Unintentional Chametz She’avar Alav HaPesach - Continued

Q. I found a small bag of animal crackers stuffed between the seats in my van. Though I checked the van before Pesach, it is possible that I overlooked that spot. It is also possible that one of the children in my carpool left it there after Pesach. Can it be eaten or must it be thrown away?

A. If one sold their chametz before Pesach, then they may certainly eat the crackers, even if they were in the van before Pesach. However, even if one did not sell their chametz, in this case they can be lenient. Mishnah Berurah (449:5) writes that if it is more probable that the chametz was acquired after Pesach, it is permitted. Since someone checked the van for chametz, and the crackers were not noticed the entire Pesach, it is more likely that they were placed there after Pesach. Therefore, the crackers are permitted.

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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.