What could be wrong = with=85

This is the next article in the series = =93what could be=20 wrong with=85=85!=94

Whether or not vitamins need reliable = kosher=20 certification is one of the most common questions we=20 receive. Kashrus and vitamins are a complex issue and there is no easy = answer.=20

The questions, invariably, = run along=20 these lines: =93But vitamins = are healthy=20 and good for you! Certainly we should be = able to take=20 them without certification!=94 or =93The list of = ingredients=20 state only all natural ingredients on the label. How=20 could that be non kosher?=94 or =93If it=92s for your health why does it = have to be=20 kosher? Isn=92t it a mitzvah to be healthy?=94 =

I can recall an = incident=20 where one Jewish fellow told me he eats as much bacon as he can = get because =93it=92s full of vitamin B12 and other = nutrients.=94=20 When he was in the army he noticed people became sick because of a lack = of=20 vitamins. He then rationalized that G-D must want us to eat bacon = because it=92s=20 healthy! The flaw in his logic is obvious. Although it might be true = that bacon=20 is a good source of vitamins it=92s still non = kosher and=20 is forbidden to eat it! Therefore =93healthy=94 cannot be equated with=20 =93automatically being kosher.=94

As far as the suggestion that = vitamins=20 are kosher because they are all natural, that could not be farther from = the=20 truth! Animals and insects are extremely = natural!

Let=92s try sharing some of = the=20 background info about vitamin ingredients. Vitamin ingredients can be = divided=20 into two main components; active & inactive. The active ingredient is the = vitamin or=20 mineral itself and the inactive ingredients are = primarily=20 processing aids to assist in the manufacturing. These can include things = like=20 alcohol, binders, dilutants, fillers, = gelatin=20 capsules, lactose, release agents & stearates.=20 Lets us discuss the kashrus status of these two = groups.

The active vitamin itself may = be=20 inherently non kosher if it comes from a non-kosher source. For example = fish=20 (frequently shark) is a common source for vitamins A & D and=20 therefore always need reliable = certification. Some vitamins and nutritional = supplements=20 are in the form of glandulars, extracts of = animal=20 adrenal, pancreatic and thyroid glands. Other supplements may come from = various=20 insects and animals.

The inactive ingredients, as = well, may=20 have potential kashrus concerns ranging from gelatin capsules to = non-kosher=20 alcohol, magnesium stearate or other release = agents=20 from animal byproducts (like Pam spray for a manufacturing facility!) = and other=20 products of animal=20 origin.

Even if one has a chemistry = background=20 and have ascertained that the ingredients have no kashrus concerns, one = now need=20 a manufacturing background to know how the product is manufactured and = what=20 equipment was used! Was that equipment used for any other non-kosher = products?=20 If so, anything produced on that line may, potentially, be=20 non-kosher.

After all is said and done, = there are=20 situations where one may use vitamins without a hecsher. First and = foremost, one=20 should verify that there isn=92t a kosher alternative = that is=20 equally effective. Once this has been determined, the following cases = would=20 allow for use of vitamins without a hecsher :

v =20 Someone who=92s=20 life is in danger

v =20 When = prescribed=20 by a doctor for a pressing condition

v =20 For = children=20 (under six years old)

If one is suffering a minor = discomfort=20 or is taking vitamins for preventive health measures one should use = vitamins=20 with a hecsher. For specific questions about a vitamin or supplements = that you=20 need or for personal circumstances please call the Vaad office = 214-739-6535 and=20 we will try to help.

Where can=20 one get vitamins with a hecsher and what brands are=20 kosher?

There is a great web site = where one can=20 get all types of kosher vitamin and supplement information. That address = is,=20 surprise!, www.koshervitamins.com They have a = great=20 selection of reliable kosher products. The even have a kosher = Glucosamine! Whole=20 Foods also has a limited = selection of=20 Solgar vitamins with a Kof-K=20 on them.