NON-EDIBLE HAMETS: Cosmetic, medication, pet food.

For Sephardim, it is allowed to keep in their possession or use during Pesah any product that is not edible, i.e., which is not normally consumed by humans or animals, even though these products may contain Hamets. For example: cosmetics, glues, shampoo, deodorants, soaps, detergents or other cleaning products, etc. In all these cases it will not be necessary to check the absence of Hamets on these products, nor need to have a special supervision for Pesah (Rabbi Obadia Yosef, Yosef Yalqut, 360 p. 31, 361: 68).

It is also allowed the use of medications that come in capsule or non-chewable tablets, that is,  pills or capsules that are swallowed with water. Why? Because when a medication comes in the form of a hard pill is considered “inedible”. Therefore, even if such medication had a Hamets element (which today is highly unlikely, as we will explain), it may be taken during Pesah (Yalqut Yosef Mo’adim, 362 p. 40).

It is advisable then, when necessary and possible, to ask your doctor to prescribe medication for Pesah in a form of non-chewable pill (obviously, in case of a serious medical condition, take any medications needed).

Rabbi Eliezer Melamed, a recognized Ashkenazi rabbinical authority in Israel and author of the popular book Penine Halakha, says that today many Ashkenazi rabbis also follow a Halakhic criteria similar to Rabbi Obadia Yosef’s (see this, what Rabbi Melamed wrote on cosmetics, medicines, etc. Hebrew). On the subject of the non-chewable pills, Rabbi Melamed makes an important practical observation, noting that at present, virtually all medical hard pills are made with potato starch or corn starch, whose consumption would be allowed even to the strictest opinions, and not with wheat starch, among other reasons because the grain protein, gluten, is harmful to celiac patients.

Rabbi Gedaliah Schwartz who chairs the Bet Din of Chicago, (CRC), a respected Halakhic authority of the Ashkenazi community, also says that any non-chewable medication would be permitted for Pesah. However, he clarifies that vitamins are not part of this category. In other words, in his opinion vitamins, even in the form of a capsule or a non chewable tablet, cannot be used on Pesah unless one verifies first that it does not contain Hamets. Some Sephardic Rabbis (Rabbi Eliyahu Ben Hayim, for example) also agree with this view. Consult your community Rabbi.

There are some other differences between Sephardim and Ashkenazim. Rabbi Schwartz and many other Ashkenazi rabbis adopt a stricter stance also on the consumption of non-edible Hamets (perfumes made from denatured alcohol, for example). See this  letter written by Rabbi Schwartz.

Chewable tablets, medical syrups, nutritional supplements, vitamins powders or any other medicines or vitamins with pleasant flavor, and/or drinkable must bear a “kosher for Pesah” certification, or one should make sure that they do not contain any Hamets ingredient in their composition.

According to many Ashkenazi and Sephardic rabbis, the same criteria should be applied to some personal hygiene articles (usually oral hygiene) which have a pleasant taste: for example, toothpaste, or flavored lip balms, etc. In these cases, one should also verify that they do not contain any Hamets element.

As the reader will appreciate, in all these Halakhot there are different customs and criteria. For your final verdict (pesaq), consult your community Rabbi.

You may not use or keep for Pesah animal food containing Hamets. Most dogs, cats, birds and fish food DO contain Hamets. If you have an animal or pet, you should look for animal food products which contain no Hamets. Read here a list with food products for pets approved for Pesah.