Respecting foods

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Giving Proper Respect to foods

  1. One may not throw food which will get ruined when thrown. However, food that doesn’t get ruined (candy bags) when thrown may be thrown in a place where the floor is clean. [1]
  2. If one sees food on the floor one should pick it up. [2]
  3. One may sit on a wooden cabinet with food in it if sitting on it won't crush the food, however, one may not sit on a bag of food if it crushes the food.[3]
  4. One should show respect to bread because of its importance. Therefore, it is forbidden to throw bread even if it will not get ruined.[4]
  5. One may not throw out a Kezayit of bread in a garbage. However, one should place it in a separate bag and then throw it out.[5]
  6. One shouldn't disrespect crumbs because it is a bad sign for becoming poor.[6] Rather one should wrap it and throw it in the garbage.[7] Some say that it is only forbidden to throw it on the floor or trample crumbs, however, it is permitted to throw it in the garbage respectfully, even without covering it.[8]

Sources

  1. Shulchan Aruch O.C. 171:1 writes that nuts may be thrown since they won’t get ruined when thrown. Mishna Brurah 171:11 adds that if the floor is dirty then it’s forbidden no matter what. Yalkut Yosef (vol 3, p 153) agrees.
  2. Mishna Brurah 171:11, Yalkut Yosef (Brachot pg 153)
  3. Yalkut Yosef (vol 3, p 156)
  4. Shulchan Aruch O.C. 171:1. Mishna Brurah 171:9 and Yalkut Yosef (Brachot pg 156), Halacha Brurah 9:49, Peri Megadim Eshel Avraham 167:38 add that it’s forbidden to throw even if the bread won’t get ruined if it falls.
  5. Bayit Baruch 54:22, Vezot HaBracha pg 16 rule that one may not throw out a Kezayit of bread based on Shulchan Aruch O.C. 180:4 who says one may not ruin bread the size of Kezayit by letting water touch it. Rather, Vezot HaBracha quotes Rabbi Yakov Yisrael Fisher, Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Sheinburg, and Rabbi Shalom Elyashiv who say that one should throw it out in a separate bag. Vezot HaBracha also quotes Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu who says to throw out bread in a plastic bag and then wrap that with paper.
  6. Shulchan Aruch O.C. 180:4
  7. Vezot Habracha ch. 2 p. 16 citing Rav Yakov Yisrael Fisher, Rav Sheinburg, and Rav Elyashiv, Piskei Teshuvot 180:4
  8. Peninei Halakhah, Kashrut 13:12