[Avodah] Believing Companies - Kashrus

[Prof. Levine]

At 04:00 PM 12/9/2009, R. Micha wrote:

>I think what you're asking boils down to:
>Can you be sure that if a company has two options, claims to be using
>the cheaper one, they wouldn't have any of the more expensive one
>around?
>
>Corn is cheap in the US in particular. The whole reason why the recipes
>differ in the two countries.
>
>Tir'u baTov!
>-Micha

Some time ago I had a long back and forth via email with

>Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovits
>Author of Halachically Speaking
>Rabbinical Administrator - KOF-K Kosher Supervision
>Recorder of KOF- K policy

It was about the kashrus of mouthwash, particularly Scope and 
Listerine. In one of the issues of Halachically Speaking he had 
written essentially one should use only use mouthwash that has 
supervision, because of the glycerin in the "regular" 
mouthwashes.  This he based on the psak of Rav Belsky.

I wrote to him that Listerine has no glycerin in it. I also told him 
that I had contacted Scope, and they told me that the glycerin they 
use is of animal origin. Eventually he wrote back the following.

"After giving some thought to our conversation today  I want to add 
the following:
Although the non-Jew said they use vegetable ingredients there is no 
one making sure this is always done and non-vegetable glycerin is 
cheaper than vegetable. therefore, if they are not a kosher company 
there is no reason why they should use vegetable glycerin. Why are we 
believing a non-Jew to tell us about kosher. The one answering the 
phone has limited knowledge regarding the items in a product. Even if 
it is made on the same equipment as animal glycerin we do not rely on 
bitul. My opinion still stands  that I have no way to guarantee that 
only vegetable glycerin is ALWAYS used."

This response not only relates to the use of sugar or corn syrup in 
coke, but also has wide implications for the discussion about 
following lists in other countries that has taking place on Avodah. 
If one cannot rely on what a non-Jew (I assume this applies to a 
non-religious Jew also) tells you, then how can one follow lists?

I have posted this to both Avodah and Areivim, because it is related 
to discussions on both lists.



Yitzchok Levine 
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