From the Ravs Desk Sunday 18th Marcheshvan: Are Listerine PocketPaks Kosher, and Do You Need to Say a Blessing?

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Are Listerine PocketPaks Kosher, and Do You Need to Say a Blessing?

Question

Are Listerine PocketPaks (the candy-like mouth freshener strips) kosher, and if they are, do you need to recite a blessing before consuming them?

Answer

Listerine PocketPaks require kosher certification for permissible use. To the best of my knowledge, certain flavors are certified kosher by Chaf Kei; however, it is essential that each individual packet displays this certification. It is appropriate to recite a blessing of Shehakol prior to consumption.

Explanation

All consumable products require kosher supervision and Listerine PocketPaks, which is consumable, is no different. Many of the ingredients used in these products, such as glycerin, may originate from non-kosher sources and must therefore be carefully evaluated.

The reason a blessing is to be recited is because these strips have a pleasant taste and are designed to dissolve in your mouth, meaning you swallow them. According to Halacha, whenever you consume something with enjoyable taste and it is swallowed, you are required to say a blessing (berachah) before eating it. This differs from regular Listerine mouthwash, which is not intended for swallowing and is typically spit out. Since mouthwash is not consumed, no blessing is recited over it. In this respect it is similar to flavored gum, by which a blessing is recited prior to consumption.

 

Sources:

See regarding saying a bracha upon chewing and swallowing: Admur 167:9; 168:7, Seder 8:10-11, Luach 2:11; 8:12; Michaber 210:2; Gemara Brachos 14a; Ketzos Hashulchan 55:5

See regarding gum: Beir Moshe 2:12; Kinyan Torah 5:17; Yabia Omer 7:33; Piskeiy Teshuvos 202:34

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.