Is Quinoa Kosher for Passover?

Chametz is any food product made of wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt, or their derivatives, which has leavened (risen) or fermented. Our sages have determined that flour from any of these five grains that comes into contact with water or moisture will leaven unless fully baked within eighteen minutes.

Quinoa is not one of these grains, nor is it related to any of these grains, and is therefore not considered chametz.

Nevertheless, there are two factors which must be taken into consideration with regards to consuming quinoa on Passover:

1) Due to the gravity of the prohibition against chametz, the medieval Ashkenazi rabbis forbade the consumption of kitniyot (legumes) on Passover since they can be confused with the forbidden grains. This includes (but is not limited to): rice, corn, soy beans, string beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, mustard, sesame and poppy seeds.

Due to the fact that so many of the concerns that led the medieval rabbis to ban the consumption of legumes would apply to quinoa as well, some halachic authorities consider quinoa to be prohibited for Ashkenazi Jews as kitniyot. This is currently the position of the OU, a leader in Kashrut supervision. Others, however, rule that quinoa, a member of the "goosefoot" family (which includes beets and spinach) and not a legume, was not included in the original ban of kitniyot, and need not be added.

2) Quinoa is often grown in close proximity to grains which can become chametz, such as barley. (Incidentally, this is one of the reasons given for the original kitniyot ban mentioned above.1) It is also often processed in the same factories as other grains, and it’s likely that small amounts of the other grains can get mixed in with the quinoa crop. There is also cause for concern that the machines are not adequately cleaned between the processing of the grain products and the quinoa, which would lead to a reasonable risk of chametz traces being found in the quinoa. And recently, the leading Kashrut agencies have discovered that some farmers cover their quinoa with barley and/or oats to keep the birds from eating the quinoa while it dries, creating a concern that there may be whole barley kernels within the packaged quinoa. Finally, there is significant concern that the sacks used to transfer the quinoa may have been previously used to hold barley or oats, which again raises the same concern.

In light of the above, if you are of Ashkenazi descent, you should consult with your community rabbi as to how your family should practice.. And whether you are Ashkenazi or Sephardic, any quinoa would require Kosher for Passover certification to ensure that the quinoa did not grow near barley, nor was it covered with barley, and that the plant where it was processed and the sacks in which it was transferred were properly cleaned and purged of any traces of grain products before the processing of the quinoa.

Experts in Kosher supervision have traveled to the quinoa plants and farms in Bolivia, and the CRC (Chicago Rabbinical Council) and the Star K, widely accepted Kashrut authorities, have determined that for the Passover season of 2013 the following sources of quinoa are approved, when bearing the “STAR-K-P”, i.e. Kosher for Passover, logo. Only those packages that bear the Star K – P symbol are from the run of production that was supervised and approved for Passover use; all other packages, even those packed by the same manufacturer are not recommended.

Quinoa Corp. - Ancient Harvest Brand

Package: 12 oz. Boxes

Symbol: When bearing Star-K symbol and stating “Kosher for Passover.”

Setton Farms

Package: 12 oz. containers

Symbol: When bearing Star-K symbol and stating “Kosher for Passover.”

Natural Earth Products

Package: 16 oz. Boxes

Symbol: When bearing Star-K symbol and stating “Kosher for Passover.”

Even when buying from approved sources, it may be advisable to check the quinoa before Passover for any foreign matter (e.g. barley) before use, by placing the quinoa on a plate and looking through the grains.

Have a happy and kosher Pesach!

Rabbi Baruch S. Davidson

FOOTNOTES
1.	Pri Chadash, Orach Chaim 453:1

By Baruch S. Davidson

Rabbi Baruch S. Davidson is a member of the Chabad.org Ask the Rabbi team.

More articles by Baruch S. Davidson | RSS

The content on this page is copyrighted by the author, publisher and/or Chabad.org, and is produced by Chabad.org. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you comply with the copyright policy.

E-mail

Sort By:

NewestOldest

April 3, 2013

again on kitniyot

The prohibition against chametz in the Torah is karet, the cutting off of one's soul from the Jewish people. That certainly makes this mitzvah stand out in terms of the consequences of violation, and strongly reinforces the centrality of Pesach and the means of its proper observance. Thus, the prohibition against chametz is absolute--there is no liturgical exemption regarding minute quantities or other "safe harbors".

It is puzzling, therefore, that some suggest that there are halachic consequences to violating the minchag of kitniyot--when it is almost universally agreed that a plate that has been used for, say, rice on Pesach by a sepharad can also be used by an Ashkenazi for other non-chametz foods. Perhaps this leniency is a tacit acknowledgement that the United States, known to be settled largely by sephardim until 150 years ago, may really have a minchag eretz that does not support the imposition of our largely Eastern European traditions.

Howard
New York

April 3, 2013

Kitniyot

It is said that some Sephardim have adopted the Ashkenazic custom. The Sephardic Rabbis including Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef stated that Sephardim should not adopt the Ashkenazic custom of abstaining from kitniyot. Just as some Sephardim have adopted the Ashkenazic minhag why should Ashkenazim not adopt the Sephardic minhag? To restrict unnecessarily when every one agrees it is not Hametz and when there is overall consensus that the reasons for the custom no longer apply today is foolish. It is because to restrict and to add means we are more religious. We are trying to outdo each other in level of observance by adding unnecessary stringencies. The Ashkenazim should not have to suffer by prohibiting foods that are clearly permissible according to Halacha. This custom is detracting from the joy of the holiday.

Albert
Plainview

April 2, 2013

Who banned kitniyot?

The medieval rabbis did not ban kitniyot. In fact, some opposed the minhag and even called it foolish. It originated with the rank-and-file and later became grudgingly accepted (the Chacham Tzvi and his son Rav Yaakov Emden wanted to repeal it). Because of this Rav Moshe Feinstein allowed peanuts (as did Rav Chaim Ozer) as they were not known in medieval Europe and therefore could not be part of the minhag. Soya, quinoa and potatoes (which really should be in the category as one can make flour from it) are in the same category.

Avi Keslinger
Israel

March 28, 2013

answer to strengthening mitzvot

Yes, chametz is a law of virtual absolute observance (I say "virtual" because there are certain medicinal exceptions). BUt using your logic, one might exclude potatoes/ potato flour and other items and other things because of possible (but not real) contamination and confusion. At some point one is certainly taking away from the enjoyment of the Holiday without doing anything to prevent the use of or exposure to chametz. The whole problem of kitniyot--which has zero halachic basis, but enforces different practices among us with no benefit--shows the danger of broadening a law.

Anonymous

March 27, 2013

Thanks for this info

Anonymous
Belgum

March 27, 2013

Strengthening the Mitzvos

I heard an explanation on another subject that makes sense here. Our observance of the Mitzvos must become stronger. All that was said above shows us that there is a real possibility of having actual chametz mixed into the Quinoa. For such a strong prohibition such as chametz (no benefit, no owning, not to be seen), is it unreasonable to take precautions above and beyond the letter of the law? Can't we live without somethings for seven days?

Kalman
Israel

March 25, 2013

if kitnyot is not allowed because it is too similar to wheat and may be confused with chomets, how are things like kosher for passover "bagels" and "rolls" allowed...??

Anonymous

April 11, 2012

kitniyot

If the Rambam himself ate rice and other kitniyot during Pesach, is it not dangerous for us to continue to observe a minhag, formed in the European diaspora, that diminishes the ease of observing the holiday perfectly and creates a gap between the most strictly observant Jews of different backgrounds? And is there not discussion now about whether the law of the land of Israel is being violated by adhering to non-native custom?

Chaim
NY, NY

April 8, 2012

quinoa and kidnyot

How can it be argued that quinoa should be prohibited because it is "like kitniyot", as seems to be suggested by Rabbi Davidson? Isn't that building a "like" on a "like" case, which is not a justified halachic argument. (Quinoa is banned because it might be like kitnyiot which is banned because it might be like grains...)

Simon Goldhill
Cambridge, UK

April 1, 2012

Grinding it and making a flour or a bread

Rabbi Gideon Weiss meant if you grind it on a grinder that is Kosher for Passover, bake it in an oven that is Kosher for Passover, etc. If your grinder or breadpan has been used for chometz, then no.

Anonymous
Camarillo, CA

Show all comments