Halachic Highlights

Question: Is there a prohibition of Bishul Akum on potatoes, French fries, and potato chips that are cooked by an akum?

Short Answer: Many poskim rule that potatoes are subject to Bishul Akum, while French fries and potato chips are tougher calls. The OU’s position is that French fries and potato chips are not subject to Bishul Akum.

Question: May a respected person (“adam chashuv”) eat foods that were cooked by an akum where the food is edible when eaten raw?

Short Answer: Many poskim are strict on this issue, but the OU appears to rely on the lenient poskim, including the Aruch HaShulchan.

Question: Is there a prohibition of Bishul Akum on milk that was pasteurized by an akum?

Short Answer: Many contemporary poskim rule that there is no prohibition of Bishul Akum on pasteurized milk.

Question: Does the prohibition of Bishul Akum apply to a housekeeper or another akum in a Jew’s home?

Short Answer: According to many poskim, the prohibition of Bishul Akum applies to a housekeeper in a Jew’s home. However, b’dieved, if the food was accidentally cooked by a hired housekeeper in a Jew’s home, some poskim allow the food to be eaten.

Question: Does a person violate Bishul Akum on a food that he eats raw but the general population does not normally eat raw?

Short Answer: According to most poskim, Bishul Akum is based on the general populace’s eating preferences, and thus, the person would violate Bishul Akum. This has practical ramifications for sushi.

Question: Are you permitted to eat food cooked by an irreligious Jew?

Short Answer: Many poskim permit food cooked by an irreligious Jew. However, if the Jew has the status of “mumar” (heretic), there is reason to be strict.