Kashrus Controversy Shakes Pesach Food Market

Dispute over xanthan gum raises concerns about chametz in Passover products

Mar. 30, 2026 at 4:10pm

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An abstract, impressionistic photograph showing blurred shapes and colors representing various Passover food items, conveying a sense of uncertainty and unease surrounding the kashrus issues at hand.The growing controversy over the kosher status of a common Passover food ingredient casts a hazy shadow over the upcoming holiday season.Brooklyn Today

A long-simmering dispute over the kosher status of xanthan gum, a common food thickener, has erupted publicly this Passover season. Some rabbinic authorities argue that xanthan gum poses a serious chametz concern due to the alcohol used in its production, while others maintain that it is permissible for Passover use. The controversy has led to public denials, newspaper ads, and a flood of questions to rabbis across the country.

Why it matters

This dispute highlights the complexities and high stakes involved in ensuring the kosher status of Passover foods, as even seemingly innocuous ingredients like xanthan gum can raise concerns about the presence of chametz. The disagreement has shaken consumer confidence in some mainstream kosher certifications and may lead more observant Jews to avoid processed foods altogether on Passover.

The details

Xanthan gum is a common thickener found in hundreds of food products, from salad dressings to gluten-free baked goods. It is produced by feeding bacteria a sugar solution, which causes them to secrete the gum. That gum is then separated using alcohol, dried, and ground into a powder. The controversy centers on two issues: the source of the sugar used to feed the bacteria (which can be derived from wheat, a source of chametz) and the alcohol used to separate the gum (which may have absorbed chametz residues from prior production runs). Some rabbinic authorities argue that these factors make xanthan gum unfit for Passover use, while others maintain that the gum is permissible.

  • This Passover season, the dispute went fully public with newspaper ads, formal denials, and a flood of questions reaching rabbis across the country.
  • Several years ago, Rabbi Nuchem Efraim Teitelbaum of Vaalov Kashrus in Brooklyn stopped issuing his certification for xanthan gum as kosher for Passover.

The players

Rabbi Nuchem Efraim Teitelbaum

The former authority who certified xanthan gum as kosher for Passover, but stopped issuing that certification several years ago.

Rabbi Boruch Teitelbaum

The son of Rabbi Nuchem Efraim Teitelbaum, who published a detailed interview laying out the case against the use of xanthan gum for Passover.

Rabbi Menachem Meir Weissmandel

The Av Beis Din of Monsey Nitra, who issued a lengthy responsa defending the permissibility of xanthan gum for Passover use.

Rabbi Pinchas HaKohen Bindler

The head of the kashrus committee for the Eidah Hachareidis, who issued a formal public denial that the Eidah had permitted the use of xanthan gum for Passover.

Hisachdus HaRabbanim

An organization that has come under criticism for permitting the use of xanthan gum, and published a newspaper ad claiming that a long list of respected charedi hashgachos also use xanthan gum in their Passover products.

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What they’re saying

“How can one rely, in a matter of chametz on Pesach, on such a thin thread, dependent on the subtle discernment of individuals?”

— Rabbi Boruch Teitelbaum, Son of Rabbi Nuchem Efraim Teitelbaum

“There are currently two cream cheese products without a hechsher that list xanthan gum on the label. However, they do not actually contain xanthan gum. The labels are simply older versions that have not yet been replaced.”

— CHK Kashrus source

“One who is lenient acts in full accordance with halacha and need not be moved or troubled.”

— Rabbi Menachem Meir Weissmandel, Av Beis Din of Monsey Nitra

“It has come to our attention that certain parties have publicly claimed that the Beis Din Tzedek of the Eidah Hachareidis has permitted the use of xanthan gum for Pesach. We hereby state unequivocally that this is a complete falsehood. We have never issued such a permit, and we do not use this ingredient for Pesach.”

— Rabbi Pinchas HaKohen Bindler, Head of Kashrus Committee, Eidah Hachareidis

What’s next

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The takeaway

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