Purchasing Vinegar-Based Products (e.g. Pickles) from a Jewish Store That Didn't Sell Its Chametz

May I purchase vinegar based products (e.g. pickles, mustard, salad dressing, horseradish) after Pesach from a Jewish store that did not sell its chametz?

In the United States, it can be assumed that white distilled vinegar is made from corn alcohol. Although the OU is aware of some vinegar companies that also purchase wheat alcohol, this wheat alcohol is combined with other non-chametz alcohols and only makes up a small percentage of the total. Since table vinegar (50 grain) is about 95% water, any wheat in the final product is batel (nullified). This is especially true if the vinegar itself is only one of the ingredients in the product, as is the case with pickles, mustard, salad dressing and horseradish. Therefore, these products may be bought immediately after Pesach from any store.

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.