Are dried fruits and kosher ice cream kosher for Passover?

Question:

I am a student at university living in a dormitory, and I am starting to prepare for Passover. Are dried fruits, such as dried mangoes, cranberries, etc., kosher for Passover? Also, can I use kosher packaged ice cream if it isn't certified as "kosher for Passover"?

Answer:

Nowadays, food production is complicated. There are many things that a kosher certification organization looks out for that we would never think of, especially when it comes to Passover food. While fruit itself is fine for Passover use, when the fruit is dried it is often treated with other ingredients that cannot be eaten on Passover. You therefore shouldn't eat dried fruit on Passover unless it is certified as kosher for Passover.

Similarly, while you may look at the ingredient list of the ice cream and not see any problematic ingredients, you should still look out for kosher for Passover certification. The same is true for all processed food items. Ingredients that are added in small amounts are not required to be listed. Furthermore, other non-kosher for Passover products may be manufactured in the same plant, sometimes using the same equipment. These are just a sample of the issues that a certification agency will check before certifying a food as kosher for Passover.

The good news is that there are more and more products available that are certified as kosher for Passover. You should be able to find almost anything you need. Good luck!

Wishing you a joyous and liberating Passover!

All the best,

Rochel Chein for Chabad.org