Updated February 2026
NOTE: A more comprehensive version of this article – Eating Well on Pesach: Shiurim for Matzah and Wine for Healthy Individuals and Those With Diabetes or Other Medical Conditions – provides additional details on this important topic.
Halacha tells us how much wine and matzah one must eat at the Seder. Anyone whose healthcare providers recommend dietary modifications that affect eating matzah or wine should consult with a rav to find out how to follow those health recommendations within halachic guidelines.
Matzah
The guidelines for minimum shiurim for matzah shown below are based on the psak of Rav Moshe Heineman shlit”a. For hand matzos, the regular shiurim are based on the AVERAGE SIZE Pupa-Tzelem matzos. The regular shiurim for machine matzos are based on the AVERAGE SIZE of the brand indicated. Note that matzos baked by other matzah bakeries have different sizes and measurements, which affect the amount required for a shiur. Numbers are different than in previous years and were obtained through 3D scanning of the various types of matzos and brands noted below.
Regular Shiurim for Matzah
Those in good health should eat the following for Achilas Matzah and Afikomen:[1]
| Brand & Type of Shmurah Matzah | Minimum Shiur |
| Pupa-Tzelem Hand Matzah, Whole Wheat | one half (1/2) of a matzah |
| Pupa-Tzelem Hand Matzah, Regular (Wheat) | 56% of a matzah (slightly more than 1/2 of a matzah) |
| Pupa-Tzelem Hand Matzah, Oat | one half (1/2) of a matzah |
| Pupa-Tzelem Hand Matzah, Spelt | two-thirds (2/3) of a matzah |
| Beit Shemesh Machine Shmurah Matzah | 84% of a matzah (5/6 of a matzah – a little less than a full matzah) |
| Haddar Machine Shmurah Matzah | 87% of a matzah (about 7/8 of a matzah – a little less than a full matzah) |
Shiurim for Cholim (Individuals Who Are Ill)
In the case of a medical condition (e.g., diabetes) which could be negatively impacted by matzah consumption, one may fulfill the mitzvah of Achilas Matzah, Koreich and Afikomen with the following.[2] As noted previously, numbers are different than in previous years and were obtained through 3D scanning of the various types of matzos and brands noted below. A choleh who consumes the amount noted below fulfills the obligation of achilas matzah.
| Brand & Type of Shmurah Matzah | Minimum Shiur |
| Pupa-Tzelem Hand Matzah, Whole Wheat | One-quarter (1/4) of a matzah |
| Pupa-Tzelem Hand Matzah, Regular (Wheat) | 28% of a matzah (slightly more than 1/4 of a matzah) |
| Pupa-Tzelem Hand Matzah, Oat | 27% of a matzah (slightly more than 1/4 of a matzah) |
| Pupa-Tzelem Hand Matzah, Spelt | 37% of a matzah (slightly more than 1/3 of a matzah) |
| Beit Shemesh Machine Shmurah Matzah | 43% of a matzah (a little less than 1/2 of a matzah) |
| Haddar Machine Shmurah Matzah | 45% of a matzah (a little less than 1/2 of a matzah) |
NOTE: If someone is not able to eat the necessary shiur of matzah as listed above or one cannot consume the matzah within the required amount of time, one should consult with their rav for guidance.
The Arba Kosos (Four Cups)
A. Wine
Cup requirements: The cup you use for the Four Cups must hold at least a revi’is (3.8 oz. or 112 mL).
Minimum shiur to drink for the Four Cups: One must drink at least 1.9 oz. (56 mL) for each of the Four Cups.
Additional Requirements:
- The basic requirement is to drink wine with at least 4% alcohol.
- When drinking each cup, complete the shiur within 30 seconds.
B. Adjusting for Medical Concerns
If someone needs to minimize carbohydrate intake (for example, they have type 2 diabetes), the best choice of wine is a dry red wine. These have 1g (or less) of carbohydrates per ounce of wine. At the regular shiur, if one drinks the minimum of 1.9 oz., they will only consume about 2g of carbohydrates per cup. If one with type 2 diabetes is not able to drink alcohol, the best option is diluted grape juice.
People taking insulin or sulfonylureas (e.g., glimepiride, glipizide, or glyburide) for their diabetes must consult with their healthcare provider before drinking wine, as these medications are more likely to cause hypoglycemia when a person has consumed alcohol.
If one is taking medications that should not be taken with alcohol, they must avoid wine at the Seder and drink grape juice instead. Do not stop any medication in order to drink wine at the Seder without consulting your healthcare provider. Those with alcohol use disorder who are abstinent from alcohol must not drink wine at the Seder. In all cases, consult your rav for guidance.
C. Diluting Wine with Grape Juice and Water
Higher carbohydrate wine may be diluted in the maximum ratios listed below. These ratios allow the wine to retain enough of its properties to qualify it being used for the Four Cups:
| WINE | GRAPE JUICE | WATER |
| 1/3 | 2/3 | – |
| 1/3 | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| 1/3 | – | 2/3 (see NOTE below) |
NOTE: The diluted wine must contain at least 4% alcohol.[4] If there is a health issue, it is advisable to start with wine that has at least 12% alcohol, then dilute it to 4% alcohol by adding up to 2 parts water to 1 part wine (i.e., a ratio of 2:1).[5] When diluting to have 1/3 wine in your cup, you will consume slightly more than 0.6 oz. wine per kos. This is about 2.6 oz. for all four cups. This is assuming you drink 1.9 oz. from a 3.8 oz. cup. When using dry red wine, this is less than 1g of carbohydrates per kos.
D. Grape Juice and Diluted Grape Juice
Although drinking wine is preferable for someone with no medical concerns, when it is necessary for medical reasons, a person should drink grape juice. The minimum shiur (1.9 oz. from a 3.8.oz. cup) of regular Kedem grape juice has about 9g of carbohydrates. If pure grape juice is not acceptable due to medical needs, diluted grape juice should be used. If using Light Grape Juice, it should not be further diluted. The minimum shiur (1.9 oz. from a 3.8 oz. cup) of Light Kedem Grape Juice has about 6g of carbohydrates.
One can also prepare their own diluted regular grape juice by following the proportions below:
| GRAPE JUICE | WATER |
| 51% or more (i.e., more than half) | 49% or less (i.e., less than a half) |
Ideally, this mixture should be prepared before Yom Tov to allow for the most diluted concentration of grape juice that can be used for the Four Cups. In a dedicated container, prepare 16 oz. of grape juice and 15 oz. of water. This mixture will provide enough grape juice for the Four Cups for both Seder nights, assuming your Seder cups are the minimum 3.8 oz. size. Drinking the minimum shiur (1.9 oz.) of this mixture equals about 4.5g of carbohydrates.
E. Egg Matzah
Matzah made with more than just flour and water is known as “egg matzah.” Egg matzos can include eggs, fruit juice, honey, seasonings, among other ingredients. According to Ashkenazic practice, they may not be eaten on Pesach except by those who are sick or elderly. These include “Kosher for Passover” Egg Matzah Crackers and Egg Matzah Tams.
Although it is permissible for those who are ill or elderly to eat these products on Pesach, they may not be used to fulfill the obligation to eat matzah at the Seder. Medical conditions that may necessitate eating egg matza on Pesach are gastrointestinal conditions and eating disorders. Unless there are other complicating factors, people with diabetes would not benefit from choosing to eat egg matzah instead of regular matza. Consult with your rav.
F. Sugar Substitutes
Powdered Equal, Splenda, and NutraSweet sold year-round are NOT Kosher for Passover, and may not be used on Pesach. A list of Kosher for Passover sugar substitutes available in stores is included in the STAR-K Product Directory.
STAR-K thanks Mrs. Brendel Plonka, MS, RDN, CDCES, CNSC for her invaluable assistance with this article. Brendel provides medical nutrition therapy for adults and children in her private practice. She can be reached at brendelplonkardn.com.
[1] The kezayis of matzah should be eaten within the time span of kedei achilas pras. The kezayis should preferably be eaten within two minutes. If this cannot be done, it should at least be eaten within four minutes. For the shiurim for Maror and Koreich, see Rabbi Mordechai Frankel’s article, Halachos of the Pesach Seder, in the “Maror” and “Koreich” sections.
[2] This means for each mitzvah one eats the designated amount within a two-minute span. For example, in case of a medical condition, one may eat the indicated amount of a hand matzah within a two-minute span to fulfill the mitzvah of achilas matzah, and then do this again for Afikomen. See also Piskei Teshuvos 475:13 who says one who is ill may use the lenient shiur for both kezayis and kedei achilas pras (see footnote 1 above). Regarding Koreich, see The Halachos of the Pesach Seder, under the “Koreich” section.
[3] This is the minimum shiur. Regarding how much of the cup one must drink l’chatchila, see The Halachos of the Pesach Seder, under the “Four Cups” section.
[4] This is to fulfill the obligation of wine. If one cannot drink wine, he can fulfill his obligation with grape juice. This is discussed further below in Section D.
[5] If the alcohol content is 9%, then dilute it with less than 55% water.
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