kitniyot batel berov
Question
My Ashkenazi brother in law says that kitniyot batel berov only applies bediavad, and since the manufacturer knows they are applying the kitniyot oil or whatever this is not applicable to Pesach products that have less than half kitniyot. Do what you mean by "bediavad" for this is for only at home and we are not required to delve into the thought process of the manufacturer so we don't worry about lekhatkhilah or bediavad in manufactuered products? They are coming to our house for Seder so I need what to answer him with :)
Answer
Answered by Aaron AbadiBediAvad is loosely transalated as "Bedi" = When "Avad" = it was done. Meaning when it was done already it's OK. Any product already mixed is BediAvad. However, it says that you cannot be Mevatel (render insignificant) a prohibition LeChatchilah (intentionally). If you do, then it is not permitted to the people it was made for. This is a Knas (fine) to deter people from just being Mevatel everything. Anyone studying the Laws of Taaruvot would know that this does not apply to a company manufacturing a product who clearly has no intention of Bitul, but is rather following an exact recipe created and controlled by an exact science. Do you think the guys at Coco-Cola were trying to be Mevatel the Kitnoyot when they created their recipe?! Sometimes it's dangerous for people without a broad knowledge of a specific area, to browse the subject. It causes confusion to everyone around them. If he's Machmir when he isn't supposed to, he is insulting his host and not getting any extra credits for a Chumra that is incorrect. AA