Kashrut of prenatal vitamins
4 April, 2005
Question:This is not directly a niddah question, but I would appreciate if you could give me an answer. Out of curiosity, I was looking at my prenatal vitamins to see if they contain anything that could be chametz. I noticed that they actually contain gelatin. Is it a problem for me to continue taking these vitamins? They contain corn starch as well. Would that be a problem for Pesach? I don't know if it makes a difference, but I am actually pregnant and have been instructed by my doctor to take the vitamins.
Thank you for your help.
Answer:B'Sha'ah tovah!
All prenatal vitamins may be taken on Pesach so long as they are in pill form (i.e not liquid or chewable) and do not have a flavored coating.
A general note on the kashrut of pills: According to many authorities, including our website's rabbinic supervisor Rav Yehuda Henkin, it is permitted to take pills without kosher certification unless they have a flavored coating. Pills that have no flavor, and are swallowed rather than chewed, are not halachically considered edible and there is no concern about kashrut. However, many pills are certified as kosher and you may wish to ask your doctor to prescribe such pills whenever possible. Kosher over-the-counter prenatal vitamins can be found at www.koshervitamins.com. A list of kosher prescription prenatal vitamins is available at http://www.star-k.org/cons-appr-obgyn.htm
This internet service does not preclude, override or replace the psak of any rabbinical authority. It is the responsibility of the questioner to inform us of any previous consultation or ruling. As even slight variation in circumstances may have Halachic consequences, views expressed concerning one case may not be applied to other, seemingly similar cases. All health and health-related information contained within Nishmat's Women's Health & Halacha Web site is intended to be general in nature and should not be used as a substitute for consulting with your health care professional. The advice is intended to offer a basis for individuals to discuss their medical condition with their health care provider but not individual advice. Although every effort is made to ensure that the material within Nishmat's Women's Health & Halacha Web site is accurate and timely, it is provided for the convenience of the Web site user but should not be considered official. Advice for actual medical practice should be obtained from a licensed health care professional.
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