Q) I’ve heard that there is an issue on Pesach with milk that was milked from an animal that was fed chometz. Is this correct?
A) The Mishna Berura (Siman 448 s.k. 33) when discussing the milk of an animal (even if the animal belongs to a non-Jew) that was fed chometz on Pesach says that the Acharonim differ as to the halachic status of the milk:
• The view of the Pri Megadim is that only milk that was milked after 24 hours have passed since the animal ate chometz is permitted to drink.
• There are those who are lenient and permit even milk that was milked on the same day that the animal ate chometz – on condition that the animal also eats other non-chometz foods morning and evening. [It appears that if the animal has also eaten other non-chometz foods we can apply the rule of zeh v’zeh gorem – i.e. the milk produced by the cow is a result of both issur and heter and consequently the milk is permitted.]
The Ben Ish Chai (Year 1, Vayikra, Item 42) also rules that one should not drink milk that was milked from an animal belonging to a non-Jew on Pesach – in case the non-Jew fed the animal chometz.
Because of this, some Kashrus organisations ensure that the milk they obtain on Pesach is only from cows that were only fed non-chometz foods on Pesach. Since the cows used for milking do not eat chometz on Pesach at all, even milk that was milked during 24 hours after the animal has eaten is permitted according to all opinions.
Rav Elyashiv notes that if the animal consumed chometz before Pesach; even if the animal is milked on Pesach within 24 hours of eating chometz – the milk is permitted to drink.
Milk on Pesach
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