Lanolin

Q. Is lanolin (wool grease) kosher?

A. Lanolin is a greasy yellowish substance that is found naturally in sheep and other wool-bearing animals. It is secreted by sebaceous glands located under the skin. Lanolin protects the wool and skin from the climate and environment. Lanolin forms a thin shield on the wool, which keeps the wool dry and prevents the wool from absorbing huge amounts of water which would immobilize the sheep. Because of its soothing and healing quality, lanolin is a common additive in creams, lotions and moisturizers. More important to the kosher consumer, because of lanolin’s restorative quality, it is also commonly present in lip balms, and is an important source for Vitamin D3. By law, Vitamin D must be added to pasteurized milk, and it is often extracted from lanolin. Since lanolin is an animal secretion, what is its kosher status?

It seems clear that lanolin is kosher based on a Mishnah in Bechoros (1:2) that states that whatever emanates from a kosher animal is kosher. Shach (YD 81:12) explains that this includes secretions from kosher animals.

Rav Belsky zt”l offered an additional proof that lanolin is kosher. The Gemara Shabbos (49a) states that one may not insulate a hot pot of food for Shabbos with wool that is naturally wet, because it will warm up the pot. Rav Belsky explained, that naturally wet wool refers to wool that is greasy with lanolin. It is clear from this Gemara that there is no kashrus concern with getting wool grease on a kosher pot, and it is only an issue because of Shabbos.

The OU accepts the position that lanolin is kosher.

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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.