Toiletries with Alcohol in them for Pesach

 Toiletries with Alcohol in them for Pesach

This is a short but very useful article I wrote for my old blog "Reb Mordechai Writes" back in 2010. I know it's not about drinking alcohol but nevertheless it is alcohol related, so I feel justified in including it here.

Introduction

Every year the same questions come up regarding chametz Alcohol in Toiletries. People see alcohol in the product ingredients and start to panic. Very often however, these products are actually  suitable for use on Pesach.

These guidelines come from a shiur by Rav Zev Leff (Shlit"a)

The Basic Guidelines

Rav Moshe Feinstein (zt"l) ruled that we should only really be concerned about liquids and gels that contain chametz based alcohol. In theory, these liquids could be distilled (similar to whisky) and turned back into drinkable alcohol. Therefore, these items should be put away for Pesach and sold. As creams cannot be distilled we should not be concerned about any alcohol ingredients. Many however are strict and put even creams away that contain possible chametz alcohol based ingredients.

Lipsticks: You should buy new lipsticks for Pesach with a Kasher lePesach hechsher.

Mouthwash: You should buy new for Pesach with a Kasher LePesach hechsher. (BTW, the most common mouthwash, "Listerine", contains grain based alcohol and is therefore forbidden).

Toothpaste or Lip ointment: Despite being pastes or ointments, we are strict when it comes to anything that comes near or enters the mouth and so one should buy new for Pesach with a Kasher LePesach hechsher. (BTW, The most common lip ointment, "Blistex", contains grain based alcohol and is therefore forbidden).

General Liquid Toiletries: Deodorants, Perfumes, Lotions etc, try to buy with a kasher lePesach hechsher.

However if they have no hechsher then you can follow these general guidelines:

Chametz Free Alcohol

Methanol alcohol is made from wood or other organic substances and has no chametz components.

Isopropyl alcohol is made from propene or petrol and has no chametz components

Stearyl alcohol is made from  Stearic acid which comes from either animal or vegetable fat.

There is no problem as far as chametz is concerned but consult your Rav if you find this in any lipstick or lip ointment)

Cetyl alcohol is made from Palm or other vegetable oil and has no chametz components

Danger of Chametz based Alcohol

Ethyl alcohol (or Ethanol) is made from grain and contains chametz components.

SD  - "Special Denatured" alcohol is made from grain and contains chametz components.

Denat (Denatured) alcohol is a form of Ethyl and contains chametz components.*

Alcohol. Any product that simply states "Alcohol" should be treated as if it contains Ethanol, as this is the most common form of Alcohol for cosmetics and hygiene products such as mouth wash.

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* However, according to a Rav from the KF London, Israel branch, any product (which does not touch the lips or goes in the mouth) that is specifically labeled as "Denat" or "Denatured" (but not SD - "Special Denatured") is approved for Pesach. The reason is that even though Denat is derived from grain alcohol, it goes through an industrial process making it not only poisonous (pasul m’ma’achal Kelev), but impossible to be distilled back into pure alcohol.