Passover (Feast of Unleavened Bread) commemorates our deliverance from Egypt by removing all forms of leaven—both physical and spiritual—so that we remain blameless before the Most High.

“Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.” — Exodus 12:15

During Passover, the Most High commands us to remove all forms of leaven from our homes and to refrain from consuming any leaven for seven days. Make sure to check all food labels for leaven-containing ingredients.

After careful study of the word “leaven” and based on scriptural knowledge, leaven generally falls into the following categories:

1. Yeast

2. Anything that causes bread to rise

3. Any product derived from grains (wheat, barley, rye, oats, etc.) processed by fermentation

   • A primary example is vinegar.

If any ingredient falls into one of these categories, it is considered leaven.

Avoid foods containing these ingredients:

• Active Dry Yeast

• Barm

• Bovril

• Brewer’s Yeast

• Cenovis

• Marmite

• Nutritional Yeast

• Oxo

• Promite

• Sourdough Starter

• Vegemite

• Yeast

• Yeast Extract

These ingredients are variations of baking soda/baking powder. They are not Kosher for Passover if used in any dough (bread, crusts, pastries, tortillas, etc.). They are permissible for cleaning or in certain drinks, but out of precaution, do not keep them in your home or mix them into food during Passover.

Ingredients to watch for include (but are not limited to):

• Aluminum Bicarbonate (ammonium carbonate)

• Ammonium Bicarbonate

• Ammonium Carbonate

• Ammonium Chloride

• Ammonium Dehydration Phosphate

• Ammonium Hydrogen Carbonate

• Ammonium Phosphate (dibasic, monobasic)

• Ammonium Sulfate

• Baking Powder

• Baking Soda (bicarbonate of soda)

• Bicarb (abbreviation of bicarbonate)

• Bicarbonate of Ammonia

• Bicarbonate of Soda (bicarb soda, sodium bicarbonate)

• Bread Soda

• Calcium Carbonate

• Calcium Lactate

• Calcium Monohydrogen Phosphate

• Calcium Oxide

• Calcium Phosphate (dibasic, monobasic)

• Calcium Dihydrogen Phosphate

• Calcium Sulfate

• Cream of Tartar (used for both leavening and thickening)

• Diammonium Hydrogen Phosphate

• Dipotassium Hydrogen Phosphate

• Dicalcium Pyrophosphate

• Dimagnesium Phosphate Dihydrate

• Dicalcium Phosphate

• Disodium Phosphate (disodium hydrogen phosphate)

• Glucono delta-lactone (glucono delta-lactone)

• Hartshorne (horn salt, baker’s ammonia)

• Magnesium Gluconate

• Mono-Calcium Phosphate

• Potassium Acid Tartrate

• Potassium Bicarbonate

• Potassium Bitartrate (potassium hydrogen carbonate)

• Potassium Carbonate (potash)

• Potassium Chloride

• Potassium Dihydrogen Citrate

• Potassium Gluconate

• Potassium Phosphate (dibasic, monobasic)

• Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate

• Sodium Aluminum Phosphate

• Sodium Aluminum Sulfate (component of baking powder)

• Sodium Bitartrate

• Sodium Gluconate

• Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate

• Sodium Pantothenate

• Trisodium Phosphate

Note: Self-rising flour also causes bread to rise and is not Kosher for Passover.

These include:

• Acetic Acid

• Acetum

• Apple Cider Vinegar

• Ethanoic Acid

• Ethanol

• Ethyl Acid

• Methane Carboxylic Acid

• Soy Sauce

• Vanilla Extract

• Vinegar

Check condiments, sauces, pickled foods, and dressings for these ingredients.

Guidelines

• Alcoholic drinks must be checked for their fermentation process. Although alcohol is fermented, it is not always grain-based.

• Refrain from any liquor derived from wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt, or sugarcane if it has undergone grain-based fermentation.

• It is best to have straight liquor or pure juice as a mixer.

• Avoid liqueurs or flavored liquors.

• If a drink is labeled “Kosher for Passover,” it is automatically acceptable.

• For tequila, make sure the label says “100% Agave.”

Whiskey / Bourbon

• Most are wheat- or rye-based; not recommended.

• Examples: Crown Royal, FireBird, Jack Daniels, Jim Bean, Markers Farm

Vodka

• Often from unknown sources; not recommended unless proven otherwise.

• Examples: Absolut, Belvedere, Ciroc, Grey Goose, New Amsterdam, Tito’s

Gin

• Essentially flavored vodka; not recommended.

• Examples: Bombay, Seagram’s, Tanqueray

Rum

• Sugarcane-based; added flavors/fermentation often questionable; not recommended.

• Examples: Bacardi, Captain Morgan, Havana, Meyers

Tequila

• Made from the agave fruit; generally acceptable if labeled “100% Agave.” If not labeled, it is not recommended.

• Examples:

  • Añejo (ensure it’s 100% Agave)

  • Jose Cuervo Gold (not recommended unless labeled 100% Agave)

  • Montezuma Gold (not recommended unless labeled 100% Agave)

  • Reposado (ensure 100% Agave)

  • Sauza Gold (not recommended unless labeled 100% Agave)

  • Silver (ensure 100% Agave)

• Gold variants like Sauza Gold, Jose Cuervo Gold, or Montezuma Gold are generally not recommended unless explicitly labeled 100% Agave.

Brandy / Cognac

• Typically distilled from fruit or wine; most are acceptable for Passover.

• Examples: Hennessy, Rémy Martin

Wine

• Must read the label. Only acceptable if explicitly labeled “Kosher for Passover.”

Liqueurs

• Any flavored liquor is not Kosher for Passover. Avoid pre-made cocktails, malt liquor, beer, and flavored mixers.

• Examples: Baileys, Blue Curaçao, Cutwater, Flavored Puckers, Jose Cuervo Margaritas, Peach Schnapps, Triple Sec, White Claws