Many people ask why certain foods present problems for Pesach. The following will hopefully answer some of those questions. More information may be obtained from the Va'ad or from the sources listed at the end of this Guide.  As a general rule, even reliably kosher manufactured foods require special Kosher for Passover certification.

Foods are very complex – especially in our global economy.  Today, most factories do not make only one or two items, nor are the items they do make necessarily simple.  Many frozen vegetable plants cook pasta on the same machines used to blanch vegetables.  Spice blends often contain flow agents – some potentially Chametz; or, the company also does seasonings with flour, or other ingredients on the same blenders.  Juice companies commonly use bran or Chametz based enzymes and clarifiers.  Labels are of little help.  Ingredients under a 2% threshold are often not listed.  Generic names like “natural flavors” can mean almost anything.  Sub-ingredients or processing aids are commonly not kosher or Chametz and the company itself is not likely to have or divulge much of this information.

In the United States, few foods are reliably certified for those who eat Kitniot and their derivatives.  It cannot be assumed that year-round kosher versions of foods are acceptable for Passover – even if reading the label does not reveal obvious Chametz.  For example, in today’s global economy, starches and other additives once assumed to be Chametz free in the United States may well come from other parts of the world where wheat and barley, rather than corn and soy, are commonly used.  Items based upon fermentation or starch conversion, such as alcohols, flavoring components, corn sweeteners, enzymes, and many other subcomponents of food are often Chametz based or depend upon Chametz based components.  Some other Chametz items, like malt or bran, are simply not recognized by consumers.

GENERAL SEPHARDIC POSITION:  Meats, Chicken, Fish, Fruits, Fresh Vegetables, etc. and all natural non-Chametz foods are naturally Kasher, whether these products are bought specifically for Pesach or not, they can be washed before and used for Pesach.  Frozen vegetables:  It is preferred to buy fresh.  However if it is hard to find the same quality in fresh, frozen vegetables may be used for Pesach even though sometimes they are blanched in same equipment as pasta.  We don’t worry about absorbed residue on commercial equipment if the food is bought before Pesach.  Canned fruits and vegetables:  Even though some manufacturers produce cheese and other items it does not affect the clean production of vegetables.

EGGS

The common minhag is to purchase eggs laid before Pesach.

MILK & DAIRY PRODUCTS

Passover certified milk is preferred, but regular milk (not chocolate or other flavored) purchased before Pesach is acceptable. During Pesach, only Pesach certified milk may be purchased. Many people have the minhag not to buy milk that was milked during Pesach due to the chometz feed given to cattle.

All other dairy products – yogurts, sour cream, butter, cottage cheese, cheese, etc. require Pesach certification.

Albertson’s on Mercer Island and QFC in U Village (stores with kosher sections) have order forms for Pesach dairy products, including Chalav Yisrael products.  Many of these forms can be found at www.seattlevaad.org/PassoverForms.html  .

SOME GENERAL POINTERS ON PASSOVER SUPERVISION

1.  The entire Va’ad strongly recommends that only Kosher for Pesach products be used on Pesach, unless there is a blanket permission for the product (e.g., aluminum foil or, for Sepharadim, products with only a kitniot issue).

Generally, products with a reliable symbol (hashgacha) followed by a “P” or otherwise stating “Kosher for Passover” may be used for Pesach.  The presence of the symbol is critical.  The words “kosher for Passover” are not trademarked or protected and anyone can write this on a label.  It should be noted that companies sometimes improperly use the letter “P” to mean “parve,” so the consumer needs to make certain that the product is in fact for Passover use.  When in doubt, ask!

2.  In the case of a special need, there are circumstances when other products are permitted (different products for different practices, according to the nature of the need). When buying products without a P, the product must be purchased before Pesach, requiring a new, unopened package.

3.  In more extreme cases of need, certain conditions may apply. This manual does not address such circumstances; rather, in such cases the Va’ad recommends that an individual ask his/her Rabbi.

4.  When shopping for Pesach, consumers should shop carefully for Pesach at all times, for example,

a) some stores have a special display for Kosher for Pesach foods. Even though it’s been done for consumer convenience, care still must be taken to check each product, to ensure that the product is indeed kosher for Pesach.

 

b) even though a product is permissible without a Kosher for Passover symbol, care must still be taken to check ingredients to ensure there is no prohibited ingredient.

5.  While the Va'ad will do its best to keep the community updated on important developments, it is advisable to monitor other publications as well as the websites of the major kosher agencies.  For a list of important websites see this document.

 

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