PESACH MEDICATION & COSMETICS: THE HALACHOS & LISTS
Rabbi Dovid Heber, Star-K Kashrus Administrator
For over 25 years, Rabbi Gershon Bess has prepared a Guide
for Pesach Medications and Cosmetics. This list has been published
and distributed by Kollel Los Angeles. Over the past several years, Star-K Kosher
Certification, in conjunction with Kollel Los Angeles, has made this list more
widely available to the general public. This guide, now available in Jewish bookstores
nationwide, has served as an important resource to kosher consumers.
There are four issues that must be addressed to fully understand the list:
• The Halachos of Taking Medication on Pesach
• The Importance of the List
• How the List is Prepared
• Cosmetics and Toiletries
I. THE HALACHOS OF TAKING MEDICATION ON PESACH
The following halachos are based on the psak of Rabbi Moshe Heinemann and
Rabbi Gershon Bess:
Important: No one should refrain from taking any required medication
even if it contains chometz, without first consulting his physician and Rav.
Note: All medications for heart condition, diabetes, elevated blood pressure,
kidney disease and depression may be taken on Pesach.
Choleh Sh’yaish Bo Sakana – If someone’s life is in danger or may be in danger,
he must take any chometz medication unless an equally effective non-chometz medication
is available. One may also take it to prevent a possible sakana. This is true regardless
of the form of the medication (i.e. swallow tablets & caplets, capsules, liquid & chewable
tablets). Swallow tablets or caplets are preferred, if readily available.
Individuals with sakana conditions should not switch
medications and should continue with their regular prescriptions, whether they contain
chometz or not (unless a doctor advises otherwise).
Examples include the following:
• Someone with an infection (except for those skin infections known to be
non-life threatening, e.g. acne) should take prescribed antibiotics.
• An elderly person with the flu.
• A pregnant woman whose life is in danger (e.g. blood clotting disorder,
toxemia), or who is in active labor, or who is in danger of having a
miscarriage.
• A woman who has given birth within the past seven days or who has
postpartum complications that are or may become life threatening. This may
apply for an extended period of time after seven days, depending upon her
condition.
Choleh Sh’ein Bo Sakana – Someone whose life is not in danger. This includes
anyone who is bedridden, is noticeably not functioning up to par due to pain or illness,
or has a fever which is not potentially life threatening. This category also includes the
following:
• One who is experiencing symptoms of the flu (regarding an elderly person see
above).
• One who suffers from chronic debilitating arthritis pain.
• One who suffers from migraine headaches or mild depression.
• A pregnant woman suffering from non-life threatening complications (e.g.
lower back pain).
• A woman who has given birth between seven and thirty days ago (and not in
sakana) without any known problems or who is experiencing non-life
threatening postpartum complications. This may apply for an extended
period of time after thirty days.
• A child under six with any illness or discomfort.
L’Halacha such a person may swallow any tablet, caplet or capsule regardless of
whether it contains chometz (unless an equally effective non-chometz medicine is
available). However, where possible, one should only use medications that do not
contain chometz. It should be noted that a choleh she’ain bo sakana may consume kitniyos
(Mishna Brura 453:7).
All chewable pills and liquid medication may only be used if they appear on the
approved Pesach list or if one can determine that they are chometz free. This is true even
if the product contains kitniyos.
Mechush (slight discomfort) or Boh’ree (healthy) – One who is experiencing
a slight discomfort (e.g. slight joint pain or runny nose) or who is in good health may
swallow any product found on the approved Pesach list may only take products that are free of chometz and forbidden kitniyos.
If one must chew a tablet or take a liquid medication for a minor discomfort, one
may do so if it appears on the list and, preferably, it should be kitniyos free. (Halachically,
it may be permissible to ingest a medication even if it contains kitniyos when the kitniyos is
botel b’rov, since shishim is not required – see Mishna Brura 453:9).
It should be noted that the
list primarily addresses the “chometz free” status and for certain medications does not
address its kitniyos status (since kitniyos is permissible for a choleh and/or is batel
b’rov).
Since one who has a mechush or one who is a boh’ree may not consume kitniyos in a
normal fashion (i.e. chew a pleasant tasting kitniyos tablet or consume a pleasant tasting kitniyos liquid), one should ascertain that the medication is not only chometz free, but
also kitniyos free (or at least confirm that the kitniyos is batel b’rov).
Furthermore, in most cases, information gathered for the list is not based on a
mashgiach inspecting the facility, but rather on information provided by the
manufacturer. Although l’halacha one can rely on this information (see Section III),
nonetheless, it is praiseworthy for one who has a mechush or is healthy, to ideally refrain
from taking medicinal products kiderech achilah (eaten in a normal manner – e.g.
pleasant tasting chewable tablets or liquid) unless they are certified for Pesach. This halacha generally applies to vitamins taken to maintain good health.
II. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LIST
The list is important for all types of cholim on Pesach:
Choleh Sh’yesh Bo Sakana – As indicated, l’halacha such a choleh may take
anything if a substitute is not available. Unfortunately, there are individuals who
incorrectly decide without consulting a physician to discontinue taking medication for
life threatening conditions on Pesach, unless the medicine appears on an approved list.
The list provides necessary information for consumers, insuring that such mistakes are
not made.
Furthermore, as indicated, even one who is in sakana should l’chatchila use a
medication that is chometz free, if possible. This list provides this information.
Choleh Sh’ein Bo Sakana – Such an individual may not consume chometz in a
normal manner, but may eat kitniyos. Medicine taken by such individuals often lists
ingredients that may be derived from chometz. For example, sorbitol, a sweet calorie free
sugar alcohol derived from glucose and found in medication, mouthwash, and
toothpaste, is often derived from corn, but could also come from wheat. There is no
way to know its source from the label. Rabbi Bess’ research confirms which products
are chometz free, something often impossible for a Rav or choleh to ascertain on his
own.
Mechush or Boh’ree – As indicated, such a person may only take chometz free
and, preferably, kitniyos free products. This list provides chometz-free information (e.g.
which aspirin or ibuprofen may be taken) and often indicates when there is no kitniyos,
as well.
Note: Except where indicated, the list does not address the kosher status of the
product, only the chometz free status. This means that if a product appears on the list it
does not necessarily mean that the product is kosher. It may be non-kosher and chometz free. Also, this article does not address the halachos of taking medication on Shabbos and Yom Tov.1
III. HOW INFORMATION IS OBTAINED AND ON WHAT HALACHIC BASIS:
Rabbi Bess contacts the company and asks numerous questions. Information is
updated every year and is only accepted when submitted in writing. Rav Moshe
Feinstein zt”l was of the opinion that one may rely on written information provided by
a company (Igros Moshe YD I:55).
This system of review is implemented for this project only. This method of review
would not be relied upon for products certified by Star-K Kosher Certification and other reliable hechsherim. When
a company is certified by Star-K, a careful review of the formulations and factory is
conducted and these halachic leniencies are not relied upon.
Furthermore, the
information submitted by the company is not as detail oriented as a formulation and
factory review and approval of a Star-K certified product (e.g. with flavors or various
other ingredients). However, with regard to approved medication, l’halacha one may
rely upon this information.
The reason is as follows: As indicated in Igros Moshe, we consider the information
on the list as accurate. Even if one suspects that in this case the company provided
inaccurate information (e.g. they could not adequately determine the type of alcohol in
use), halachically, since there are other additional leniencies one can rely upon the
information provided. These issues are beyond the scope of this article, but they
include:
1) We are dealing with a choleh.
2) Due to its taste, medicine according to some opinions is shelo k’derech achila.
3) Swallowing a tablet is certainly shelo k’derech
achila.
4) A halachic rov (majority) of chometz free sources may also apply.
One can assume there are no ba’al yeh’ra’eh or ba’al yematzeh (owning
chometz)
issues regarding owning any medicine on the chometz free list. The reason is because we rely on
information provided by the company and even in the event inaccurate information was
provided there is unlikely a k’zayis of chometz in the product.
IV. COSMETICS
L’halacha, all non-food items not fit for canine consumption (nifsal mayachilas
kelev, i.e. something that one would not feed his dog) may be used on Pesach. This includes all cosmetics, soaps, ointments, and creams.2
Nonetheless, people have acted stringently with regard to these items.
There are several reasons why people are strict.
1. Many products, including shaving lotion and perfume, contain denatured
alcohol which can be restored into regular alcohol. According to some opinions, one
should not use such products on Pesach. The list states products which do not use
chometz based alcohols.
2. The Biur Halacha (326:10 B’shaar) writes in the name of the Gra that one
should be strict and not use non-kosher soap all year (sicha kishtiya). Although we are
not accustomed to this stringency, on Pesach many individuals have adapted this
chumrah and do not allow use of chometz items even if they are used externally.
3. Some are of the opinion that we do not say “nifsal” (food is unfit for canine
consumption) on an item that is initially produced as a non-food item.
4. Lipstick is often inadvertently ingested when eating food. If lipstick contains
chometz, it is halachically permissible to apply it since the lipstick is unfit for canine
consumption. Nevertheless, most women prefer not to consume even a trace of
anything prohibited. The list provides chometz-free lipsticks.
5. Mouthwash and Toothpaste contain sorbitol and other ingredients which
may be derived from chometz. Although l’halacha these items are permissible to use
since they are nifsal mayachilas kelev, many prefer not to use them as they are taken
orally. The list provides information regarding such products.
6. Historically, it has been the custom to follow stringent opinions regarding
Hilchos Pesach. In addition, it seems to have been a prevalent custom to restrict the use
of items which may contain chometz, even when they are clearly nifsal mayachilas kelev.
The list provides accurate information for those who wish to continue to follow the
stricter opinion and prevailing custom when using such products.
Star-K Kosher Certification is grateful to Rabbi Gershon Bess for all of his
research and to Rabbi Chaim Fasman and Kollel of Los Angeles for making this list
available to many kosher consumers of all backgrounds who turn to this guide for
reliable Pesach information. Having this information readily available has helped
individuals who are ill, consumers who wish to fulfill “chumros d’Pesach”, as well as
Rabbonim and kashrus professionals who must answer numerous shaalos about Pesach,
so that those inquiring can enjoy a Chag Kasher V’Sameach.
