does quinoa need to be kosher for passover

But he added that he will avoid traveling to Bolivia in the near future. See our full guidelines for more information, and this guide for detail about canonical URLs. By Tami Ganeles-Weiser Following extensive research and on-site investigation of cross-contamination issues by OU Kosher personnel at all quinoa growing areas including: Puno, Cuzco, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Junin and Chiclayo in Peru; and Alto la Paz and Chayapata in Bolivia; as well as the collection, washing and milling stations of quinoa, OU Kosher is pleased to announce that, for the first time, it is recommending quinoa for Passover, when processed with special OU Passover supervision and bearing the OU-P symbol. Her hot line has received hundreds of anxious inquiries on the topic, Ms. Mathes-Scharf said. When Rabbi Shoshan Ghoori of the Orthodox Union first traveled to La Rinconada, Peru, the worlds highest city, the air was so thin that he needed an oxygen tank just to stay conscious. Sign up today. Things easily get mixed up.. ), They had basically the same information, but they came to opposite conclusions, Ms. Mathes-Scharf said. But that whole thing about the grain-like product helping Jews get their carb fix during Passover? Or maybe not. Before Ghoori undertook his quest, a competing kosher certification agency had ruled that the grain could be kosher for Passover. Quinoa may (or may not) be kosher for Passover - The Times of Israel What is Quinoa and How To Cook It - Jamie Geller Ghoori estimates that 110 tons of O.U.-certified quinoa will make it onto Passover tables this year, all of which is sold by Pereg Gourmet and Goldbaums. April 13, 2014. To avoid any hametz (leavened foods forbidden at Passover), spread the quinoa out on a cookie sheet and pick out any grains that might have cross-contaminated the crop. 2. Though he set out to discover only the foods kosher status, he would become an unlikely champion of exploited Peruvian farmers, helping them export their goods for a fair price. They had a gold mine on their backs, but it wasnt for them.. As an independent news organization, we are in no way influenced by political or business interests. Thank you for subscribing to emails from ReformJudaism.org! Medieval Ashkenazi rabbis ruled that kitniyot could not be eaten during Passover because they could be confused with chametz products, and even today many Jews of Ashkenazi descent do not kitniyot like corn, peas, beans, rice, and lentils on the holiday. Quinoa's popularity stems from its reputation as a "complete" food. As quinoa ascended to fame, rabbis and kosher certifiers took a good look at its possible status as kosher for Passover. But the O.U., the nations largest kosher certification agency, had refused to give its stamp of approval. And whats more telling of this ridiculous debate is that quinoa is a seed, not a legume.. and will refrain, begrudgingly, from buying quinoa this Passover. for a kashrut just wont have quinoa on Passover.. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community. If shopping for kosher for Passover quinoa, be sure to check for the O/U-p designation on the label of these products. Ilana S., a mother of two who lives on Manhattans Upper West Side, said she trusts the O.U. This year, for the first time, the company sent supervisors to South America to supervise the harvesting, sifting and packaging of the product. By Jessie Molloy / March 14, 2023 5:33 pm EST Religious dietary rules can be a bit complicated, especially when it comes to major holidays. "Quinoa is a perfectly fine seed but the question is what's being grown next to it, does it grow in proximity to grains?" So all the quinoa approved by the O.U. Rav Moshe Feinstein ztl (O.C. The controversy, as The New York Times points out today, revolves around how the South American crop is grown and transported. Most Americans eat somekosher foodevery day, but chances are theyre not aware of it. Is Quinoa Kosher for Passover? | Passover | americanisraelite.com It will be from a run of production that had full-time supervision by Kashrut authorities, such as the Ancient Harvest Brand (ancientharvest.com/grain/organic-quinoa). If that barley manages to make its way into a sifted batch of quinoa, and avoid detection during repackaging, it could wind up gracing your seder table on Passover night. 7 Kosher Quinoa Recipes for Passover - Yahoo And since it was not part of their diet, it is not on the list of leavened grains forbidden to be eaten during Passover. Some farmers spread barley over a quinoa field to keep the birds from eating the quinoa seeds. To republish, copy the HTML by clicking on the yellow button to the right; it includes our tracking pixel, all paragraph styles and hyperlinks, the author byline and credit to the Forward. Incorrect password. The question of quinoas Passover status had been nagging at Ghoori for years. Chicken and Quinoa "Fried Rice". Jesse Blonder, director of the Center for Kosher Culinary Arts in Brooklyn, which advertises itself as the only professional kosher cooking school outside Israel, said he found the popularity of quinoa at Passover interesting from a psychological viewpoint. Can I feed my baby regular baby milk? Indeed, thePoskim (Mga and Taz) caution that they mustbe checked diligently before use. I didnt have a completely informed answer, and neither did the OU. His statement is as follows: It is only recently that quinoa has become popular outside of its high-altitude growing area in the Andean mountain region of South America. The difficulty with Rav Moshes approach is thefact that maize (AKA corn) arrived in Europe at thesame period potatoes did, and nevertheless all agreethat corn is considered kitniyos. You can live in the modern world and be religious and keep your customs.. 5 Things to Know About Quinoa - The New York Times Until we can get someone there, were going to have to make the best decisions we can with the information we have.. Heat a skillet over medium heat. The rules for keeping Passover vary somewhat among Jewish people from different parts of the world, but most grainslike wheat, barley, rye, oats, and speltare off-limits. Though he was able to offer a definitive stamp of approval as far as quinoas kosher status, Ghoori felt the farmers themselves were being exploited unfairly. Alternatively, kitniyot foods were grown in close proximity to grains and therefore might have been cross-contaminated with chametz. There's no paywall on The Times of Israel, but the journalism we do is costly. What Foods are Kosher for Passover? - Tori Avey Typically any grains that . . Why people are choosing to eatand not eatthe grain-like substance. "We are the largest certification company in the world and wanted to do our own research. Kirsten Luce for The New York Times By Paul Vitello April 17,. Quinoa, a grain-like crop grown in South America, is loved - and consumed - by many, because it is both high in protein and easy to prepare. Quinoa, a grain-like crop grown in South America, is not one of the grains considered chametz (wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt, or their derivatives). We cant certify quinoa because it looks like a grain and people might get confused, Genack said. My message to them is to not give up whats sacred to them, he said. He practiced customs different from those of his Ashkenazi neighbors, and also endured bullying and racial epithets. Every year the debate over quinoa rises to the top of our "Is it kosher for Passover?" They may be using the same equipment or bags to harvest a field of quinoa, and a field of something else, he said. For more information about quinoa on Pesach, please see this article on the topic. For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members. For example, food coloring derived from shellfish and used in a cake makes the cake non-kosher. I would see folks with bags of 100 pounds come back with $2.50, Monteblanco said. III: 63) was asked if peanuts are consideredkitniyos since they are similar to peas (peanuts are actually legumes) and arecommonly ground into flour. While discussing kitniyosoils, the Rishonim (TrumasHadeshen, 205 and Maharil,25) list kanbus oil as kitniyos. The jewish holiday of Passover is observed for seven days in Israel and eight days in the Diaspora. I went to hear two rabbis discussing the quinoa situation at my synagogue last week, said Arlene J. Mathes-Scharf, a food scientist in Sharon, Mass., who specializes in kosher food and operates a popular consumer Web site, Kashrut.com. The CRC recommends inspecting quinoa before Passover by spreading "one layer of quinoa at a time on a board or plate" and checking to be sure that there are no other grains or foreign matter mixed in with the quinoa"a time-consuming exercise that Jews rushing to prepare seders are unlikely to embrace. Its a member of the goosefoot family, and closely related to spinach and beets. Quinoa is essentially kosher, but some considerations exist. At this plant, local farmers are able to prepare their quinoa for purchase without selling to a middleman, and so they earn a much higher profit. (especially with oats since both are gluten free). Amaranth, like quinoa, has for centuries languished outside the American food psyche. Already a member? But the lack of air did not deter him from his peculiar mission: deciding whether quinoa should be kosher for Passover. Rishonim discuss the merits ofan established minhag to refrainfrom eating kitniyos on Pesach. And that's . Swap white rice for quinoa to make this delicious Asian . The tribe, which Ghoori said decided to make him an honorary member, had told him about its struggles to find a way to preserve its identity in 21st-century Peru, and was fascinated by his acceptance of modernity and Orthodox Judaism. All aluminum foil and disposable pans and trays, wax paper. Some inspectors have found traces of wheat, and other grains susceptible to leavening in the cooking process, mixed in with quinoa shipped by some farmers, he said. Is Amaranth the New Quinoa and Is It Kosher? - The Forward But both agree that its suitability for Passover depends on how the crop is harvested and shipped. Though he wont reveal the details, he says he was also very involved in efforts to free Jacob Ostreicher, a Haredi businessman who was arrested in 2011 in Bolivia. This is the result of bitter compounds called saponins that cover the seeds. Move over, quinoa? Therefore, quinoa should only be used with reliable Kosher for Passover certification or agency approval. Quinoa Recipes for Passover | Epicurious Quinoa, a grain-like crop grown in South America, is loved - and consumed - by many, because it is both high in protein and easy to prepare. Sign up today. Take a walk down the aisles of any supermarket and you will see that certification appears onover 60% of Americasproduced foods that are certified kosher, from the coveted Oreo to the thirst-quenching Coca-Cola. Consumer Hotline (212) 613-8241x3 . In a reassuring twist for Passover consumers, Lopezs company is the only one that has earned kosher for Passover certification so far, according to Ghoori. 2023 All rights reserved. Chametz typically includes leavened bread or any food that contains wheat, rye, barley, oats, or spelt, unless production has been supervised to ensure that it has not leavened. Ghoori said he is dedicated to helping poor farmers and businessmen find markets for their products. Amaranth is actually a category of about 60 different plant species that grow between five and eight feet tall, produce vibrantly colorful ornamental flowers, sprout copious amounts of wildly colored edible leaves and contain tens of thousand of nutritious, edible seeds. The words of this author reflect his/her own opinions and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Orthodox Union. Much of the legwork was performed by Rabbi Shoshan Ghoori, a New York-based rabbinical field representative, who visited the quinoa fields in Bolivia and Peru. Or do we say: if it looks like kitniyot, acts like kitniyot and grows like kitniyot, it fits into that category?. If only more rabbis had his moral courage and will, Roman Abramovichs tangled Portuguese roots, Documents filed in his citizenship case show the validity of his claims and reveal the complexity of Sephardic heritage, Or how Israeli dance reminded me to try new things, from netball to yoga at sunrise and whatever comes next, Kim Kardashian cries over Kanyes antisemitism in upcoming Kardashians episode, What Matters Now to Brig. - Tori Avey What Foods are Kosher for Passover? Click the link in that email to complete registration so you can comment. Please email us at [emailprotected], subject line republish, with any questions or to let us know what stories youre picking up. According to NPR's food blog, the Salt, quinoa is not on the list of rising grains that are forbidden during Passover, which include wheat, rye, barley, oats, and spelt. You can find it in most supermarkets, shelved with the grains. Quinoa-Stuffed Chicken by Michal Frischman. Known for its nutritional qualities, it has been referred to as a superfood. In recognition of its unique properties and growing popularity with consumers, 2013 has been proclaimed by the UN The International Year of Quinoa.. Spray starch - Niagara, Linit Hydrogen peroxide, isopropyl alcohol, all sun tanning products. We rely on readers like you to support our fact-based coverage of Israel and the Jewish world. Several brands are now certified kosher for Passover by major kosher agencies like the Orthodox Union and Star K. contamination was not common at the time thatthe minhag was established, and therefore theseseeds did not make it on to the kitniyos list. Look, we have certified kosher for Passover quinoa thats what it says on the label, he said, picking up a package and reading the fine print. Ghoori said he isnt discussing the episode, out of respect for Ostreichers wishes. First, because of the similaritiesto the five chometz grains (wheat,barley, rye, spelt and oat) confusion can occur. The O.U.s non-endorsement is the result of a debate within the organizations own ranks. Rabbi Genack, CEO of OU Kosher, has released the following statement: "It is only recently that quinoa has become popular outside of its high-altitude growing area in the Andean mountain . The Rishonim give two reasonsfor the prohibition of kitniyos. Kosher l'Pesach baby formula is available from kosher shops. Maybe when you go back a year later, two of those kids have already died of cancer. Tami Ganeles-Weiser is a food anthropologist, trained chef, recipe developer, writer and founder of TheWeiserKitchen. OK Kosher Certification founded in 1935. Thats why we started the Times of Israel eleven years ago - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world. Reliable kosher-for-Passover supervision guarantees that the quinoa does not grow adjacent to a grain field, and that it's not transported to the mill in sacks that were used to carry grains. You must credit the Forward, retain our pixel and preserve our canonical link in Google search. Quinoa (pronounced ki-NO-uh or KEEN-wah) is a grainlike South American crop newly popular among health-conscious North Americans. You could say quinoa has a lot going for it: The U.N.-designated "super crop" helps people with celiac eat gluten-free, vegetarians get their protein, and seniors stave off senility. Is it appropriate to visit a grave on Passover? Under Jewish law, violating Passover dietary law is a serious offense, referred to by the Hebrew word karet, which means to be cut off from ones soul. Amaranth plants spread around the world quickly. However, some kosher authorities have ruled that quinoa is in the category of kitniyot (legumes). Quinoa Kosher for Passover - Quinoa Off the Forbidden Grain List - Delish But it is an annual herb that bears seeds in a cluster. Nevertheless, there are two factors which must be taken into consideration with regards to consuming quinoa on Passover: The quinoa growers he encountered lived in deep poverty, far from the modern comforts of Lima, Perus capital. The O.U. announced in December 2013 that it would begin certifying quinoa kosher for Passover. We all needed more information.. Over the next two years, Ghoori would return to the Andean highlands on nearly 10 fact-finding missions. Rather, the minhag only applies to those species that were available in Europe atthe time that the minhag was instituted. Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad by Brynie Greisman. Before Ghoori undertook his quest, a competing kosher certification agency had ruled that the grain could be kosher for Passover. Quinoa "Hummus" by Naomi Nachman. Traces of the five restricted Passover grains mentioned in the Talmud wheat, barley, oats, spelt and rye could be found in the quinoa if the machines weren't adequately cleaned between the processing of different products. Can other trendy ancient grains like buckwheat, sorghum and millet . The kosher-ness of amaranth is then a decision for each individual to make after consulting with his or her rabbi or spiritual advisor. At your grocery store, look in the healthy food section, or in the aisle with beans, grains and seeds. announced in December 2013 that it would begin certifying quinoa kosher for Passover. Join the Forward (in person in Aspen) for a wide-ranging conversation with Craig Newmark, founder of craigslist and Craig Newmark Philanthropies, and Jodi Rudoren, editor-in-chief of the Forward. The council is one of several kashrut certification groups involved in the quinoa debate, which was brewing for years before it broke into the open in February with conflicting opinions issued by various rabbinical experts, he said. Whether you are avoiding meat for Lent or keeping. Passover Quinoa for Passover! To republish, copy the HTML by clicking on the yellow button to the right; it includes our tracking pixel, all paragraph styles and hyperlinks, the author byline and credit to the Forward. "It was a concern but now it's fine, it's supervised. Is quinoa kosher for Passover? | Reform Judaism You can find it in most supermarkets, shelved with the grains. Its a tiny powerhouse packed with protein, vitamins and minerals, and its an important grain alternative, especially on Passover, Becker said. When youre eating this stuff, you know, it tastes different from everything youve always had for Passover different enough that you feel, like, maybe you shouldnt be doing it, Mr. Blonder said. Until then, its only eight days.. What brands of quinoa are kosher for Passover? (Botanically, it is a member of the goosefoot family, which includes beets and spinach.) . And there is the potential rub, Rabbi Genack explained. At the Pomegranate market, in a heavily Orthodox neighborhood in Brooklyn, shoppers ask about quinoa. Unlike other news outlets, we havent put up a paywall. Basic Poached Halibut and Quinoa by Barbara Kafka. PDF PASSOVER 5783 I. These products DO NOT NEED special Kosher for Passover Amaranth has been widely used in traditional diets in parts of Mexico and throughout the Americas for centuries. TheRadbaz (Klaim 5:19) describes kanbus with the following: It is intoxicating andpeople claim it makes themhappy. Accordingly, productsmade from the cannabis seed,like hemp oil or hemp milk are obviously kitniyos. He also helped the Cashibo-Cacataibo, an impoverished Amazonian tribe, find Peruvian businesses willing to buy their plantains and palm oil. However, it is important tonote that quinoa needs special kosher for Pesachcertification, because quinoa seeds and flour arelikely to be processed on the same equipment asthe other five grains (especially with oats since bothare gluten free). If you endeavor to keep kosher for Passover and want to eat quinoa this year, you may want to make sure the package specifically says it is kosher for Passover; there are several brands available. What is kanbus? Theyre asking me 20 times a day, What is the ruling? Gabe Boxer, the stores general manager, said last week. In conclusion, after much consideration and lengthy discussions with leadingPoskim, and since quinoa is not remotelysimilar to the five chometz grainsand was not present in Europe at the time thecustom was established, the OK considers quinoaas non-kitniyos. But middlemen based in Lima buy the product from growers for a low price and sell it to exporters who after processing the grain and removing its bitter shell sell it on the international market for a hefty profit. Several brands are now certified kosher for Passover by major kosher agencies like the Orthodox Union and Star K. Well, it seems that rests on a shakier foundation. Please use Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge to view this site. Only supervising the cultivation and processing of amaranth and demarcating it as untouched and unmixed with chametz would render it usable. Is Quinoa Kosher for Passover? - Chabad.org of the Kashrut Division of the Orthodox Union. In fact, he must. If you are more lenient about your Passover foodstuffs, and don't necessarily purchase certified kosher-for-Passover foods, quinoa is also sold in bulk or in boxes or bags. Kosher for Passover WHIPPING CREAM Dean's Dairy Pure (17-37) Rabbi Yosef Landa cRc Rabbinical Coordinator, Dairy Industry. The OU Kashrut organization lists amaranth as possible Kitniyot and thus should be avoided. A kosher food that is processed or cooked together with a non-kosher food, or any derivative of non-kosher food, becomes non-kosher. As Passover fast approaches, here's why people are choosing to eator not eatthe protean substance: "companies that pack whole grain quinoa exclusively," like Ancient Harvest and Trader Joe's. . The OU will also continue certifying OU Kitniyot retail items as it did last year. Rabbi Hershel Schachter, one of the heads of Yeshiva Universitys rabbinical school and also an O.U. Over the next two years, Ghoori would return to the Andean highlands on nearly 10 fact-finding missions. Therefore, only a reliable kosher forPassover supervision will guarantee that there areno actual chometz concerns. Although quinoa was kosher, I felt that something not so kosher was going on.. Is Quinoa Kitniyos? - OK Kosher Quinoa may (or may not) be kosher for Passover Orthodox Union refuses to certify quinoa as ok for holiday for fear of barley contamination; Star-K says grain is fine 13 March 2013, 5:17 pm Edit Please use Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge to view this site. Weekly email newsletter filled with articles, Divrei Torah, upcoming events and more! The only grain product that is ever kosher for Passover is matzah, and it must be certified as such. Quinoa is also sold at health food stores. Following an intensive, multi-year investigation and an internal debate into quinoas status, the Orthodox Union has decided that it can certify quinoa for Passover. Peggy Wolff and Special to Tribune Newspapers. Quinoa, the grain-like seed grown in South America, is Kosher for Passover when processed with special OU Passover supervision and bearing the OU-P symbol. When Rabbi Shoshan Ghoori of the Orthodox Union first traveled to La Rinconada, Peru, the worlds highest city, the air was so thin that he needed an oxygen tank just to stay conscious. A Jewish food blogger who maintains a strictly gluten-free kitchen because her daughter has Celiac disease, Becker said quinoa is one of the most important foods. When he learned that Peruvian wool producers were having difficulty finding a market for their products, he invited Uruguayan wool experts to train the Peruvians in more sophisticated production methods. Quinoa is especially loved by many Jews during Passover because it is actually not a grain, but a seed, and therefore is not considered chametzchametzFoods not eaten during Passover. Kosher for Passover 6 Kosher For Passover Quinoa "The Miracle Seed" Recipes By Alessandra Bulow January 30, 2017 This will be the first Passover that the Orthodox Union has officially. We recommend that you inspect any product carefully before using it, the rabbi said. At Pomegranate, a large kosher grocery in the heavily Orthodox Midwood section of Brooklyn, customers had more questions than guidance. Please check your inbox for our emails, and to manage your subscription. 14 Delicious Quinoa Recipes For Passover | Articles - Kosher.com If you appreciate the integrity of this type of journalism, please join the ToI Community. Quinoa is the least of our problems.. Just as Ghoori was becoming concerned about the quinoa growers, he met Julianna and Pablo Lopez, a socially conscious wife and husband working in Limas quinoa industry. So its certified, as far as I know.. See our full guidelines for more information, and this guide for detail about canonical URLs. Yet, as quinoa has become more popular, some rabbinical authoritiesincluding Star-Khave grown concerned that forbidden grains are mixing with quinoa during the harvesting and shipping processes, or that the food belongs in the kitniyot category. With Passover set to begin this evening, there's a debate brewing about whether quinoa is permissible to eat on the holiday. Home cooks who keep kosher can look for quinoa packaging that bears a kosher-for-Passover certification label from other agencies such as Star-K or the Chicago Rabbinic Council. People are not producing quinoa and wheat and corn.. Gourmet magazine hailed it in 2008 as the new belle of the Passover ball.. It has a protein content of about 15 percent, and a balance of important amino acids, magnesium, calcium, and other minerals and vitamins. Apparently, such Is CannabisKitniyos? Convinced by Ghooris research, the O.U. Ghoori visited with farmers and villagers throughout the Andes, and his findings were encouraging. In the Americas, it refers to maize,in Scotland to oats, and in Germany to wheat orrye. Quinoa. It does not include images; to avoid copyright violations, you must add them manually, following our guidelines. Rinat Cohen bought quinoa at the Pomegranate market to prepare during Passover. Can. tive. Ghoori has had many adventures, and he likes to tell them quickly and excitedly.