Q. Hi Rabbi,
Is there a problem in importing a diet product that some of the ingredients are not kosher?
A. Mishna (Sheviis 7: 3), Rambam (Macholos Assuros 8: 18), Tur and Shulchan Aruch (Y.D. 117), rule that there is a prohibition to commercialize with non kosher products.
Poskim disagree whether this is a biblical prohibition (Aruch Hashulchan 117: 3 from Pesachim 23a, Chochmas Odom 69: 1: brackets, Chassam Sofer Y.D. 105-106 et.al.) or a rabbinical one (Rashbo, Trumas Hadeshen 200, Noda Beyehuda 2: Y.D. 62 – 63 et.al. ). The reason being, that if one does business with prohibited products, one may inadvertently eat them.
However, Poskim permit dealing with products that are only rabbinicaly prohibited (Rambam ibid. Shulchan Aruch ibid.) such as bishul akum (Chelkes Binyomin 117:34), or Gevinas Akum (Tur 117, Chochmas Odom 69: 2). Some Poskim maintain that one should not keep such products around in one’s house for more than twenty-one days since he may end up eating them (Chelkes Binyomin 117:1, see also Darchei Teshuva 117:60).
From the information provided on the labels of the products you want to import, it appears that it is likely, due to a number of reasons, that they may only be rabbinicaly prohibited and therefore permitted for commercialization.
However, Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that preferably, a special business arrangement should be established with the suppliers. (See next question)
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a
Important Numbers
