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May one eat meat/poultry or drink milk from animals/poultry/fish who were fed Chametz?[1]

It is permitted to eat the meat of an animal that was fed Chametz during Pesach.[2] This applies even if the animal was owned by a Jew and fed Chametz by a Jew. [Thus, one may buy poultry, meat, and fish even if the animal/bird/fish was fed Chametz on Pesach. Likewise, one may drink the milk of such animals if it was owned and fed Chametz by a gentile.[3] Furthermore, some Poskim[4] permit the milk of the animal even if it was owned and fed Chametz by a Jew. However, other Poskim rule the milk may only be drunk if it was milked after 24 hours from when the animal was fed Chametz.[5] Furthermore, some Poskim[6] are stringent and rule one should not eat meat, or drink the milk, of animals who were fed Chametz on Pesach, even if owned by a gentile. Practically, the custom is to be stringent in this matter.[7] The above, however, only applies if the animal was fed Chametz on Pesach, however, if it was fed Chametz before Pesach it is permitted to be eaten according to all.[8] Nonetheless, some Mehadrin Hashgachas are careful several days or weeks before Pesach to not feed Chametz to the animals/poultry in order to diminish the possibility of finding a Chametz kernel inside the organs of the chicken.[9] Likewise, dairy farms begin feeding their cows only Kosher for Pesach fodder beginning several days before Pesach.]

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[1] Admur 450:18 in parentheses based on Michaber Y.D. 60:1; 142:11 and Shach 142: 1; P”M 448 A”A 10 regarding animal of gentile; Shaareiy Teshuvah 448:7 in name of his uncle; Beis Ephraim 35; Igros Moshe 1:258; See Yeshuos Yaakov 448:9; Nishmas Adam 19; Toras Chesed 21; Ashel Avraham Butchach 448; M”B 448/33; Nitei Gavriel 57 footnote 24; Piskeiy Teshuvos 448/33

[2] The reason: As this is a case of Zeh Vizeh Goreim, as explained in 445:10

[3] Shaareiy Teshuvah ibid in name of Beis Ephraim ibid; Poskim brought in M”B ibid; Igros Moshe ibid that this applies according to all and there is no need to be stringent even for the meticulous

[4] Igros Moshe ibid

[5] P”M ibid

[6] See Toras Chesed ibid regarding milk and whether one can initially rely on Zeh Vizeh Goreim to buy from a gentile; Ashel Avraham ibid; Kitzur SHU”A 117:13; Teshuvah M’Ahava Y.D. 3:60; Arugas Habosem 138; Maharshag 2:85

[7] Piskeiy Teshuvos ibid

[8] Piskeiy Teshuvos ibid footnote 157

[9] In the past the Eida Hachareidis, under Rav Moshe Bransdofer, was not careful on this issue.