Which foods, medications, cosmetics, and toiletries are Chametz?

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(Redirected from Chametz and Kitniyot)

This is the approved revision of this page, as well as being the most recent.

Medication

  1. Medicines in the form of tablets or liquid which are bitter may be taken on Pesach, even if they contain chametz. Since it is possible that this isn't always the case, one should consult a Rabbi.[1]
  2. However, coated tablets can be a potential issue of chametz and one should consult one's rabbi.[2]
  3. Flavored liquid medicines such as cough medicine is a more serious issue and may contain chametz and a Rabbi should be consulted.[3]

Products containing alcohol

  1. Products with ethyl alcohol or denatured alcohol are potentially chametz, however, isopropyl alcohol may be used on Pesach.[4]
  2. Solid products which contain alcohol such as creams, ointments, salves, and powders, may be used. An exception to this is perfumed powders and roll-on deodorants which may contain chametz.[5] However, some Sephardim permit using cosmetics.[6] With regards to using creams and other products on Shabbat and Yom Tov, see the Shabbat and Yom Tov pages.
  3. Liquid products such as perfume, cologne, toilet water, hair spray, hair tonic, pre-shave lotion, after-shave lotion, mouthwash, and spray deodorants are considered to be chametz unless the specific brand was approved for Pesach use.[7]
  4. Nail polish, nail polish remover, hand lotion, hand creams, baby lotion, baby cream, shampoo, shoe polish, ink, paint, and air freshener may be used on Pesach.[8] Sephardim are lenient regarding shoe polish if it was bought before Pesach.[9] With regards to using creams and other products on Shabbat and Yom Tov, see the Shabbat and Yom Tov pages.

Soap

  1. Many poskim hold that year round soap may be used on Pesach except for cleaning dishes, for which one should use soap approved for Pesach.[10]
  2. It isn't necessary to get a new soap for Pesach.[11]

Toothpaste

  1. Strictly speaking, toothpaste doesn’t need to be Kosher LePesach. However, if it’s available one should have a kosher lepesach toothpaste. [12]
  2. You do not need a new toothbrush or tube of toothpaste for Pesach.[13]

Paper or Plastic Utensils

  1. There’s no non-kosher or Chametz material found on paper or plastic plates, cups, cutlery and doesn’t need a hechsher. However, parchment papers which are coated with non-stick agent it needs a hechsher. [14]

Stocks of companies that own chametz

  1. See Selling_Chametz#Stocks_of_companies_which_own_Chametz.

If one sent Chametz in mail before Pesach

  1. If one sent Chametz in the mail to a friend before Pesach, and it’ll still be in the mail at the beginning of Purim, the sender should do Bitul Chametz for that Chametz as well. [15]

Feeding Chametz to Animals

  1. It is forbidden to feed chametz on Pesach to animals, even ones that belong to other people, since there is a benefit in having one's desires fulfilled, and by using the chametz one was able to fulfill his intention.[16]

Links

Sources

  1. ↑ Halachos of Pesach (Rabbi Eider, pg 22)
  2. ↑ Halachos of Pesach (Rabbi Eider, pg 23)
  3. ↑ Halachos of Pesach (Rabbi Eider, pg 24)
  4. ↑ Halachos of Pesach (Rabbi Eider, pg 25)
  5. ↑ Halachos of Pesach (Rabbi Eider, pg 26).
  6. ↑ see Shu"t Yechave Daat 2:61. JSOR 2012 Pesach List (pg 14) writes that cosmetics such as: hair spray, soaps, shampoos, deodorant, powders (medicated, perfumed, baby, face, foot) are permitted for Pesach.
  7. ↑ Halachos of Pesach (Rabbi Eider, pg 26). see however, Shu"t Ohr Letzion 3:8:6 who is lenient about mouthwash
  8. ↑ Halachos of Pesach (Rabbi Eider, pg 26)
  9. ↑ Chazon Ovadyah (vol 1, pg 119)
  10. ↑ Halachos of Pesach (Rabbi Eider, pg 27)
  11. ↑ Rav Willig (min 1)
  12. ↑ Halachos of Pesach (Rabbi Eider, pg 27) quoting Rav Moshe and Rav Aharon Kotler. Rav Schachter on OU Pre-Pesach Webcast 5771 (mins 91-93) agrees. Shu"t Ohr Letzion 3:8:6 is lenient for toothpaste and mouthwash
  13. ↑ Rav Willig (min 1) says it is unnecessary to use a new tube of toothpaste or a new toothbrush and he doesn't do that.
  14. ↑ Rav Yisrael Belsky on OU Pre-Pesach Webcast 5771 between minutes 107:30 and 110:30
  15. ↑ Halichot Shlomo (vol 1, 4:24)
  16. ↑ Shulchan Aruch 448:6 based on Yerushalmi Pesachim 2:1, Mishna Brurah 448:28. Some say that this is a unique halacha for Chametz (Gra OC 448:6, Pitchei Teshuva YD 94:5 citing Mekor Chaim 448:10), while others apply this to all forbidden foods (Shaar Hatziyun 448:75 in explaining the Levush, Magen Avraham and Tashbetz 3:293, Taz YD 94:4 based on Isur Vheter, Maharshal, and Torat Chatat).
Time Topic
Before Pesach
Month of Nissan - Shabbat HaGadol - Bedikat Chametz - Biur Chametz - Bitul Chametz - Tanit Bechorot - Erev Pesach - Selling Chametz - Erev Pesach That Fell out on Shabbat - Candle Lighting on Yom Tov - Kashering the kitchen for Pesach - Which foods, medications, cosmetics, and toiletries are Chametz? - Kitniyot - Chametz of a non-Jew - Owning Chametz on Pesach
Kaddesh - Urchatz - Karpas - Yachatz - Maggid - Rachsa - Motzei Matzah - Maror - Korech - Shulchan Orech - Tzafun - Barech - Hallel of the Seder - Nirtzah - Kriyat Shema Al HaMitah
- Setting the Table (The Seder plate) - Arvit of the night of Pesach - Leaning during the Seder - Required Amount of Matzah and Wine for the Seder - The four cups of wine - Matzah
After Pesach
Issru Chag - Chametz which a Jew owned on Pesach - Pesach Sheni
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