Eating with bleeding gums

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Human blood:[1]

Human blood is not Biblically forbidden in consumption due to the blood prohibition.[2] Nevertheless, it is [Rabbinically] forbidden to drink visible human blood which has separated from a human body due to Maaras Ayin.

Blood on food after biting:[3] Due to the above, if one bit a piece of food and he sees blood on the remaining piece [such as can occur if one has an injury in his gums] then that area which contains the blood may not be eaten, and one is thus to scrape the blood off the piece.

Swallowing blood in teeth, gums or mouth:[4] Despite the above, there is no prohibition in sucking and swallowing blood that being released from an injury within one’s mouth.[5] [This applies even if the blood is visible upon one opening his mouth.[6]]

Blood fell into food:[7] If human blood fell into one’s food, the food remains permitted irrelevant of the ratio.[8] [This allowance applies even if the blood is the majority of the mixture.[9]]

 

Q&A

If one cut his finger may he suck on the wound to stop the bleeding and hence in the process swallow some blood?[10]

Some Poskim[11] rule it is permitted to do so.[12] Other Poskim[13] rule it is forbidden to due so. Practically, one may be lenient in this matter[14] so long as the finger is visibly still bleeding. However, once the bleeding has stopped one may not place the leftover blood in his mouth.[15] According to all may one suck the finger and then spit out the blood.[16]

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[1] 66:10

[2] See Darkei Teshuvah 66:66 for a discussion in Poskim as to why it is not Biblcially forbidden just as human meat is forbidden.

[3] Michaber ibid; Kerisus 21b; Kesubos 60a

[4] Michaber ibid; Kerisus 21b; Kesubos 60a

[5] The reason: As such blood has never separated from the human body and hence remains permitted. [See Michaber ibid; Rashi ibid] Now, although all matters of Maaras are prohibited even in private, nevertheless since here everyone can tell that it is human blood therefore it remains permitted. [Yad Avraham ibid and Gilyon Maharsha in name of Poskim]

[6] Yad Avraham ibid based on Tosafus; Peri Chadash 66:15; Kreisy 66:12; Erech Hashulchan 66:9; Zivcheiy Tzedek 66:33; Ben Ish Chaiy Taharos 1; Orach Mishur 66:5, brought in Beis Lechem Yehuda 66:8; Haflah Kesubos 60a; Kaf Hachaim 66:47

Other opinions: Some Poskim write that according to Rashi in Kesubos 60a, if the blood is visible it is forbidden. [Minchas Yaakov 62 brought in Yad Avraham ibid; see also Kneses Hagedola 66:52; Beis Lechem Yehuda 66:8]

[7] Rama ibid; Hagahos Maimanis 7; Rashba in Toras Habayis 3:5

[8] The reason: As from the letter of the law these bloods are permitted [Michaber ibid], and it is only due to Maaras Ayin that we refrain from eating it, therefore if it fell into a food the food is permitted without nullification as is always the law by Maaras Ayin. [Peri Megadim 66 S.D. 16]

[9] Peri Megadim ibid

[10] See Darkei Teshuvah 66:68; Kaf Hachaim 66:47

[11] Peri Chadash 66:15; Kreisy 66:12; Erech Hashulchan 66:9; Zivcheiy Tzedek 66:33; Ben Ish Chaiy Taharos 1; Orach Mishur 66:5, brought in Beis Lechem Yehuda 66:8; Haflah Kesubos 60a; Kaf Hachaim 66:47

[12] The reason: As the blood is recognizable that it comes from a human, and is thus similar to the allowance to eat fish blood with fish. [Peri Chadash ibid] It makes no difference whether the blood is visible to others so long as one can tell it came from a human. [Tosafus]

[13] Kneses Hagedola 66:52; Beis Lechem Yehuda 66:8 based on Rashi Kesubos 60a

[14] Zivcheiy Tzedek 66:33; Kaf Hachaim 66:47

[15] Ben Ish Chaiy ibid; Kaf Hachaim 66:48

The reason: As in such a case the concept of Maaras Ayin applies, being it is not openly recognizable that the blood came from him. [ibid]

[16] Kneses Hagedola ibid; Darkei Teshuvah ibid

[17] Hakashrus 9 footnote 113 in name of Sheivet Hakehasi 5:125

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.

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