Answer by Rabbi Yosef Yeshaya Braun, member of the Badatz of Crown Heights:
Many poskim maintain that inedibles do not have to be kosher. What is considered inedible halachically, though, is not completely clear. It can range from something not usually served at a meal to an item that does not qualify as food-grade.
In the past, toothpaste and mouthwash were made with many non-edible components; today they are manufactured mostly of edible, palatable ingredients we eat on a daily basis.
This change, many argue, make kosher toothpaste a requirement—while there are others who say we may nevertheless be lenient. Although they might be edible, toothpaste and mouthwash are not consumed intentionally.
In practice, we should be strict with regard to flavored toothpaste, and it should be purchased only with a hechsher; but there is room to be lenient regarding unflavored varieties.
(Originally published on halacha2go.com)
The entire litvish world refers to him as “Reb (or Rav) Moshe”.
I don’t think any disrespect was intended. If anything, you happened to mention the most controversial and misunderstood of all the thousands of teshuvios he wrote to prove your point.
Learn the teshuvos. The USDA has very little to do with it.
Please read the heter in the original. While Rav Feinstein did give a heter it is not at ALL as striaght as people think it to be. In his own heter, the Rav says (not exact quote, just to the effect of) not to follow this heter unless it is absolutlsy 100% necessary… when learning this extremely complicated and 4 page heter inside, one can see how it’s not a simple thing to have cholov stam
Beste toothpaste on Pesach is sour apples with lots of water
Harav Feinstein said we can rely on the USDA; HOWEVER, the USDA standards have changes since Harav’s ruling.
There isn’t only cow milk….
What toothpastes are Kosher? Is Crest? Colgate?
When you said “Reb Moshe” I assume you meant Rav Feinstein? You may not be aware that Chabad does not automatically follow all of what Rav Moshe Feinstein paskened. For example, Chabad holds to a different standard on the question of whether or not milk needs to be cholov Yisrael: Chabad says yes, we are to only drink cholov Yisrael milk. This is despite the excellent relationship that nevertheless existed between the Lubavitcher Rebbe and Rav Feinstein. PS: The fact also remains that there are many brands of toothpaste that have reliable hechsherim, so there’s no risk of making “everything… Read more »
Are red food coloring made from dried ground bugs. I have seen cochineal listed on non- kosher mouthwash . Always check ingredients if buying toothpaste or mouthwash or other items that are red.
so no one should brush the whole pesach? keep your chumros to yourself
not quite right what you wrote
Toothpaste for pesach Needs to be clear of any home it’s not necessarily kosher
All toothpaste has flavor in it. Without flavor added, you wouldn’t be able to stand the taste.
האם משחת שיניים צריכה להיות כשרה? איסור טעימה במאכלות אסורות אף כשאינו בולע – בשו״ת הריב״ש סרפ״ח – הובא ברמ״א יו״ד סק״ח ס״ה ובש״ך שם סקכ״ד. ואף גם בספק איסור – דרישה יו״ד סצ״ח סק״א. ש״ך יו״ד סמ״ב סק״ד. וכ״כ להלכה בפמ״ג סצ״ה במ״ז סקט״ו. שם סק״ח במ״ז סק״ט. ואף גם למש״כ הט״ז סצ״ח סק״ב להתיר לטעום בלשון במקום ספק – יש שכתבו שכ״ז רק בלוחך בלשונו ולא במכניס לתוך פיו (אפי׳ כשפולט לאחמ״כ) – יד״י שם פיה״א ופיה״ק סק״ב. וכ״מ בחוו״ד בחי׳ סק״ב. יד אברהם סק״ח ס״ה בתי׳ בתרא. אבל ראה בכוונת הט״ז בפמ״ג במ״ז שם. יד אברהם סק״ח… Read more »
Mint is the typical usage – I’m assuming thats is nevertheless a flavour
BS”D
to # 2
Rav Marlow, OBM told me clearly that toothpaste does indeed need a heksher
If you had actually read what was written you would see that the formulation of toothpaste has changed since R’ Moshe paskened.
I USE TOMS ITS HEALTHY AND HAS OU. ESPECIALLY GOOD FOR THE KIDS WITHOUT COLORING
Reb Moshe said clearly that toothpaste does NOT need a hechsher.
article regarding toothpaste forgets to mention that for pesach one should only use toothpaste with a reliable hechsher