FAQs

Q: May I give a non-Jewish person a cheeseburger (since it might be basar b’chalav)? May I give a non-Jewish person a coupon for a free cheeseburger that is basar b’chalav?

A: The answer to both questions is “no”.

Meat and milk which were cooked together are called “basar b’chalav” and one may not have any benefit or pleasure them. If you were to give the cheeseburger to a non-Jew that would generate goodwill between the two of you, and that goodwill is considered a forbidden direct-benefit from the cheeseburger. For that reason, you cannot give the cheeseburger or a coupon for one to a non-Jew.

Rav Schwartz did however say that if one had a cents-off coupon for a cheeseburger [i.e. a discount for the cheeseburger rather than a coupon for a free cheeseburger] then it would be permitted to give that coupon to a non-Jew. He reasoned that the goodwill generated by giving him that coupon is too indirectly related to the basar b’chalav, and therefore does not pose a concern.