THE OU WEIGHS IN ON GEBROKTS

In an article that screams g’neivat hadat, the OU (OU Guide to Passover 5770/2010, Page 14/15) tells us that
a) not eating gebrokts is a popular minhag
b) all on its own, the minhag has become so popular that natural, market born forces are behind the generally disappearance of gebrokt products.

Gebrokts are mixtures of matzah and water. Some people have the idea, in contravention to a clear cut halacha as listed in the Shulchan Aruch, that once cooked, matzah can still become chametz. Therefore some people have a custom to not eat foods made from matzah/water combinations (i.e., like matza balls). Primarily a Chasidic custom, more and more we find that non gebrokt products are all that we see on Pesach.

What the OU article failed to point out is that they will not give their hechsher to any cakes, for example, that are made with matzah meal. They only allow potato starch as an ingredient, thereby making it non gebrokt. To then say that the market is driven by consumer desire to buy only non gebrokt cakes, etc, is at best less than forthright.

The OU article claims, “Based on what is available on the Pesach supermarket shelves, the non gebrokts adherents are commanding an increasing market share.” Wow, is that ever a case of g’neivat hadat! The reason one sees almost no gebrokts products is, as we said above, forces OUTSIDE the market, i.e., the kosher agencies, have made a decision for us. To now claim that the market is driving the appearance of non gebrokt cakes, etc, is terribly misleading.

A friend recently wrote, “I guess that the OU is laying the groundwork for telling us down the road that only non gebrokt is kosher for Passover.” Gosh, we sure hope she is wrong! We don’t, however, hold out a lot of hope!

We all depend upon the OU for so much. It is a pity that they have to descend to such low tactics. G’neivat hadat (one of the forbidden forms of communication as outlined by the Chafetz Chaim) is beneath them.