1- Many stores carry products with kitniyos (“legumes”) or egg matzah. Please check ingredients and follow your custom. These items are a great convenience for the days before Pesach, as you can give them to your children to eat and you don’t have to worry about them leaving the crumbs around the house. Even those people who do not eat kitniyos / egg matza on Pesach do not need to sell these products before Pesach.
2- It is advisable to double check that items which you find in the Passover section are actually kosher for Pesach. Sometimes clerks or customers return similar looking items to the wrong shelf. This is the issue that has the greatest potential for causing serious Pesach halocha concerns.
3- Check the certification even on familiar products. Many products are certified by a different agency for Pesach than during the rest of the year. Many product from Eretz Yisroel carry two or more supervisions. Check that there isn’t a disclaimer (in Hebrew) stating that the supervision you rely upon is not valid for Pesach.
4- Many Products are sold in the same packaging as they are the rest of the year. The only difference is the Passover symbol. Check symbols carefully.
5- Some companies change ingredients just for Pesach, such as leaving out the peas from a soup mix for Pesach – without changing the ingredient listing. I believe that this is irresponsible and causes much confusion. If you are concerned about this I suggest that you speak to the supervising agency.
6- Many general supermarkets all over the USA sell “Passover Shank-bones” for the Seder plate. Store owners and managers are not necessarily aware of or concerned about Kashrus issues. Unless the shank-bone is sealed and marked by an agency you trust, or unless it is given to you directly by a Mashgiach or his representative you should assume that it is not kosher.
7- Many Passover-style products are offered for sale. Even if a product is a traditional Pesach food (such as macaroons) check that it is certified for Passover use.
8- Please express your thanks to store owners, managers, and Mashgichim. They have been working hard (and under much tension) to supply the community with Pesach food since Chanuka!
