CRC RABBIS ON MEDS FOR PESACH

Today’s issue of Kosher Today carries this story. We feel it is so important, we are carrying the story in whole:

(Chicago) Four leading Chicago rabbis issued a far-reaching ruling on the kosher for Passover status of medicines, cosmetics, and toiletries. ?All pill medication (with or without chometz) that one swallows is permitted without special hashgocho (certification),? the rabbis noted in a statement released by the Chicago Rabbinical Council, one of the nation?s leading kosher certification agencies. For chewable pills and liquid medications, the rabbis warned against consuming the medicines that have chometz, urging constituents to consult a local rabbi and their doctor if contemplating discontinuing. The rabbis included Gedaliah Schwartz, head of the rabbinical court of the CRC, Shmuel Fuerst, dayan (judge) of Agudath Israel of Illinois, Chaim Goldzweig of Tifereth Moshe and Dovid Zucker, head of the Lakewood Kollel. The rabbis also ruled that ?all varieties of body soaps, shampoos, and stick deodorants? as well as ointments, creams, nail polish, hand lotion, eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara, blush, foot and face powders, and ink and paint are permitted? irrespective of the ingredients. On the other hand, the rabbis said, colognes, perfumes, hairspray, shaving lotions and deodorants in liquid form that have restorable denatured alcohol should not be used. Lipstick with chometz, said the CRC, should similarly not be used.