Does Fish Oil need a Hechsher?

Home Forums Kosher Products Does Fish Oil need a Hechsher?

Viewing 23 posts - 1 through 23 (of 23 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #617141
    Hashemisreading
    Participant

    Does Fish Oil or Omega 3 needs a hechsher?

    #1134530
    Joseph
    Participant

    Why wouldn’t it need one?

    #1134531
    oomis
    Participant

    Uh, yes, of course!

    #1134532
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant
    #1134533
    oomis
    Participant

    Fish oil can come from shark and other unkosher fish.

    #1134534
    Hashemisreading
    Participant

    the fish ingredients are: Sardine, Mackerol, and Anchovy. No non kosher fish.

    The capsule is made of gelatin bovine form the insides of a cow. The capsules are not vegan. They are not from pork.

    #1134535
    Hashemisreading
    Participant

    Thank you DaasYochid for the thread reference, I tried searching fish oil before i started this thread but nothing came up.

    #1134536
    Torah613Torah
    Participant

    Yes. First, nonkosher fish can get mixed in. Second, the capsules have to come from a kosher source.

    #1134537
    Hashemisreading
    Participant

    Torah613: Is it treif? Or is it just not lichatchila? I need to know for medical purposes..

    #1134538
    golfer
    Participant

    You need to know for medical purposes???

    You need to consult a Rav, who might also want to include a doctor &/or pharmacist in the discussion.

    Refuah Shleima!

    #1134539

    Yes. The machinery used to process the fish is probably also used to process non-kosher fish. The machinery gets hot. The oil is assumed treif until proven otherwise. The capsules are also treif. you need a Rav to decide when you can consume tarfus for medical purposes. There are a few companies that sell good fish oil with a hechsher.

    #1134540
    theprof1
    Participant

    Anything from fish that you can’t see the original source fish to determine if its kosher, requires a hechsher. If you buy any type of fish filets, they need a hechsher. Clear halacha in shulchan orech.

    #1134541

    theprof1: A fish product that does not contain pieces of fish is only a ????? ???? ????. If it is not being eaten and there is a medicinal benefit I’m not certain the ????? is applicable. In this case fish oil with a hechsher is readily available and there seems to be no reason to allow without a hechsher.

    #1134542
    popa_bar_abba
    Participant

    How about flaxseed oil? Can you use it to season pots?

    #1134543
    Hashemisreading
    Participant

    Just in case anyone wants to know, I went home last night and asked a real shaila. I decided not to go with the fish oil, as the answer was very complicated.

    The pills are better than the liquid even though the materials in the capsule may be non Ksher, because it is not food and not consumed in derech achila.

    Or I will get kosher brand..

    #1134544
    YW Moderator-42
    Moderator

    Rechnitz accused us of being machmirim yet people have a hava amina of taking non-kosher capsules when kosher ones are available? If there are Kosher brands available, why not just get those and avoid the shayla?

    #1134545
    old man
    Participant

    New Coffee Room Definition

    Rechnitz = Punching Bag

    I watched the full video, and do not recall Mr. Rechnitz refer to the kashrus of fish oil . Not even once.

    #1134546
    apushatayid
    Participant

    The brand Bluebonnet (Im sure there are others) has a reliable hechsher (Chof K). You can buy them anywhere. I buy them online at amazon.

    #1134547
    Uncle Ben
    Participant

    One issue not mentioned, is if one is looking for the unparalleled benefits of fermented fish-cod liver oil. As far as I know there is no such product available with a hechsher. The only option would be to use the capsules and rely on some combination of heterim.

    #1134548
    The little I know
    Participant

    Is anyone aware of the halachos regarding the use of supplements? I have seen (though not studied) a few, and it is questioned whether the entire field of supplements and vitamins is even muttar according to halacha. I assume that there is substantial question regarding the effectiveness, with a minimum of reliable scientific study available. I also suspect that there is a basis to question because there is minimal to no quality control, to insure that the package label is accurate. Taking medications (supplements are considered medications, though available without prescription) that are not reliable might present a halacha problem.

    If someone can share a reference or two to tshuvos on this, I can review them and speak from something better than very vague memory and assumption.

    #1134549
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    TLIK, do you mean kashrus-wise, or are you questioning if there might be a different reason not to take them?

    I found these about homeopathic remedies:

    http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=27996&st=&pgnum=34&hilite=

    http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=1600&st=&pgnum=432&hilite=

    http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=1415&st=&pgnum=53&hilite=

    #1134550
    👑RebYidd23
    Participant

    Vitamins are simple.

    #1134551
    Hashemisreading
    Participant

    YW Moderator 42: I had a shaylah of using the brand without a hechsher because that is the brand my Doctor specifically recommended for me.

Viewing 23 posts - 1 through 23 (of 23 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.