What can't I eat during Passover?

Question

I know bread, pasta, crackers and chips aren't supposed to be eaten, but are there specific ingredients I should look for when determining if something is Kosher for Passover (nothing seems to have the sign for that unless it is made specifically for passover)? I'm not planning on keeping kosher extremely strictly, I just want to follow the main rules.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Everybody observes Passover kashrut to their own ability and whatever you choose is a great start.



The 5 forbidden grains (chametz) and are the main things that you should avoid are wheat, barley, oats, rye, and spelt.



Chametz (חמץ, "leavening") refers either to a grain product that is already fermented (e.g. yeast breads, certain types of cake, and most alcoholic beverages) or a substance that can cause fermentation (e.g. yeast or sourdough). The specific definition varies between religious and ethno-cultural traditions. The consumption of chametz and, under the oral law, its possession, are forbidden during Passover in most Jewish traditions.



In Ashkenazic and certain Sephardic applications of Jewish Law, "chametz" does not include baking soda, baking powder or like products. Although these are leavening agents, they leaven by chemical reaction whereas the prohibition against chametz is understood to apply only to fermentation. Thus, bagels, waffles and pancakes made with baking soda and matzo meal are considered permissible, while bagels made with yeast, sourdough pancakes and waffles, and the like, are prohibited. Karaite Jews and many non-Ashkenazic Jewish traditions do not observe a distinction between chemical leavening and leavening by fermentation.





For some extra reading, there is a full product list from the Kashrut Authority that you can look at - http://www.ka.org.au/index.php/Pesach_Products_Directory/

Answer 2

You can't eat processed foods that contain nuts like Peanut Butter or Nutella. However, you can eat peanuts by themselves as well as cashews and pecans and almonds, etc. The problem is that when you have processed foods you can't tell from the ingredients what they added to the nuts in the way of oils and therefore they can't be certified as Kosher for Passover. I suppose that if you ground your own peanuts and didn't add any other ingredients you could have natural peanut butter and then you'd be okay.

Answer 3

You could just look for "Kosher for Passover" on the package.



Avoid things that have any corn products, flour, etc.



Actually potato chips CAN be kosher. I was just informed: only if made from NEW potatoes (it would be marked kosher for passover on the package if it's ok).



No beans, dried beans/legumes/peas/soy products, no corn or corn products. ummm That's pretty much it, I think.



Someone will probably catch something I missed.

Answer 4

I think you really have two questions here. First, Kosher food is labeled as Kosher.

Second, Passover also begins the period of Unleavened Bread. One clears all yeast out of one's house as a symbolic gesture representing clearing the sin out of one's life. It is an interesting object lesson when you try it. (Be sure to check the back of the freezer for the frozen waffles, just as we have forgotten sins in the back of the freezer of our lives.) Also, one is naturally reluctant to throw out perfectly good bread, just as we are reluctant to rid ourselves of our cherished sins. Secondly, and originally, the unleavened bread represents food prepared on the run. The people of the Exodus did not have time to wait for the bread to rise.

I would also add pork to the list. ( A little Pasakh humor.)

Answer 5

If you look closely on packaged food items, there is a small "k" in a Hebrew style writing - this indicates the item is kosher. If you Google Passover, there is lists of food items