<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ideally, one should purchase over-the-counter (OTC) products with a reliable hechsher<\/em>. STAR-K certified products contain only kosher approved ingredients. A product containing a trace of a non-kosher ingredient (even if it is batel b’shishim<\/em>) cannot be certified STAR-K. Similarly, all certified products are manufactured without any keilim<\/em> concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, very few OTC products are kosher certified, and kosher consumers who require such products are often confronted with shailos<\/em> (questions).<\/p>\n\n\n\n STAR-K has reviewed ingredients used in hundreds of OTC products manufactured by many of the major pharmaceutical companies, including Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, McNeil, Novartis, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble, Purdue Pharma, Merck and Nestle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In compiling a list of “approved” medications for use by one who is a choleh<\/em> (ill) or has a maychush<\/em> (discomfort), the following halachic guidelines were used:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u25baIf all ingredients are kosher, there is no concern that the medicinal ingredients were produced on treif <\/em>equipment (see Yoreh Deah<\/em> 122:6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u25baIf a non-kosher ingredient is added by the company and is less than 1\/60 of the product (by volume), the non-kosher is batel b’shishim<\/em> and the product may be taken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u25baIngredients that are commonly batel <\/em>include stearates, often derived from animal sources, which are used in tablets as a lubricant. However, there is no kashrus concern, as the stearates are usually less than 1\/60 of the total (by volume). (Even if they are more than 1\/60, they are batel b’rov<\/em> because they are tasteless.) The stearates may even be kosher as this ingredient can be derived from vegetable sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u25baAlthough food products with natural and\/or artificial flavors must have a reliable hechsher<\/em>, medications are permitted, even if they contain flavors. One can assume the non-kosher flavor component is batel<\/em>. (In this case, for various reasons, kol davar she’avidi l’taama afilu b’elef lo batel<\/em> does not apply.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u25baProducts without a reliable certification containing the following ingredients were not included on this list (unless we were able to confirm that they are batel<\/em>): carmine, emulsifiers, gelatin, glycerin, monoglycerides, neutral soaps, oleic acid, polysorbates, sorbitan monolaurate and triacetin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It should be noted that one whose life is or may be in danger should use any non-kosher medication if an equally effective kosher medicine is not readily available.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n Ideally, one should purchase over-the-counter (OTC) products with a reliable hechsher. STAR-K certified products contain only kosher approved ingredients. A product containing a trace of a non-kosher ingredient (even if it is batel b’shishim) cannot be certified STAR-K. Similarly, all certified products are manufactured without any keilim concerns.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, very few OTC products are kosher certified, and kosher consumers who require such products are often confronted with shailos (questions).<\/p>\n STAR-K has reviewed ingredients used in hundreds of OTC products manufactured by many of the major pharmaceutical companies, including Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, McNeil, Novartis, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble, Purdue Pharma, Merck and Nestle.<\/p>\n In compiling a list of “approved” medications for use by one who is a choleh (ill) or has a maychush (discomfort), the following halachic guidelines were used:<\/p>\n Equipment<\/p>\n \u25baIf all ingredients are kosher, there is no concern that the medicinal ingredients were produced on treif equipment (see Yoreh Deah 122:6).<\/p>\n \u25baIf a non-kosher […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":390,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[508,194,509,506,507],"class_list":["post-1533","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-medicine","tag-choleh","tag-medicine","tag-meichush","tag-otc-medications","tag-otc-products"],"yoast_head":"\nEquipment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Flavors <\/h3>\n\n\n\n