Scent Absorption and Food

Q. Does molid rei’ach (causing a smell to be absorbed) apply to food?

A. The prohibition of molid rei’ach does not apply to food and drink. Rav Ovadya Yosef (Yabia Omer 6, OC 36) demonstrates this from Shulchan Aruch (OC 320:19). There it states that one may add saffron (a bright colored spice with a strong fragrance) to a pot of food on Shabbos. One may ask: Tzovei’a (dyeing) is one of the 39 melachos. Should we not be concerned that saffron will color the food in violation of the melacha of Tzovei’a? Clearly, the restriction of dyeing does not apply to food items. Rav Ovadya extrapolates. If the Biblical prohibition of tzvei'a does not apply to food, surely the Rabbinic prohibition of molid rei’ach does not apply to food as well. Nonetheless, the allowance to add fragrance to food is only applicable for food that is used for consumption, but not food that is used for other purposes. This is apparent from the Mishnah Berurah (128:23) who writes that one may not add scented oil to water to impart a pleasant fragrance to hands when they are washed. Similarly, the Mishnah Berurah (320:56) writes that it is forbidden to add dye to a glass of water that is used as an ornament that is hung in the sunlight. Since the water is not intended for drinking, the prohibition of tzovei’a (dyeing) applies.

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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.