[Avodah] Kitniyos and Potatoes

[Richard Wolpoe]

On Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 10:18 AM, SBA <sbasba at gmail.com> wrote:
> From: "Prof. Levine"
>> A friend of mine once told me that the minhag of not eating kitnyos became
>> widespread after the potato was introduced in 1536 to Europe from the New
>> World and it use spread.  Without kitnyos or potatoes there would have been
>> almost nothing to eat.

>  I don't think that is correct.
> In fact, I have heard the opposite - that 'noch a mazel' that when they
> banned Kitniyos potatoes had not yet been introduced to the Old World.
> For if they had, they too would have met the fate of Kitniyos.

There are many reasons given for gzeria on  qitniyyos
   1. Since they grow near grain, therefore they migh have dagan mixed in
   AFAIK not applicable to potatoes
   2. They produce "flour"  Potato starch could be a problem

The nafka minas are numerous

For example #1 might make MEI Qitniyos assur while #2 would not.

That is perhaps why peanut oil [at worst mei qitniyos] is more leninet than
the peanuts themselves which COULD be made into flour!

AISI, Corn Syrup or Corn Oil also has no issue of #2

And since peanuts and corn [maize] are not Vaday qitniyos AISI corn
syrup and peanut oil [provided they have a good hashgacha] is a sf'eik
sfeiak hehattir.

So even if I were machmir on say lima bean oil, I see no reason to be
machmir on corn oil or peanut oil.

-- 
Kol Tuv - Best Regards,
RabbiRichWolpoe at Gmail.com
see: http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/