Pesach vitamins and medicines

Written by Rabbi Yitzchak Hanoka
OK Kosher Senior Rabbinical Coordinator, Kashrus Educator: Be in the Know.

(The following is based on a shiur given by Rabbi Hanokah for “Mashon Sumichah”) [an online Smicha program under the leadership of Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Kesselman.] We publish it here for the benefit of the broader Jewish community and with their express permission. This article is for informational purposes only and readers are encouraged to consult their personal Rov for advice. )

introduction

To understand the topic of Pesach’s vitamins and drugs, it is important to understand the difference between fermentation, extraction, and synthesis processes. Pharmaceutical products are typically produced through fermentation or synthetic processes, which combine different chemicals to create the desired product.

Inactive ingredients in medicines, such as binders, can cause common problems because they are lactose-based (dairy products but not chametz), and if they are starch-based (dairy products but not chametz), they can cause pesach problems if they are starch-based (dairy products but not chametz). Chametz (from non-chametz sources such as potatoes and corn) can often cause problems. In some countries, such as Europe and Australia, wheat starch is more common. In rare cases, there may be a problem with the active ingredient itself, not just the binder.

Most vitamins are produced by fermentation, which changes the molecular profile of the ingredients. This is important for Pesach because even if the final product is gluten-free, challenges can still arise. In contrast to Pa-Yisroel law, gluten-free products (those that do not contain oats) are not considered “bread”.[1]However, vitamins may still be derived from wheat sources, even if they are produced by fermentation and are labeled gluten-free. Fermentation converts gluten into sugar, making it legally gluten-free. However, halitologically, it may be considered chametz even if it is derived from wheat starch. [2].

To further investigate the fermentation process, feedstocks are mixed with other feedstocks and degraded until the molecular profile of the feedstock changes. If the starting material or feedstock is wheat starch (usually not wheat starch, but more common in Europe and Australia), it is fermented into sugars, and then bacteria convert the sugars into the desired product. . Although the final product may be labeled gluten-free, it can still be problematic for Passover if the ingredients are wheat starch-based. Therefore, if a vitamin product is labeled “gluten-free,” there is no reason to assume that it is not derived from one of the five Halachic grains (wheat, oats, spelt, rye, and barley).

liquid form

Another method of producing vitamin products is through extraction. For example, to create liquid vitamins, the raw materials are placed in a solvent such as alcohol to extract the desired compounds. This process does not change the molecular profile, but simply transforms the material into a new shape. For example, vanilla extract is made by soaking vanilla beans in alcohol to bring out the flavor. The resulting extract has the same molecular profile as the original bean, only in a new form. For Passover, researching extraction products is easier because all ingredients, solvents, and extraction materials are usually listed on the product label. This will help you identify what you need to investigate, such as the type of alcohol used (sugar cane, corn, comets, etc.). Examining the product label can give you clues as to what you need to investigate further.

As previously mentioned, wheat starch is more expensive than corn starch in the United States, and grain alcohol is more expensive than alcohols derived from corn or sugar. Therefore, it is unlikely to be derived from wheat in the United States.

herbal supplements

When it comes to herbal supplements, the herbs themselves are not a problem, but the alcohol and glycerin used during extraction can be. If the product is certified year-round by a kashrus agency, it’s the easiest and best way to verify the ingredients, whether it’s only kitniyos or with comets. Usually they will be able to provide you with that information. It’s about getting first-hand information, and that’s the best way.

Tablet

Some tablets come with a glaze, but the glaze itself can be a problem. In the United States, it is usually kitonillo-based, while in Europe and Australia it is more common to use a wheat-based glaze. Additionally, vitamin C is often fermented from raw materials, which is problematic for Passover. This is background information about the food and vitamin industry.

Practically speaking, what should we do with this information?

If your doctor has prescribed medication for a physical, mental, or emotional illness, it is important to take it as directed. It is recommended to take the drug in the form of swallowable tablets, as this is not considered a meal. There is no question that you should continue to take swallowed tablets as medicine on Passover if your doctor recommends it.

However, chewable or liquid tablets present a different scenario, as they are considered more problematic. In these cases, we recommend considering an alternative in the form of a swallowable pill, if possible. Most adults are able to swallow the tablets, but those who have difficulty should consult their doctor and her Rav to find a solution.

My esteemed father-in-law, Rabbi DY Levi OBM, wrote a touching story about an Israeli rabbi who knew someone who stopped taking his medication due to Kometz concerns, leading to tragic consequences after Passover. He told me a lot of stories. Let’s learn from this and make sure people in our community take their medications to avoid potential problems.

People who don’t have a life-threatening illness and whose doctor has told them they have to take medicine, but people who feel so sick that they have to lie down to relieve their symptoms, such as people who have the flu. , a normally healthy person can lie down to rest and recover, and there is no danger to life. So even people who don’t eat kitniyo will find it generous here. Because when the rabbis forbade kitniyo, they did not forbid it to small children or cholim. [3] (a sick person). Therefore, if someone feels so sick that they have to lie down, it is similar to an infant and they are allowed to take Kitnyo for their health.

However, if you feel good overall and can go about your daily life, you can still work. You may just be feeling a little sick, a little light-headed, or a little stuck in your head, but you don’t have to lie. It is not permissible to take kitniyo on Pesach to rest. Because they are not actually considered diseases.

How do I know if something contains just kitniyos or actual comets?

First of all, just reading a product’s label is not a sufficient way to determine what’s inside the product. Example: In the food industry, the FDA does not require manufacturers to list less than 2% of ingredients. Therefore, it may contain more than 1/60th of an ingredient (more than 1.6 percent), but if it contains less than 2 percent, it is authentic chometz. You would never know by reading the ingredients. label.

To share a story, a few years ago, soy-based beverages emerged that were kosher-certified products. This is kitniyos, but it contains real oat flour as a thickening agent, and the proportion was less than 2 percent and more than 1.6 percent. The problem was that it was not a bottle (disabled), but contained actual Comets.

This is one thing to be aware of. Just reading the ingredient panel is not enough to determine whether a product is just Kitnillo or contains actual Comets. The best approach, if the product is certified kosher by a reputable agency, is to call or email the responsible rabbi before Passover and ask if the product is comets or kitniyo only . Even if a product is not Passover certified, they can usually find it because they are familiar with the factory’s processes and formulation information.

What about the lists published by various people and available online?

Rabbi Levi OBM did not like these lists. Listings are usually information gathered from phone calls to businesses, and since you’re talking to people on the phone, you have to hope that they give you accurate information, and you don’t either. Uncertainty can increase because they have to understand what you are saying. Of course, the people creating this list deserve a lot of credit because they are trying to help the community, but the information on the list is not as accurate as the information you get directly from the products and the kashrus agencies that certify them. It is important to understand that there is no There is direct information about the product.

Therefore, this list will only be useful if a person is in a situation where he has to take certain products. In any case, this list will help you increase the level of additional comfort and protection, since you are allowed to ingest its products halitosis-wise.

How does halacha classify vitamins?

Simply put, if a doctor recommends that a person take a vitamin every day in order to function, it has the status of a drug. They should take vitamins in the form of easy-to-swallow tablets. However, even if you are taking kosher certified vitamins, we recommend contacting your kashrus distributor. They often find identical vitamins with comparable medicinal properties that only cause concern for kitniyo (not actual comets). To do this, you must first consult your doctor to determine whether there is a need for medication. They then go to the rabbi, who can contact the kashrus institution and obtain the necessary information.

If a product is not certified, then it is a non-certified vitamin product and it is absolutely necessary to take it, then it is a drug in the same category. The method is to choose a swallowable pill form and do as much research as possible. But again, don’t put yourself at risk by not listening to your doctor. You have to listen to the doctor and do whatever the doctor says.

Story and conclusion

The following story will illustrate this point. One highly respected rabbi asked the question of whether it was allowed to take medicine on Shabbos.We know that it is a rabbinic prohibition to take medicine on Shabbos [4] They grind spices and other things to make concoctions, and those who fall under the disease category are allowed to take them. In this person’s case, the rabbi ruled that it was permissible to take medicine on Shabbos. Someone asked him a question and said, “You seem a little insensitive and a little generous when it comes to Shabbos halachos.” He said, “No, I am strictly committed to the laws of Pikuach Nefesh.”

There is an additional story about Rav Efrati of Eretz Yisrael. He was the personal assistant of Rav Elyashv ZTZ”L. He once called a certain Chasidish Rav who was giving hechsher to certain vitamins and asked if these vitamins in the form of swallowable tablets were comets. Or was it just kitniyo? The Rav told Rav Efrati that they were just kitniyo. He relayed that information to Rav Eliyasiv, who then took the vitamins in Pesach.

He was 98 years old at the time and he was in the category of koleha who needs these vitamins to function and he took the vitamins because it is halacha.

From Gedolei Yisroel, we see that the proper approach is to follow what Halacha says in each situation, without pouring enthusiasm into anything that is not rooted in Torah and Halacha. This is accomplished through guidance from the Rov das Torah. Torah derek is to be passionate about what the Torah and halacha instruct us to do, so that we can be passionate about observance of the Torah and mitzvos.

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