[Avodah] Glycerine in mouth wash

[martin brody]

Isn't this somewhat intellectually dishonest? Is mouthwash food? Is it
edible? Since when do we worry about ingredients in inedible products? As
I've said before Rav Moshe permits glycerine in pleasant tasting medicine,
which is made to be consumed. Mouthwash is certainly not pleasant tasting
and is made to be spat out. He doesn't even mention it as an option.

Martin Brody

"R. Y. Levine wrote:

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."
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.aishdas.org/pipermail/avodah-aishdas.org/attachments/20091215/ea39c5df/attachment-0001.htm>