Q. Dear Rov. I know that you were one of the first Rabbanim to deal and post the question if artificial meat made by placing DNA from meat cells into non-meat nutrients is Kosher. I now wonder if the same would apply to bread (or Matza) made in a similar way. Would that bread be Kasher L’Pesach?
A. Indeed almost seven years ago on question 1230 and 2114 we wrote that “Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that Cultured Meat is not considered meat and if the original stem cells were extracted from a kosher slaughtered animal and all the nutrients used were kosher, the produce would need no salting and may in principle be permitted even with milk.
Although other Rabbonim disagreed, some changed their mind and recently Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau has found that cultured meat could, in theory, can be mixed with dairy.
In our case now, Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that even if indeed the original molecules and organic parts that are the base material for the cultured wheat or other Chometz grain created by using just the DNA of wheat, are not really ‘wheat,’ and therefore cannot be used for keeping the mitzva of Matza during Pesach.
Moreover, since the created produce, tastes, smells, and may even look like bread, it would be prohibited for Ma’aras Ayin by providing the wrong forbidden impression.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised By Horav Dovid Pam Shlit’a,Horav Aharon Miller Shlit’a and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a
Important Numbers
