging

Other info = typically indicates if the product lot number needs to start with particular letters or numbers