Yes, ZYN nicotine pouches are Kosher according to Rabbi Abadi's Ohel Torah. The forum is for people who want to learn about Jewish rules regarding everyday actions. ZYNs are kosher by principle of exclusion because they do not contain anything that is not kosher.
We aren't the ruling authority on this, so we conferred with someone who was. Rabbi Chaimyabadi was asked about the Kosher status of ZYN nicotine pouches, and he said, "They can be used." If you're still confused, don't worry, we'll explain everything for you.
What Even Is Kosher Food?
Kosher food refers to a fixed set of items and produce that Jewish people are allowed to eat. These foods are subject to Kashrut laws, which govern foods that are permissible or impermissible for Jews. These laws govern three types of food items, namely meat, dairy, and neutral (fleishig, milchig, and pareve) items.
What are Kashrut Laws Regarding Food?
Kashrut laws are rules regarding food to protect the spiritual and physical integrity of Judaism followers. Here are the Kashrut laws regarding meat, dairy, and neutral foods:
- Meat (Fleishig): This refers to a fixed type of meat that is derived from permissible animals. This includes venison, beef, chicken, and other animals (usually cloven hooved). According to Kashrut laws, the blood must be drained from this meat through salting after they are honored and sacrificed the proper way.
- Dairy (Milchig): Jews are only allowed to eat a certain types of dairy products like milk and butter from cow, sheep, and buffalo. Dairy products from artificial means or from animals that are not permissible are not considered Kosher.
- Other Items (Pareve): These are items that do not contain dairy or meat. Most fruits and vegetables are considered pareve. These are subject to the tithe laws of Israel which dictate how much of a certain food grown in Israel must be paid as tribute.
The laws regarding pareve items are much stricter especially around special events like passover or pesach. During these sacred days, Jewish people have to adhere to the Kashrut laws to maintain their purity.
How Are ZYN Pouches Kosher?
ZYN pouches are kosher because they do not contain any gluten or other animal derived ingredients. The extended list of ZYN ingredients does not contain dairy, grains, or other artificial non-Kosher materials. This lack of non-kosher products makes ZYN pouches Kosher, and this fact was confirmed by Ralph Lasry. If you're curious about what ingredients ZYN pouches contain, you can check out our detailed breakdown.
This answer is from the Ohel Torah forum, where you ask the rabbi about questions regarding the Jewish faith or certain practices. The question asked was specifically regarding ZYN nicotine pouches, so it begs the question, what about other nicotine pouches.
Are Other Nicotine Pouches Kosher?
Yes, most smokeless tobacco-free nicotine pouches are kosher because they do not contain prohibited ingredients. Most VELO, LOOP, and ZYN pouches contain artificial flavorings, nicotine powder, pH stabilizers, filler, and sodium carbonate. Even the pouches are made from plant-based material. If you're interested in exploring different options, you might want to check out our comprehensive guide to ZYN flavors and alternatives.
Additionally, you don't even swallow these pouches or chew them. You place the pouch between your upper lip and gums, which means nothing goes beyond your mouth. Naturally, most nicotine pouches are Kosher.
Do Different Factors Affect Kosher Nicotine Pouches?
Yes, there are certain factors that can affect the kosher status of nicotine pouches. The biggest factor is the ingredients used for different nicotine pouch flavors. Certain food flavors rely on different oils which bring the kashrut into question.
It's important to check the flavors and list of ingredients of different nicotine pouches to determine their permissibility. While it may not seem apparent, high levels of nicotine that damage your health could make certain pouches non-Kosher. To understand more about nicotine strengths and their effects, you can read our article on how many mg of nicotine are in ZYN pouches.
This idea stems from the script: "But beware and watch yourself very well" (Devarim 4:9). It prohibits followers of Judaism from using products that could harm their health. The idea of Kosher nicotine pouches is equivalent to the concept of haram and halal nicotine products in Islam.
Is Nicotine Kosher?
Nicotine by itself is neither Kosher nor prohibited according to Jewish law. However, this is mainly because of a lack of research regarding the sole impact of nicotine on health. For example, nicotine by itself is addictive, but it can't affect your health like the toxins in a cigarette.
Additionally, nicotine comes from the nightshade family of plants. There are Kosher laws regarding the leavened plants that produce nicotine. With existing laws regarding these plants, there is no point in having laws for specific chemicals in those foods.
Are Cigarettes Kosher?
According to Chabad, a platform specifically for Jewish learning, cigarettes are antithetical according to Judaistic laws. Cigarettes contain 7000 toxins, some of which cancer, heart damage, blood problems, etc. These problems makes cigarettes a prohibited item. If you're looking to quit smoking, you might be interested in learning how to stop smoking with nicotine pouches.
According to the sixth rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, anything that harms you is prohibited because of the laws of the Halachah. In recent years, most rabbi have condemned smoking and cigarettes altogether because of their health problems.
Are Snus Kosher?
Snus or smokeless tobacco products that do not have Kosher ingredients are prohibited. Research is limited on the permissibility of snus and the negative effects on health. However, snus does have pasteurized tobacco paste, which is often considered chametz. If you're wondering about the differences between snus and nicotine pouches, our article on snus vs ZYN might be helpful.
Snus use is frowned upon during Pesach when Kashrut laws are even more stringent. We couldn't find any other official rulings on the status of snus. However, there was a thread on Reddit that showed that certain Lundgrens snus products had Kosher compliance.
The best way to avoid any problem is to use snus that are acceptable according to Kashrut laws. Always check the list of ingredients and contact the manufacturer to determine their status.
Conclusion: ZYN Nicotine Pouches Are Kosher
According to Rabbi Chaimyabadi, ZYN nicotine pouches are Kosher and acceptabel for use during passover. Nicotine pouches are Kosher because they do not contain any prohibited materials. Furthermore, nicotine pouches do not exhibit the risks of standard cigarettes, vapes, or other nicotine products.
You can use ZYN, VELO, LOOP, and most other tobacco-free nicotine pouches, without violating Halacha laws. Order your kosher ZYN nicotine pouches today and quit the things that could compromise your pesach. Get special discounts on bulk orders today. If you're new to nicotine pouches, you might want to start with our guide on the best ZYN pouches for beginners.
