Forgotten Berachos - Sucking Candy

QUESTION: I put a sucking candy in my mouth and then realized I did not say a beracha. I can easily push the candy to the side and recite the beracha clearly. May I do so?

ANSWER: Shulchan Aruch (OC 172:2) writes that if a person forgot to recite a beracha and began to eat, the food should be removed from one’s mouth, provided it will remain edible, until a beracha is recited. This is because the entire mouth should be engaged in praising Hashem when reciting a beracha, and this is not possible if there is food in the mouth. This requirement is based on the pasuk in Tehilim (71:8) “Yimale pi t’hilasecha”, my mouth will be filled with your praise. For the same reason, if one made a beracha and began to eat, and then wishes to consume another food that requires a different beracha, the first food should be completely swallowed before reciting the second beracha. If one violated this halacha and recited a beracha with food still in their mouth, bidi’eved (after the fact), the beracha is valid. 

However, if the food that was in one’s mouth would be inedible if removed, one is not required to ruin their food. It is sufficient to push the food to the side of the mouth and recite the beracha. 

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.