Foods
for Pesah
In accordance with the principles
explained above, the following rules apply to foods and related products
on Pesah:
l. Leavened bread, cakes,
biscuits, crackers, cereal, coffees containing cereal derivatives, wheat,
barley, rye, oats, spelt, all liquids which contain ingredients or flavors
made from grain alcohol are forbidden.
2. Ashkenazic Jews follow
the custom of not eating rice, peas, beans, peanuts, corn, mustard, lentils,
chickpeas, buckwheat, or sesame. These foods may be kept, however, and
may be fed to children or animals. Some authorities permit the eating
of green beans and peas, holding that the prohibition applies only when
they are dried. Some authorities permit oils or other food products derived
from kitniyot. Some authorities do not include peanuts in the category
of kitniyot.
3. Fresh fruits and vegetables
and eggs are permitted without any special supervision.
4. Pure coffee, tea (not herbal
tea), sugar, and spices are permitted on Pesah. However, modern food manufacturing
processes raise questions about these foods. Many common brands have been
determined to be free of hametz.
5. Matzot, matzah meal, Passover
noodles, candies, cakes, beverages, canned and processed foods, dairy
products, jams, jellies, wines and liquors, vegetable gel, relishes, salad
oils, dried fruits, and shortening are permitted if their manufacture
and packaging have been carried out under rabbinical supervision to insure
that they are free from hametz. The name of the supervising rabbi or organization
should appear on the package. Passover products from previous years may
be used if they have been kept securely away from hametz.
6. Milk bought before Pesah
does not require rabbinical supervision, and may be used on Pesah. Milk
bought on Pesah should have rabbinical supervision. The problems with
milk involve indirect contact with or benefit from hametz, which may,
in such cases, be "nullified" before Pesah but not during the
holiday. The same rule applies to butter, cottage cheese, cream cheese,
ripened cheese (such as cheddar or Muenster), and frozen, uncooked fruit
or vegetables with no additives. Those who insist on rabbinical supervision
for cheese all year, because of the enzymes used in making it, will follow
the same practice on Pesah.
7. Quinoa may be used for
Pesah. it should be purchased in its natural form, and rinsed and examined
to make sure that no other substances are mixed with the quinoa kernels.
8. Food wrapping materials,
dishwashing detergents, and other materials which come into contact with
food or dishes must be determined to be free of hametz. Many common brands
of these items have been so determined.
9. In any of the above cases,
packages should be opened fresh for Pesah.
10. Medicine used in connection
with life sustaining therapy may be used even if it contains hametz. This
is not the case with other substances used for medicinal purposes. In
fact, however, many common medicinal substances have been determined to
be free of hametz.
11. While, in an emergency,
a baby may be fed hametz (using dishes which are kept separate from the
regular Pesah dishes), it is much preferable to avoid hametz food. Food
containing corn, rice, etc., however, may be used freely for babies. In
principle, one may use Pesah dishes for serving kitniyot under these circumstances.
However, since the kitniyot food will presumably not have rabbinical supervision
for Pesah, and for general esthetic reasons, one may want to use special
dishes (not Pesah and not hametz) for this purpose.
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