Hi,
Marion wrote:
>I'm not sure where this all began and I no longer have the digests to write
>directly to those who were concerned, but there was a recent request for a
>recipe for light matzoh balls. Someone suggested using baking soda to
>which I responded that the use of baking soda was unacceptable during
>Passover. Someone else wrote back that that while baking powder was
>unacceptable, the use of baking soda was permitted during Passover. Thus I
>began to wonder if I was mistaken although I have never seen "Kosher for
>Passover" baking soda in an American supermarket. While I don't want to
>belabor the point, my source of information is the "The Complete
>American-Jewish Cookbook", edited by London & Bishov, copyright 1952. It
>states on page 3 that "Foods eaten during the eight days of Passover differ
>from those of the rest of the year because of the prohibition of all
>leaven. Foods containing baking powder, baking soda, and yeast are
>forbidden...".
>
It just goes to show that just because something is in a book doesn't mean
that it's true. I wrote the letter you're referring to. In the days I lived
in the States (I moved to Israel in 1980), baking soda was allowed during
Passover even without a hechsher (according to OU). Here almost all baking
soda has a Passover hechsher all year long, and for Pesach baking powder
made with potato starch instead of corn starch is also available. Baking
soda is just a chemical -- sodium bicarbonate -- nothing chometz about it.
Annice
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