SHOCKING: Chametz found in Kosher for Passover food at Israeli hospital

In a disturbing development during the Passover holiday, a shocking discovery was made at a hospital in Northern Israel when kernels of wheat were found in a bag of lentils labeled as Kosher L’Pesach. The lentils, a type of kitniyot (legumes) permitted for consumption by Sephardic Jews during Passover, were being prepared for use on Yom Tov. However, during a routine inspection by a mashgiach (kosher supervisor), numerous pieces of chametz—specifically, actual wheat kernels—were found among the lentils.

The product was labeled with the Pesach certification of Badatz Beit Yosef and another kosher authority, leading many to assume it was entirely safe for use during the holiday. The mashgiach, who reportedly checked the lentils five separate times, still found foreign material forbidden during Passover. This has sparked alarm within the kosher-observant community, especially among those who rely on packaged and certified kitniyot products.

Adding to the confusion is that while the lentils had a prominent Pesach hechsher from two well-known supervisory bodies, the Badatz Eidah Chareidis—another respected kosher authority that certifies the product year-round—has previously clarified that these lentils are not certified for Passover use. They emphasize the need for consumers to perform thorough personal checks before relying on such products during the stringent holiday period.

The incident has reignited the ongoing debate surrounding the use of kitniyot during Passover and the broader trust in mass-produced Kosher L’Pesach products. Many Ashkenazi Jews already refrain from eating kitniyot altogether, citing both tradition and the possibility of cross-contamination with chametz. For others, the discovery underscores why some families avoid processed foods entirely during the holiday, opting instead for whole, manually checked ingredients to ensure strict adherence to Passover standards.

As news of the incident spreads, kosher authorities are expected to review labeling practices and possibly tighten inspection protocols moving forward.