# 961 Supplement Your Neshamah

Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a pointed out that in principle there are

different reasons why vitamins or medicines may be permitted even

without supervision. 1) They may have an

unpalatable or unpleasant flavour and therefore considered “Nosen

Taam Lifgam” that when mixed is permitted (See Pri Megodim’s

introduction to Basar Vechalav). 2) During the manufacturing process

the prohibited ingredients undergo a chemical transformation that

turns them into something different, (See Remo Y.D. 67: 10 and Shach

ibid. 33). 3) The prohibited items may be minimal and are annulled,

at least Biblically. 4) Although not a generally accepted reason,

some add as an argument

the fact that they are

not consumed in the normal way that

food is eaten, but rather swallowed (Divrei Chaim Y.D. 2:

52).Therefore historically, there were and are Poskim that are

lenient on vitamins

when dealing with the

ill or when in need. On

our enquiry to the COR, Rabbi Tzvi Heber replied: Vitamins

in a hard pill bitter format might be considered shelo k’derech

achila and therefore permitted for someone who takes them for

medicinal value (choleh).

In reality today,

when consuming vitamins we must be concerned with many

issues such as the raw

ingredients, fillers, binders, lubricants, coating agents, flavors

and the manufacturing process. Questionable ingredients include

stearates (animal origin), lactose (dairy), fish oils, clams, eggs,

gelatin (animal/fish derived) etc. There are also starches, alcohol &

gluten etc. which are concerns for Passover use. Some may have a

dairy & meat derived product in the same item, which is another

concern; meat & milk together.

Therefore, although in

principle there are valid reasons to be lenient when in need, in

actuality

they are complex and vary often

from case to case. And

since vitamins with kosher supervision are readily available these

days, one should consume them. Please note that chewable vitamins,

and the ones coated with a pleasant tasting coating, require reliable

certification.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav

Shlomo Miller Shlit”a