Articles

By Rabbi Dovid Cohen, Administrative Rabbinic Coordinator

Q. What potential kashrus issues are there with potato chips?

A. The most basic requirement for kosher food is that the ingredients be kosher, and this applies to potato chips, just like with any other (processed) food.  Most people are surprised to learn that there are companies frying their potato chips in animal fat – as clearly noted on the ingredient panel – and clearly such chips are not kosher (since the fat comes from animals which did not have shechitah).  [Other companies use milk powder, whey, or other kosher-sensitive ingredients in their seasoning.]  Additionally, one must be concerned that the chips were made on equipment that is also used for non-kosher chips and/or their seasonings, and that the cleaning between products does not qualify as kashering.

A more “hidden” issue is whether a Jew must participate in the cooking/frying of potato chips.  This is because of the requirement of bishul Yisroel, which dictates such participation for certain foods.  Most certifying agencies rule that bishul Yisroel is not required, because one of the limitations of bishul Yisroel is that it is only required if the food is fit for serving to distinguished guests (oleh al shulchan melachim).  Potato chips are clearly a food that would never be used that way, and, therefore, do not require Jewish participation in their cooking.  However, there are those who take the position that if there is any way that a food can be prepared for distinguished guests, then bishul Yisroel is required no matter how it is cooked.  Accordingly, since baked potatoes are oleh al shulchan melachim, all forms of cooked potatoes – including potato chips – must be bishul Yisroel.  As noted, most agencies disagree with this position.

There are additional angles to this question as relates to corn chips.  It begins with the second condition of bishul Yisroel, that it is only required if the food is not “edible raw”.  At first glance, this is not true of corn, since corn on the cob is always cooked before eating.  However, further analysis shows that corn on the cob is definitely edible raw, and Shach rules that if a food is edible raw, but most people prefer it cooked, that food is considered “edible raw” and does not require bishul Yisroel.  In fact, a consumer survey showed that a healthy minority of people actually eat corn on the cob without cooking it.

While this argument is sound, it actually does not apply to corn chips, since it turns out that there are two types of corn.  The corn on the cob that we are accustomed to eating is “sweet corn”, but corn chips are commonly made from “field corn” (a.k.a., cow corn) which is most definitely not edible until it is cooked for an extended amount of time.  Accordingly, it does not qualify as “edible raw”, and the only reason to permit corn chips made without bishul Yisroel is that they are a snack item not served to distinguished guests (as noted above regarding potato chips).

This article first appeared in the Let’s Talk Kashrus column, Yated Ne’eman, October 2024.