11 Nov KASHRUS QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK WITH RABBI MOSHE ELEFANT

Can I buy non-kosher pet food to feed my
pets?
Yes. You can purchase non-kosher pet food.
However, make sure that the pet food is not Basar B’chalav.
This is because there is a
prohibition of deriving any
benefit from Basar B’chalav, and
this would include feeding it to an
animal.
(Basar B’chalav: Meat from a cow,
goat, or sheep, cooked together
with milk.)
Does toothpaste need a
hechsher?

It depends … .Let’s break it down.
Some toothpastes contain glycerin, a potentially non-kosher ingredient.
Glycerin can come from animal fat or vegetable oil, and is added for taste,
texture, and preservation.
Some poskim, including Rav Schachter shlit”a, rule that, strictly speaking,
toothpaste does not require a hechsher because it is inedible and is not
meant to be swallowed.

However, Rav Belsky zt”l was more strict. He explained that if most of the
toothpaste is made up of inedible ingredients, the glycerin is nullified, and
the toothpaste would not require a hechsher. However, if the majority is
edible, which is often the case, then a hechsher would be necessary.
Since it’s hard to determine the exact makeup of toothpaste, Rav Belsky
recommended using brands with a kosher certification.
When in doubt consult your Rabbi.
Envelopes: Is there a concern with licking stamps or envelopes due to
potentially non-kosher ingredients in the glue?