Rav Yosef Kanefsky of BnaiDavid.com emails:
With a wonderful Pesach now behind us, there is still one last halachik matter that we need to be aware of that affects our post-Pesach shopping. Chametz that was Jewishly-owned over Pesach (in violation of the mitzva to dispossess ourselves of chametz) may not be eaten. The only practical consequence of this for us, is that we may not buy actual chametz (see below) from a couple of local stores for the next few weeks, i.e. until the stock that was in the store’s property over Pesach moves out. The email from the RCC below, explains all the details.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Rav Yosef
· All RCC-supervised establishments have sold their Chometz and one may buy from them after Pesach.
· It has been determined that one may buy Chometz from the following supermarkets /outlets:
Albertson’s
Big lots
Bristol Farms
Coffee Bean
Costco
CVS
Food 4 Less
Gelson’s
Jetro / Restaurant Depot (even though the CEO and COO are Jewish, it is owned by a German group i.e. Metro.)
Kmart
Longs drugs
Meir’s Produce
Nuts & More
Ralphs /Kroger
Rite Aid
Safeway
Sam’s Club
Seven Eleven
Smith’s
Target
Trader Joe’s
Vons /Pavilions
Walgreens
Wal-Mart
Whole Foods Markets
We were not successful in convincing 99 Cent Only Stores to do a Mechira this year.
We have no information on Erewhon this year.
It has been brought to our attention that Smart and Final stores are owned by an entity that is subject to “Sale of Chometz” . we are not aware of an Machira having been executed. Therefore, Real Chometz may not be purchased until Lag Baomer (May 2, 2010)
Following are examples of “Real Chometz” and may not be purchased until above date:
Bread
Cake
Cereals with primary ingredient of: oats, wheat or barley
Cookies
Pasta
Pretzels
Rolled Oats
It is reasonable to assume that freshly baked and delivered items at S&F, manufactured by outside companies which are not Jewish-owned, are permissible 10 days after Pesach.
Following are examples of products that are not Halachically considered “Real Chometz” and may be purchased:
Barley
Flour WITHOUT malted barley as an ingredient
Food coloring
Ketchup
Mayonnaise
Mustard
Pickles
Vanillin
Vinegar (from unknown source)
Yeast and yeast extract
· Additionally, a Mechirah was done for the following establishments*:
Sadaf / Soofer Company
Wine & Liquor Depot
West Pico Foods
(*in accordance with Igros Moshe Vol.1 resp. 149 ; vol.2 resp. 91 and other Poskim. See Piskei Teshuvos 448-83)
