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==Gel Caps - Not in the Normal Manner== | ==Gel Caps - Not in the Normal Manner== | ||
# One who is sick is permitted to eat | # One who is sick is permitted to eat non-kosher food in an unusual manner.<ref>Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 155:3, Shach 14, Mishna Brurah O.C. 466:1. An example of this is giving someone non-kosher food with an intravenous injection. The reason why it's ok is because eating forbidden foods in an unusual fashion is rabbinically forbidden, and the rabbis waived the prohibiton for someone who is sick. However, when it comes to basar b'chalav (a mixture of meat and milk) and kelai ha'kerem (a mixture of species in a vineyard), it is forbidden from the Torah to consume them in an unusual fashion (since the Torah doesn't use the lashon of "achilah" when forbidding them to be eaten, see Pesachim 24b-25a). Therefore, it would be forbidden for a sick person to consume either basar b'chalav or kelai ha'kerem, even in an unusual fashion. </ref> Based on this, some poskim think that a sick person may swallow a pill made from a [[gelatin]] coating<u>,</u> as swallowing is not the usual manner of eating.<ref>Opinion of Harav Henkin zt”l quoted in Edos L’Yisroel page 132, opinion of Harav Shachter Shlita as expressed in OU document I-97. He adds that the gel-caps have no taste to them and are nifsal from feeding to a dog. [https://www.yutorah.org/sidebar/lecture.cfm/894931/rabbi-hershel-schachter/berachos-73-38b-39a-ta-am-matzah-and-maror-non-kosher-pills-kavush-kemevushal-kezayis-beriah/ Rav Schachter (Brachot Shiur 73 min 18-30)] ruled that a sick person is strictly speaking permitted to take non-kosher pills. If kosher ones are available, then a person should preferably take those, in order to avoid the spiritual detriments of consuming non-kosher food. (This is similar to what Rama Yoreh Deah 81:7 writes about a Jewish baby suckling from a non-Jewish woman. Even though it's strictly speaking permitted, the Rama advises that it be avoided in order to obviate "timtum ha'lev", negative spiritual effects of non-kosher food). Rav Schachter explained that if a person is a choleh shein bo sakana (someone who cannot function normally because of his sickness, such as being bedridden from a migraine), then it's certainly permitted to take non-kosher pills, since it is shelo kderech achilato (an unusual manner of eating). Beyond this, Rav Schachter said that gelatin pills are totally permitted, since they are nifsal machila (unfit for consumption), and even if they're reconstituted and made fit for eating, they aren't considered non-kosher (Chavot Daat YD 103). There's no achshevei (a prohibition that comes from the fact that a person subjectively grants significance to something that's objectively unfit for consumption) since it is eaten in a reconstituted form and not when it's mixed with other ingredients (Rav Chaim Ozer 3:31). According to Rav Schachter, this is why Rav Soloveitchik was lenient to allow one to take non-kosher pills. Also, [https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=1525&st=&pgnum=295 Rabbi Yitzchak Abadi in Or Yitzchak 1:24] permits all medicines that are bitter or don't have a taste since they aren't food and are considered nifsal machila. | ||
* See Yachava Daat 2:60 who assumes | *See Yachava Daat 2:60 who assumes that if medicine doesn't taste good then it's considered shelo kderech achilato, and not nifsal machila. | ||
* [https://oukosher.org/halacha-yomis/many-medications-encased-gelatin-capsules-may-used/?category Rav Belsky] held that hard capsules can be eaten by a choleh and | *[https://oukosher.org/halacha-yomis/many-medications-encased-gelatin-capsules-may-used/?category Rav Belsky] held that hard capsules can be eaten by a choleh, and that soft capsules can be eaten in a tissue paper. This is only when there are no alternatives.</ref> However, there are poskim who maintain that swallowing a pill is considered a regular manner of consumption.<ref>Refer to Nodeh B’Yehuda Y.D. 35, Pischei Teshuva Y.D. 155:6, Har Tzvi Y.D. 97, opinions of Harav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach zt”l and Harav Elyashiv Shlita quoted in Medicines and Kashrus page 57:footnote 17, Yeishiv Moshe page 165, Shemiras [[Shabbos]] K’hilchoso 40:footnote 169, Halichos Shlomo Moadim ([[Pesach]]) 1:page 69. This is the opinion of Harav Yisroel Belsky Shlita quoting the opinion of Harav Henkin zt”l, see www.koltorah.org. </ref> Others are lenient and maintain that swallowing a pill is considered an unusual manner of eating.<ref>Halichos Shlomo 1:17:1 (although he is quoted in the footnote above as saying otherwise), see Toras Chaim (Chullin 120) who is lenient</ref> Additionally, even those who are stringent by [[gelatin]], would be lenient by medicines. However, according to those who are strict about [[gelatin]], one who only has a headache<ref>Refer to Halichos Shlomo Moadim ([[Pesach]]) pages 71-72 who is unsure if this should be permitted with a slight pain. See Minchas Shlomo 1:17:3. </ref> or a slight discomfort<ref>This does not apply to one who is bedridden (Halichos Shlomo Moadim [[Pesach]]) pages 71-72:8. The Shach 13 says this heter of the Rama is even for a healthy person. See Mishnah L’melech Hilchos Yesodei Hatorah 5:8 in depth, Zera Emes 2:48. Refer to Pri Megadim M.Z. O.C. 328:11, Shagas Aryeh 74, Binas Adom 52:page 86, Shevet Ha’Levi 7:135 who argue. Harav Yisroel Belsky Shlita maintains if one has a headache he should not swallow gel-caps without wrapping it in a tissue. </ref> should take a pill which has no [[gelatin]] or wrap the gel-cap in a tissue.<ref>Refer to Mesora 14:page 92. Others say that the custom is to be lenient even if someone only has a headache (Chai Ha’Levi 3:111:2). </ref> | ||
==Children's Medication== | ==Children's Medication== | ||
# Liquid medicines for children are generally sweet. If it contains glycerin, and one doesn't | # Liquid medicines for children are generally sweet. If it contains glycerin, and one doesn't doesn't know if it's the kosher type of gelatin, one shouldn't use the medicine until one first dilutes it with 12 ml of another food for every 1 ml of medicine.<ref>Rabbi Dovid Heber in [https://www.star-k.org/articles/articles/medicine/452/a-kashrus-guide-to-medications-vitamins-and-nutritional-supplements Kosher Kurrents 2005] wrote that glycerin in medicines is a safek deoritta, since much of it is made from animals, even though some of it is made from plants. However, since it is only a safek, it is permitted to be mevatel (nullify) it. One can do so if one dilutes the medicine in 1 to 12 of another food, and you won't lose the potency of the medicine. See Mesorah Journal v. 7 pp. 91-97 by Rabbi Dovid Heber for a potential justification for giving medicines to children even if there are non-kosher ingredients. His argument is as follows: There is a machloket rishonim between rashba and rambam whether or not it's permitted to feed an issur derabanan to a child (Bet Yosef OC 343). It might only be an isur derabbanan if it is a chatzi shiur in a tarovet. Also the isur is only a safek isur. Therefore, possibly there's a safek safeka, safek if it is a muter glycerin and if it is asur perhaps it is derabbanan (chatzi shiur btarovet). On the rabbinic level it is muter since it is a safek derabbanan. Additionally, a child is a choleh for whom some allow feeding a derabbanan isur. Either way it is a leniency based on complex factors. | ||
*[https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/731730/rabbi-daniel-stein/רפואות-שנתערבו-בהם-גליצערי-ן/ Rabbi Daniel Stein] in an article permits children medicines with glycerins for a number of reasons: 1) If the taste is bad even though there's other flavors added and it leaves a bad aftertaste perhaps that's considered nifsal machila. It seems difficult because donkey urine, ear wax, and mucus aren't considered nifsal machila (RSZA in Minchat Shlomo 1:17, Halichot Shlomo Nissan ch. 4 Dvar Halacha 9 p. 72). 2) | *[https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/731730/rabbi-daniel-stein/רפואות-שנתערבו-בהם-גליצערי-ן/ Rabbi Daniel Stein] in an article permits children's medicines with glycerins for a number of reasons: 1) If the taste is bad even though there's other flavors added and it leaves a bad aftertaste perhaps that's considered nifsal machila. It seems difficult because donkey urine, ear wax, and mucus aren't considered nifsal machila (RSZA in Minchat Shlomo 1:17, Halichot Shlomo Nissan ch. 4 Dvar Halacha 9 p. 72). 2) Since it doesn't taste good, it might be shelo kderech achila. If this is the case, then it'd be permitted for a sick person. 3) There's a safek if they're safek made from plants. 4) Isur Shenishtana, since it changed from the taste and look of animal fat. 5) Maybe made inedible in the processing. 6) If its taste is masked by the other flavors, you only need bitul brov since it doesn't have any taam and we can use kefilah. 7) It is only chatzi shiur of isur in a taarovet and for a sick person perhaps it is muter. He quotes Rav Schachter and Rav Willig as agreeing with him.</ref> However, the [https://www.star-k.org/resource/list/RR8I4NNG/Pain-Relievers-and-Fever-Reducers Star-K has an updated list] of kosher children's medicines, which as of December 2018 includes Infant and Children's Advil and Tylenol. See [https://www.star-k.org/resources_medicine here] for more brands or medicines. | ||
==Toothpaste and Mouthwash== | ==Toothpaste and Mouthwash== | ||
# There are ingredients in some | # There are ingredients in some toothpastes which are non-kosher animal products, such as glycerin. Nonetheless, many poskim are lenient to allow a person to use such toothpastes since the non-kosher ingredients are inedible, mixed with kosher ingredients, and a person doesn't intend to eat the toothpaste but rather to brush with it, which is the halachic equivalent of tasting.<ref>Har Tzvi 95 was lenient regarding non-kosher toothpastes because the ingredients were processed and became inedible, were mixed with kosher ingredients, and also a person is jut tasting the toothpaste and spitting it out. [http://www.tzohar.org.il/?p=2422 tzohar.org] quotes Ama Dvar p. 155 quoting Rav Mordechai Eliyahu who agreed. They also quote Mishneh Halachot 9:153 who disagreed. [https://oukosher.org/blog/consumer-kosher/kashruth-issues-of-toothpaste/ OU] wrote that some rabbis don't feel that one can rely on the Har Tzvi nowadays since the toothpastes have a good taste. But others still rely on the Har Tzvi. They cited Rav Henkin responsa 75 who mostly agreed with the Har Tzvi, but wouldn't be lenient with toothpastes with glycerin.</ref> | ||
# Some say that one shouldn't use mouthwash with glycerin in it since one might swallow some and glycerin can be made from | # Some say that one shouldn't use mouthwash with glycerin in it, since one might swallow some and glycerin can be made from non-kosher animals.<ref>Rav Belsky (cited in the article "Kashrut Rulings From Rabbi Belsky ZT"L" p. 37) held that since people sometimes swallow mouthwash, it's forbidden to use if there's a non-kosher ingredient, similar to Taz 98:2. Rav Belsky didn't consider mouthwash to be considered inedible.</ref> Others are lenient but still recommend getting a kosher one if available. See [https://www.crcweb.org/OTCMedicineReport.pdf CRC's list] for recommended mouthwashes and toothpastes.<ref> [https://www.ok.org/kosherspirit/fall-2007/students-questions/#:~:text=a%20kosher%20symbol%3F-,Answer%3A,not%20require%20a%20kosher%20symbol. The OK] is lenient on mouthwash and lipstick since they are not consumed. [https://www.crcweb.org/OTCMedicineReport.pdf CRC] quotes Rav Gedalya Dov Schwartz as holding that mouthwash doesn't need a hechsher but it is preferable to get one if it is possible. [https://www.koltorah.org/halachah/do-dental-products-require-a-hechsher-part-ii-the-kashrut-of-toothpaste-and-mouthwash-year-round-and-pesach-by-dr-ephraim-rudolph-98 Rav Jachter] quotes Rav Schachter as holding that mouthwash is considered inedible and therefore permitted even without a hechsher.</ref> | ||
==Credits== | ==Credits== | ||
