Laval, January 7, 2008 - Duchesnay is the first and only pharmaceutical company in Canada that has received Kosher certification from the Kashruth Council of Canada (COR) and Halal certification from the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) for its prescription prenatal multivitamins PregVit folic 5 and PregVit. The following certification logos appear on both products:
 Kosher |
The Kashruth Council of Canada (COR): The Kashruth Council of Canada, known by its trademark Today, more than 900 facilities, retail and commercial carry the The objectives of the Kashruth Council of Canada are to promote the observance of Orthodox Judaism by ensuring the availability and identification of kosher products and in particular:
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 Halal |
The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA): The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), through its ISNA Halal Certification Agency Halal Certification, provides certification service to the Muslim communities not only in Canada and the United States, but throughout the Muslim world. ISNA Canada developed its Halal logo to be put on the packages certified by the ISNA Halal Certification Agency (HCA) to assure the Muslims that these products are processed according to the islamic laws and practices. ISNA Halal Certification Agency (HCA) was incorporated at the federal level and was entrusted with the responsibilities of Halal Food certification being produced and manufactured in Canada and in the United States. Its primary mission is to do the necessary investigation and set up the process to give confidence to Muslim consumers that the Halal label is properly used and placed on their products. |
, has been in existence for more than 50 years and is one of the most recognized kashruth agencies in the world. COR guides the observance of kosher dietary laws in Canada.Therefore, Jewish and Muslim women now have access to a family of prenatal vitamin and mineral supplements that comply with their religious belief and related food standards. Jewish and Muslim populations in Canada are approximately 350,000 and 1 million respectively.
To be certified Kosher and Halal, the 27 active and inactive ingredients contained in PregVit folic 5 and PregVit had to comply with the requirements of the Jewish and Muslim religious laws pertaining to food (the ingredients contained in PregVit folic 5 and PregVit do not contain animal by-products from pork, bovine or chicken). Manufacturing, packaging and handling processes also had to meet the certification standards. To maintain certification, the PregVit folic 5 and PregVit manufacturing site is subject to periodic inspections from the certification agencies.
In addition, to meet the needs of thousands of women with celiac disease or with lactose intolerance, Duchesnay has announced that PregVit folic 5 and PregVit do not contain gliadin-gluten, lactose or tartrazine.
Duchesnay is proud to dedicate the necessary resources to meet the needs of women from various cultural or religious communities in Canada or with special nutritional constraints.
About Duchesnay
Based in Laval, Québec, Duchesnay is the first pharmaceutical company to dedicate itself exclusively to pregnant women and their newborns, to ensure that expecting women who require pharmacological treatments for pre-existing or pregnancy-related diseases have access to proper counselling and to medications that are proven safe for them and for their newborns.
