Winter 2017<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new food trends that have been embraced by society at large have led to a similar preoccupation with food within corporate America. This development has obvious ramifications for the kosher consumer at the office. The following is a guide to dealing with kashrus<\/em> issues in the workplace.1<\/sup><\/a> While it is impossible to address all the kashrus<\/em> issues that may arise, this article provides an overview. As with all halacha<\/em>, when questions arise, one should consult his rav<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Food on a plate, may\u2019iker hadin<\/em>, may be eaten even when placed on a non-kosher clean table. The Baday<\/em> Hashulchan2<\/sup> <\/a><\/em>notes that today, the general custom is to use a napkin (or a placemat or something of a similar nature) when eating on a non-kosher table, even if it is clean.3<\/sup><\/a> Although, in many cases a \u201cheker<\/em>\u201d is required4<\/sup><\/a> when individuals eating kosher meat and dairy are sitting next to each other, a heker<\/em> is not required when eating next to someone partaking of non-kosher food. A heker<\/em> in such circumstances is unnecessary because there is no concern that one will partake of the non-kosher food if it is offered to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May one use the following food-related items in an office that has non-kosher food? One may store kosher food in a closed container in a refrigerator that is also used to store non-kosher food. It is advisable to use a container that will adequately protect the kosher food should a co-worker\u2019s lunch inadvertently leak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The food may need a \u201csiman<\/em>\u201d or seal. The guidelines are as follows: Meat, poultry and fish (i.e., food that could be issurei d\u2019oraisa<\/em> if switched) require two seals. Other products such as cheese, pizza, other dairy items, bread, and cake must also be sealed properly (one seal is enough for these potential issurei d\u2019rabonon<\/em>). One can create a double seal by placing the item into a bag from a supermarket that is found exclusively in Jewish neighborhoods (i.e., not typically frequented by the general public) and tying it with a tight double knot in such a way that the only way to access the contents is by tearing the bag. The flaps adjacent to the knot are also tied tightly, creating a second seal. Alternatively, one may tie a tight knot on any shopping bag and wrap masking tape bearing one\u2019s Hebrew signature around it to ensure that the only way to open the bag is by tearing it, thus destroying the \u201cseal\u201d.14<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another option is to have a t\u2019vias ayin<\/em>, meaning that it can be identified by observation. For example, three small circles might be cut out on a piece of salami that will be noted when subsequently retrieving the food. As long as others are unaware of this \u201csiman<\/em>\u201d, the meat or other item may be presumed to be one\u2019s own. Similarly, certain homemade foods (e.g., hamburger patties) are particularly identifiable, thereby satisfying the t\u2019vias ayin<\/em> requirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Food left in a communal fridge requiring the conditions listed above may, nevertheless, be eaten if the food\u2019s owner is always in the room in which the refrigerator is located or could have walked into the room at any time. In such circumstances, the food\u2019s owner qualifies as a \u201cyotzai v\u2019nichnas<\/em>\u201d, meaning that the kashrus<\/em> of the food is being supervised. If, however, food which can have a shaala remains in the public refrigerator where during a period of time when its owner could not have walked in (e.g., over Shabbos<\/em> or Yom Tov<\/em> and, in some offices, late at night), the food may not be eaten without one of the requirements listed above. For further guidance, consult your Rav.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is terribly uncomfortable to be unable to partake of food brought by non-Jews or non-observant Jews15<\/sup><\/a> who go out of their way to bring kosher food. Such food may be eaten, however, only if the product bears a reliable kosher certification and has been retained in a properly sealed package. In general, the same applies to food that is delivered from a kosher establishment.16<\/sup><\/a> Others should, therefore, be reminded of the necessary requirements in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meat, fish or wine may not be consumed if at any juncture they were unsealed without proper reliable supervision.17<\/sup><\/a> Unsealed cake or cookies that is represented to have been purchased from a kosher bakery may also not be eaten, unless either the product can be identified as coming from a kosher bake shop (i.e., t\u2019vias ayin<\/em>) or there is a receipt proving that the products were acquired that day (or night before) from the referenced bakery. As noted above, it is advisable to remind colleagues to ask the kosher bake shop employee to seal the box with tape or a sticker that identifies the source of the products. Homemade items from a non-kosher kitchen are, of course, strictly forbidden.18\u00a0<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Seals or special packaging are not required for items that do not require certification (e.g., salt or sugar).<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is imperative that the reliability of the hechsher<\/em> be ascertained. Even when the hechsher<\/em> on the food is reliable, one must determine the nature of the catering service since it may be in one of two forms. A \u201cFully Catered\u201d event means that the kosher caterer presides over the entirety of the event, accompanied by the staff and mashgichim<\/em>. In such instances, a reliable hechsher<\/em> is sufficient.20<\/sup><\/a> By contrast, \u201cFood Service\u201d refers to a caterer simply delivering kosher sealed food to the event.21<\/sup><\/a> In such a case, a responsible Shomer Shabbos<\/em> employee should be designated to open the seals and serve as \u201cmashgiach<\/em>\u201d, from the time of the food delivery through the end of the party.22<\/sup><\/a> Furthermore, attendees must know if the entire party is kosher or there is only a designated table. If it is the latter, specific details must be ascertained to avoid confusion. It is critical to know in advance which catering method is being used and plan accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kosher non-mevushal<\/em> wine at office parties should be presumed to have become non-kosher and should be avoided. Other concerns, worthy of consultation with a rav<\/em>, apply to even mevushal<\/em> wine.23<\/sup><\/a> A rav<\/em> should be consulted when one\u2019s job requires ordering non-kosher food for an office party or otherwise.24<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Even in December, when necessary, there is generally no prohibition in giving a co-worker a holiday gift25<\/sup><\/a> accompanied by a \u201cSeason\u2019s Greetings\u201d card. One may even give a gift of non-kosher food to a non-Jew. However, non-kosher food may not be given to a Jew, regardless of his level of observance. One may not give anyone \u2013 even a non-Jew \u2013 something that is assur b\u2019hanaa<\/em> (prohibited from deriving benefit), including basar b\u2019chalav<\/em> (a milk and meat mixture heated together), non-kosher wine or grape juice, or chometz<\/em> on Pesach<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If one receives a gift of non-kosher food, one may either give it away to a non-Jew or exchange it for something else. However, if it is assur b\u2019hanaa<\/em> (e.g., a bottle of non-kosher wine)26<\/sup><\/a> it must be discarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is critical that all chometz<\/em> in the possession of a Jewish-owned company be sold to a gentile prior to Pesach<\/em>. One should be on alert for the following scenario: A Jewish doctor or accountant owns (or is a partner in) a practice and delegates snack purchases to a non-Jewish employee. Typically, the owner may be unaware of the \u201cinventory\u201d of bags of pretzels in stock that were either not sold or were even actually being served during Pesach<\/em>. If one works in such an office, one should be proactive to address the issue.27<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to kashrus<\/em> concerns, there are various halachic<\/em> issues related to eating in a non-kosher establishment, including maris ayin<\/em>, which means under certain conditions one may not perform a permissible activity because it gives the appearance of a prohibited action.29<\/sup><\/a> One of the reasons to allow someone to attend an important business meeting in a non-kosher restaurant is based on a teshuva<\/em> from Harav Moshe Feinstein<\/em>, zt\u201dl,<\/em>30<\/sup><\/a> who is lenient in cases of great need.31<\/sup><\/a> Therefore, when necessary, one may go into such a restaurant and either drink a kosher cold beverage or eat uncut raw fruit (e.g., uncut apple that one cuts with a plastic knife or eats as is) or uncut vegetables.32<\/sup><\/a> One can also eat a kosher certified \u201cairline\u201d type meal that was sent to the non-kosher restaurant and heated while properly sealed. One must use plasticware or, alternatively, one may use silverware and dishes that came properly sealed from the kosher caterer. Aside from airline-type sealed meals with a reliable hechsher<\/em>, one may not consume any items that are heated or cut up in a non-kosher restaurant. This includes salads and most other items found there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n1) Eating in a Cafeteria Shared with Co-Workers Who Eat Non-Kosher<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2) Using Office Utensils and Cooking Devices in an Office with Non-Kosher Food<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
a) Water Cooler\/Spring Water \u2013 Permissible
b) Utensils used with hot food (mugs, cutlery used by anyone in the office, etc.) \u2013 Do Not Use5<\/sup><\/a>
c) Metal Cutlery (e.g., forks, knives, spoons) \u2013 Do Not Use6<\/sup><\/a>
d) Can Opener \u2013 Permissible, after ensuring that it carries no residue
e) Plasticware\/Paper goods (unused) \u2013 Permissible
f) Hot Water from an Urn, Pump Pot, Instant Hot Water \u2013 In general, these are permissible. If one witnessed a co-worker submerging the spout into non-kosher food, the urn should not be used. 7<\/sup><\/a> In many cases, however, one does not actually witness the co-worker placing the spout in the bowl but is concerned that it is a possibility. In those cases, one should make an assessment of the likelihood of this happening. If the spout is sufficiently far away from the tabletop so it would be unnecessary to bring the bowl up to the spout, one should simply wipe the outside of the spout and run a little water through it before filling a cup. If the spout is so close to the tabletop that a bowl would not fit easily without touching the spout, one should not use the urn. Regarding the steam rising from the bowl, for various halachic<\/em> reasons, the spout remains kosher.8<\/sup><\/a> In such a case, one need only wipe the outside of the spout and dispense some hot water that should be discarded and then take hot water or coffee for use.
g) Coffee Urn \u2013 If the urn is used exclusively for coffee9<\/sup><\/a> then one may drink coffee from it.10<\/sup><\/a>
h) Keurig Machine \u2013 There was a time when a Keurig machine dispensed only coffee. Currently, however, soups containing non-kosher meat can also be dispensed.11<\/sup><\/a> Therefore, an office Keurig machine may not be used unless one can ascertain that it is being used for coffee only.12<\/sup><\/a>
i) Microwave Ovens \u2013 The easiest \u201cno-questions-asked\u201d way to use a microwave oven (including convection microwaves and those with a browning element) at work is to double wrap the food with a leak-proof wrapping. This can be accomplished by using two Ziploc bags or two separate pieces of Saran Wrap that fully cover and surround the food. One may also place the food into two plastic shopping bags. Either way, do not tightly cover the food as this may cause the container to explode. Alternatively, if there is a regular microwave oven (i.e., not convection or with a browning element), one may heat something uncovered if the product does not reach yad soledes bo.13<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n3) Storing Kosher Food with Non-Kosher Food<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4) Food Brought By Others<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5) Attending \u201cKosher\u201d Holiday Office Parties19<\/sup><\/a><\/strong> \u2013 <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6) Giving Holiday Gifts<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
7) Company-Owned Chometz After Pesach<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
8) Eating in a Non-Kosher Restaurant28<\/sup><\/a><\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n