[Avodah] What are the Bracha Rishona and Bracha Acharona on a Granola Bar?

[Yitzchok Levine]

The following if from the Hakhel Email Community 
Awareness Bulletin 1/6/10.  http://www.hakhel.info

Special Note Two:  What are the Bracha Rishona 
and Bracha Acharona on a Granola Bar?  In a 
recent issue of the OU’s Daf HaKashrus, Rabbi Eli 
Gersten, Shlita, Recorder of OU P’sak and Policy, 
writes, “If one does not understand the process 
involved in creating a granola bar, one could 
study the ingredient panel a hundred times and 
still not be able to answer the above 
question.  However, through our access to the 
companies that produce these bars we are privy to 
information that is important in resolving this issue.”

Hakhel Note:  This is the point we constantly 
refer to--one must consult with the Hashgacha as 
to the proper bracha to make on a product when 
one has any doubt.  For example, how can anyone 
know what bracha to make on “Multi-Grain Squares” 
or “Corn Cakes (made with rice)” unless there is 
a better understanding of the product 
itself?  There is a real risk, chas veshalom, of 
bracha levatala--both as to the Bracha Rishona 
and Bracha Achrona.  As far as the Bracha Rishona 
on granola bars, both Rabbi Belsky, Shlita, and 
Rabbi Schachter, Shlita, the final Poskim for the 
OU, rule that the appropriate bracha is Borei Pri 
Ha’Adomo.  The Bracha Achrona is more 
complicated--for it involves the doubt of Tosfos 
as to whether a possibly new Bracha Achrona--”Al 
HaAdama V’al Pri Ha’Adama” should be 
recited.  The OU’s conclusion is that if a person 
consumed 2 granola bars in less than 2 minutes, 
he has no choice but to recite a Borei 
Nefashos.  Ideally, however, one should either 
plan to eat less than 1½ Nature Valley granola 
bars every 2-5 minutes and recite a Borei 
Nefashos (avoiding the possibility of reciting an 
“Al Ha’Adama VeAl Pri Ha’Adama,” as an 
insufficient shiur of toasted whole grains has 
been eaten within the required Bracha Achrona 
timespan), or to only eat the granola bars after 
having washed on a meal containing bread.
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