Kashrut Department of the Jewish Community of Ecuador (Quito)KEC
Quito, Ecuador
Mark: KEC kosher mark used for national certification; companies seeking export use the OU symbol
Recognized endorsed by 1 major authority
National (local community) kosher certification plus liaison for international export certification; certifies local food provisioning and export products such as chocolate/cocoa and hearts of palm (palmito)
Gap-fill target: the kashrut supervision department of the established traditional Jewish community of Quito (Asociacion / Comunidad Judia del Ecuador). Provides national kosher certification under its own KEC mark and channels companies to the OU for international/export certification. Certifies local kosher provisioning for the Quito community as well as export products including chocolate/cocoa products and palm hearts (palmito) - the Ecuadorian sectors most active in kosher export. Community chief rabbi associated with Ecuador's kashrut: Rabbi Tomer Rotem (Chief Rabbi of Ecuador since 2004). Distinct from the Guayaquil-based Aleph Kosher / Kosher Ecuador agency. Sometimes referenced as 'Kosher Stam - Departamento de kashrut de la comunidad tradicional de Quito Ecuador'.
How to use this safely: a listing here is not an endorsement. Only trust an authority if one you (or your community) already follow recognizes it — see the “endorsed by” tags above. Standards vary by community and by individual ruling, so always confirm with your rav.