Is Garden of Life Organic Protein Delicious Protein Shake kosher?
Verdict by tradition
Ingredients as printed
organic protein blend: organic pea protein, organic sprouted brown rice protein, organic amaranth sprout, organic buckwheat sprout, organic millet sprout, organic cracked wall chlorella, organic quinoa sprout, organic chia seed sprout, organic garbanzo bean sprout, organic lentil sprout, organic adzuki bean sprout, organic flax seed sprout, organic sunflower seed sprout, organic pumpkin seed sprout, organic sesame seed sprout, organic flavor blend: (organic vanilla flavors, organic erythritol, organic stevia extract (leaf), sea salt), organic guar gum, organic carob bean gum, probiotic , enzyme blend: lipase, protease, aspergillopepsin, beta-glucanase, cellulase, bromelain, phytase, lactase, papain, peptidase, pectinase, hemicellulase, xylanase, [lactobacillus acidophilus, lactobacillus plantarum, lactobacillus bulgaricus] (3 billion cfu)
Rulings behind these verdicts
Processed foods are relied upon only with a recognized hechsher, because ingredients, equipment and processing aids cannot be verified from the label alone. Hey Kosher reports what is printed on the package; the agency has the final word.
Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah 118-119; contemporary agency practice
A reliable hechsher is the preferred way to establish that a processed food is kosher. Where none is present, the ingredient list is read against CJLS rulings and the result is marked for your judgement.
Rabbinical Assembly, "A Guide to Jewish Religious Practice" (Klein, 1979), ch. 21
A recognized hechsher settles the question. Without one, the ingredient list is read for unclean species and questionable animal derivatives.
MJRC Standards of Observance, Kashrut section
The MJRC standards call members to a Torah-based kashrut: biblically clean species, separation of meat and dairy, and respect for the kosher certification system. Hey Kosher's reading of these standards is pending MJRC review.
Messianic Jewish Rabbinical Council, Standards of Observance, Kashrut section
Reform Judaism frames kashrut as informed personal and communal choice, weighing tradition, ethics and sustainability. Hey Kosher shows you the facts on the label and does not issue a verdict for this tier.
Mary L. Zamore (ed.), The Sacred Table: Creating a Jewish Food Ethic (CCAR Press, 2011)
This tier reads the ingredient list against Scripture's clean and unclean lists. It does not require rabbinic certification and does not separate meat and dairy.
Tier definition
Hey Kosher reads what is printed on the package and matches it against published rulings. It is not a halakhic authority. For the final word, ask your rabbi or the certifying agency.