Entering food into a bathroom

Entering food into a bathroom

May one eat in a bathroom?[1]
One may not eat in a bathroom.

May one enter food into a bathroom?[2]
It is customary to avoid entering food into a bathroom.[3]  However in a time of need one may do so if the bathroom is clean.[4]
If the food is covered in a bag: Some[5] write that one may enter food into a bathroom if the food is covered by a bag, or the like, from all sides.

May one fill a bathtub with ice and drinks in order to chill the drinks for an upcoming event?[6]
If one does not have other space available to cool the drinks then one may be lenient to do so. However if possible one should avoid doing his needs in the bathroom at that time.

May one salt meat in the bathtub?[7]
Yes, although one who is stringent is blessed.

May one enter medicine containers into the bathroom?[8]
Yes.

If one entered food into a bathroom may the food be eaten?
Yes.[9] However some[10] are accustomed to avoid eating the food. Some[11] write one is to wash the food three times.

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[1] Beir Heiytiv 3/2: “If it is forbidden to talk in a bathroom [due to modesty], certainly one may not eat in it.” However see coming footnotes that the M”A 166/3; Beir Heiytiv 84/2; M”B 84/7, allow drinking water in a bathhouse. Seemingly one must say there is a difference between a bathhouse and bathroom in order to avoid a contradiction within the Beir Heiytiv.

[2] See Minchas Yitzchak 3/63; Piskeiy Teshuvos 171/9 footnote 47; Mahram Brisk 1/10; Yabia Omer 3/1

[3] There is no Halachic prohibition mentioned in the Talmud or Codifiers against entering food or liquid into a bathroom. On the contrary the Poskim [M”A 166/3; Beir Heiytiv 84/2; M”B 84/7 based on Aguda] discuss how one is to say a Bracha over water that is in a bath house, thus proving there is no problem with drinking this water. [Minchas Yitzchak 3/63; Vetzaruch Iyun, as explained in previous footnotes, one must differentiate between a bathhouse and bathroom, otherwise there is a contradiction in the Beir Heiytiv] Nevertheless the custom is to avoid doing so. [Likkutei Mahrich p. 163] This custom is based on a teaching of Rav Sar Shalom of Belz not to eat a food that was in the bathroom. [brought in Divrei Yitzchak, Likkutei Mahrich ibid; Minchas Yitzchak ibid]

The reason for the above custom: Some Poskim write that a spirit of impurity resides on food that was entered into a bathroom. [Chesed Lialafim 4; See Kaf Hachaim 4/20] Others rule the impure spirit never resides on food entered into a bathroom. [Shalmei Tzibur; Torah Lishma 23 of Ben Ish Chaiy; Beir Moshe 8/41] Nevertheless even in their opinion it is nevertheless avoided due to sanitary reasons. [Salmas Chaim 3/9; Beir Moshe ibid] It is customary even amongst gentiles to avoid eating food in a bathroom due to this reason.

[4] Minchas Yitzchak 3/63

[5] Beir Moshe 8/41; Piskeiy Teshuvos 171/9; In footnote 49 he writes that it does not require a double covering.

[6] Minchas Yitzchak 3/63

[7] Minchas Yitzchak 3/63; 9/74; Yabia Omer 4/5; Hakashrus 9/55

[8] Beir Moshe 8/41

[9] Minchas Yitzchak 3/63

[10] Rav Sar Shalom of Belz [brought in Likkutei Mahrich; Minchas Yitzchak ibid]

[11] Yaskil Avdi 7/45