Healthy Eaters Go 'Kosher' Despite Evidence

Love seeing that "kosher" food label when you go shopping? You're not alone: More than 25% of all new foods released since 2007 claim to be kosher, a 10-fold increase over kosher products released in 2002, NPR reports. The market has expanded from orthodox Jews to, well, everyone who likes "purity" in the handling of foods. "There is a feeling by many consumers that kosher is somehow better, more wholesome," says one analyst.

The punchline: Kosher products are no safer or healthier than any other, says NPR. But in a world of mass-produced and genetically modified mystery foods, a little rabbinical affirmation goes a long way. A similar sentiment is spreading for gluten-free products, despite the eye rolls from experts. Similar trends have happened before—with "low carb" labels, for example, which were once popular because of the Atkins diet. (More kosher stories.)