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Are these kosher?
This question is probably unrelated, but is there any reason why someone would prefer those over the regular tablets?
They are not kosher, the question is if they need to be. Ask your posek.
Liqud Gels are easier to swallow than regular tablets
They are also quicker acting than regular tablets. Interestingly, regular tablets have more of a question, as the coating is deliberately flavored.
Do you need to take it for health reason such as did you doctor proscribe it, do you have have problems swallowing regular tablets? The problem is that Liquid Gels contain gelatin which is not kosher. Advil Liquid Gel is just a pain reliever and doesn’t cure any disease, so I wouldn’t recommend using it. But I am not a doctor nor a rabbi so please contact them before you stop using them.
Many pills, particularly capsules, are not kosher. Being that you take pills for their chemical effect as opposed to its nutrition, taking them is not a problem halachicly, as it is not “derech achila.”
Kabbalisticly, there are those that say that “timtum” may occur regardless.
Vitamins and flavored coatings are both shailos, as they each have aspects of “derech achila”.
The above opinion is for reference only, based upon information and belief.
Always ask a competent rabbi for halachik questions.
For kabbalistic questions, perhaps you can try the “goral hagra”. I definitely can’t help in that regard.
Abba_S, Advil is an anti-inflammatory in addition to being a pain reliever.
fnt: “Kabbalisticly, there are those that say that “timtum” may occur regardless”
I believe it is halachicaly, I think it’s the Rosh or another rishon who holds that there is timtum halev even when it’s mutar shelo kderech achila.
Uncle Ben -“I believe it is halachicaly, I think it’s the Rosh or another rishon who holds that there is timtum halev even when it’s mutar shelo kderech achila.”
You don’t make any sense! It’s not Osser, even if there’s timtum.
So it’s not “Halachahicaly”, only Kabbalah!
From the CRC OTC Medicine list:
Advil Liqui-Gels Gelcap Not Recommended
Advil Migrane Liqui-Gel Gelcap Not Recommended
**************************************************
From the Star-K Medicine list:
Advil Regular Caplets (not gel)
iacisrmma – there are two questions: 1. what are the ingredients?; and, 2. Do the ingredients matter?
Kashrus organizations are often competent at determining ingredients. They have NO say on whether the ingredients matter.
Our discussion above was operating with the assumption that capsules have non-kosher gelatin.
The regular caplets have a candy coating that has no gelatin and has no actual hechsher on the bottle. There are those that would say it is the equivalent of buying any candy without a hechsher. The CRC and Star-K do not have a hechsher on the bottle FYI.
FNY: Two kashrus organizations state that this product is not recommended.Do you argue with them on their liquor lists? I don’t know why anyone asks questions on this list and not call, text, or e-mail a rav.
From the CRC website:
Pill medications that one swallows are permitted even if they contain non-kosher ingredients. Two exceptions to that
require hashgachah. If a doctor prescribes a specific vitamin which is not kosher certified, please review your
specific situation with your doctor and Rabbi.
medicine that is free of kashrus concerns.
iacisrmma – their reasoning is fair, quasi-consistent, but wrong. Again, the reason a kashrus organization has a say, is their supervision — NOT their halachik expertise. My opinion on this website, is JUST as valid as their opinion on their website. Ask a rav. Agreed. Asking a mashgiach halacha, is akin to asking a shatnez “expert” whether you are obligated to check. Don’t.
JUST ASK A RABBI!!!!
(and if he knows his stuff he’ll agree with me…)
However, the article was written by their AV BES DIN.
Many others, some greater, disagree. Again, we are discussing halacha, not hashgacha here.
Meno: According to the pharmacist at CVS, the body absorbs the LiquiGels better and quicker than regular tablets.
When I was experiencing great pain, the pharmacist recommended that I take the liquid/gel pills because they are better metabolized. In general, they are superior in effectiveness than dry tablets.
frumnot yeshivish- I don’t understand your reasoning. How can you separate halacha from hashgacha? All hashgacha agencies have a rav or rabbonim who decided the halachic standards of their supervisions. They have halachik expertise in the area of kashrus. The mashgichim are enforcing/gauranteeing these halachic standards.
iacisrmma -“From the CRC OTC Medicine list:
Advil Liqui-Gels Gelcap Not Recommended
Advil Migrane Liqui-Gel Gelcap Not Recommended”
IDK which CRC you’re talking about!
When I used to get migraines – I was incapacitated!
From Chicago CRC:
Examples: Gelatin capsule (soft or hard)4
So a gelatin gapsule is “an edible food item”? Gentiles munch on them all the time. Yup.
Hashgacha is supervision. This requires “boots on the ground” and possible technical knowledge of processes.
Halacha involves a practical application of torah theory.
When discussing halachik ideas, a kashrus organization is (at best) just as qualified as other rabbonim.
Heslth: the same CRC you are quoting from. They have kashrus concerns with this product.
FNY -“So a gelatin gapsule is “an edible food item”? Gentiles munch on them all the time. Yup”
You should not prove to e/o that you don’t know what you’re talking about!
It’s has the Din of an edible item!
iacisrmma -“Heslth: the same CRC you are quoting from. They have kashrus concerns with this product”
So what? All I posted was that if the patient is incapacitated – then you can take the gelatin capsules!
Health: you stated above “IDK which CRC you’re talking about!”. I responded.
Assuming (arguendo) that gelatin is equivalent to pork wrapped in tasteless plastic (which is questionable but apparently assumed by many), and you’d be taking it for its chemical effect (not its nutrition) you are talking (a minimum) of a derabanan in two different ways. When taking such an item for the sake of relieving discomfort or even adding comfort, even if NOT incapacitating, I’d assume MUTTAR GAMMUR.
Those who make an assumption otherwise, particularly in public are making a number of mistakes.
Again in my halachik opinion.
Ask your rabbi.
Even if the av beis din of the crc is your rabbi, ask him in person. I think you’d be surprised.
From: do you know what happens when you “assume”?
While obviously not universally held, Rav Chaim Ozer held that gelatin itself was mutar (even if consumed derech achila).
Iacisrmma- idk what happens when I assume. When you assume that the quote below which you quoted from the crc, is definitive halacha, I’d think it makes your argument look weak. Citation to authority is a logical flaw unless the central issue is comparing authorities. I did not see that as the central issue.
“From the CRC OTC Medicine list:
Advil Liqui-Gels Gelcap Not Recommended
Advil Migrane Liqui-Gel Gelcap Not Recommended”
Frum: Two kashrus organizations do not recommend this product and it weakens my argument? I never said it was definitive halacha. GelCaps have always been an issue with kashrus. If the OP has a Rav to ask let them ask their Rav. If not let them call the Star-K or the CRC directly for guidance.
FNY -“When taking such an item for the sake of relieving discomfort or even adding comfort, even if NOT incapacitating, I’d assume MUTTAR GAMMUR.”
Your assumption is wrong!
Even though there are some Poskim that say Gelatin is Mutter – it’s not most! The Halachah is you go after Rov! Therefore if it’s not incapacitating – then you can’t take those pills! (Medrabbonim)
The [main] question is not whether gelcaps are “kosher”. Mainstream normative halacha tends to be cautious and not rely on the gedolim who paskened that gelatin is mutar lechatchila.
The main question is regarding to what extent taking pills is “eating.”
Kashrus organizations are beautiful things. Their existence enable many yidden to keep kosher easily, and offers many yidden a good parnassah. Their recommendations, particularly regarding eating food, are important.
Halacha (to the best of my knowledge) says that taking pills is not “eating food.” If you have knowledge otherwise either of: a. a long-accepted halachik practice (ie binding authority); or, b. a persuasive argument made by someone you respect (persuasive authority), you can cite the source and we can discuss whether the source is instructive to us.
My assumption of muttar gammur is based on my learning, mesorah, and general knowledge. I call it an assumption, because halacha is very fact specific. The assumption is that the facts apply to my knowledge of halacha.
I am not paskening for anyone here. Everyone should ask a competent rabbi if nonvitamin pills need to be kosher.
If you dont have a rabbi you can look at kashrus websites, blogs, coffeerooms, and/or google or (lehavdil) sefarim until you are definitively convinced one way or another. But you should probably get a rabbi so that the research is his responsibility. Also, he is probably better at it than you are.
A gutten kvittel to all…
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