What could be wrong with…

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Whether or not vitamins need reliable kosher certification is one of the most common questions we receive. Kashrus and vitamins are a complex issue and there is no easy answer.

The questions, invariably, run along these lines: “But vitamins are healthy and good for you! Certainly we should be able to take them without certification!” or “The list of ingredients state only all natural ingredients on the label. How could that be non kosher?” or “If it’s for your health why does it have to be kosher? Isn’t it a mitzvah to be healthy?”

I can recall an incident where one Jewish fellow told me he eats as much bacon as he can get because “it’s full of vitamin B12 and other nutrients.” When he was in the army he noticed people became sick because of a lack of vitamins. He then rationalized that G-D must want us to eat bacon because it’s healthy! The flaw in his logic is obvious. Although it might be true that bacon is a good source of vitamins it’s still non kosher and is forbidden to eat it! Therefore “healthy” cannot be equated with “automatically being kosher.”

As far as the suggestion that vitamins are kosher because they are all natural, that could not be farther from the truth! Animals and insects are extremely natural!

Let’s try sharing some of the background info about vitamin ingredients. Vitamin ingredients can be divided into two main components; active & inactive. The active ingredient is the vitamin or mineral itself and the inactive ingredients are primarily processing aids to assist in the manufacturing. These can include things like alcohol, binders, dilutants, fillers, gelatin capsules, lactose, release agents & stearates. Lets us discuss the kashrus status of these two groups.

The active vitamin itself may be inherently non kosher if it comes from a non-kosher source. For example fish (frequently shark) is a common source for vitamins A & D and therefore always need reliable certification. Some vitamins and nutritional supplements are in the form of glandulars, extracts of animal adrenal, pancreatic and thyroid glands. Other supplements may come from various insects and animals.

The inactive ingredients, as well, may have potential kashrus concerns ranging from gelatin capsules to non-kosher alcohol, magnesium stearate or other release agents from animal byproducts (like Pam spray for a manufacturing facility!) and other products of animal origin.

Even if one has a chemistry background and have ascertained that the ingredients have no kashrus concerns, one now need a manufacturing background to know how the product is manufactured and what equipment was used! Was that equipment used for any other non-kosher products? If so, anything produced on that line may, potentially, be non-kosher.

After all is said and done, there are situations where one may use vitamins without a hecsher. First and foremost, one should verify that there isn’t a kosher alternative that is equally effective. Once this has been determined, the following cases would allow for use of vitamins without a hecsher :

v Someone who’s life is in danger

v When prescribed by a doctor for a pressing condition

v For children (under six years old)

If one is suffering a minor discomfort or is taking vitamins for preventive health measures one should use vitamins with a hecsher. For specific questions about a vitamin or supplements that you need or for personal circumstances please call the Vaad office 214-739-6535 and we will try to help.

Where can one get vitamins with a hecsher and what brands are kosher?

There is a great web site where one can get all types of kosher vitamin and supplement information. That address is, surprise!, www.koshervitamins.com They have a great selection of reliable kosher products. The even have a kosher Glucosamine! Whole Foods also has a limited selection of Solgar vitamins with a Kof-K on them.