Chalav Yisrael

The kosher laws stipulate that all dairy products should be Chalav Yisrael (lit., "Jewish milk"): a Torah-observant Jew must be present from the milking to the end of the processing to ensure that only milk from kosher animals is used.

In certain western countries (including the US) it is illegal to market milk from non-kosher animals as "milk." Some halachic authorities therefore permit using non-chalav yisrael milk -- in places where chalav yisrael is not obtainable -- and to rely on government inspection as sufficient assurance. Others, however, point out that in addition to the technical reasons for the law, there are spiritual reasons for the requirement to use only "Jewish milk." All agree that it is preferable to use only chalav yisrael.