Maris Ayin - Meat Juice

QUESTION: I bought a piece of meat that was already kashered (salted). In the corner of the bag there is very red looking liquid. Is this a problem? Must this liquid be washed away?

ANSWER: The Gemara (Chullin 112a) relates that Shmuel did not permit eating bread that was stained with red meat-juice, even though the meat was fully roasted and all blood was removed. However, Rava would eat the bread, and he referred to these juices as “meat-wine.” The halacha follows the opinion of Rava (Shulchan Aruch YD 76:5). The Maharach Ohr Zarua explains that Shmuel forbade eating the bread due to the concern of maris ayin (because eating “meat wine” that separates from meat gives the impression that one is consuming blood). Rav Ovadya Yosef zt”l (Yabia Omer YD 6:8) asks why it is that regarding meat-juice stains on bread we follow the opinion of Rava and are not concerned with maris ayin. Why is this different than blood from one’s mouth which gets onto food, which is forbidden due to maris ayin? He answers that the appearance of “meat-wine” is much duller than blood and people will not readily confuse them. Even if one were to gather this juice in a cup, it would be permitted.

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