DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 746 KB)
Delivering Kosher Food Through a Non-Jewish Courier

The question arises in Halacha as to the status of Kosher food delivered by a gentile. For example, if a person orders food from a Kosher restaurant or pizza shop, and the food is delivered by a non-Jewish delivery boy, is the food permissible? From the Gemara it appears that if a gentile delivers Kosher meat, one must be concerned that the gentile may have substituted non-Kosher meat for the Kosher meat, and therefore the delivered meat may not be eaten. Would this mean that a Kosher restaurant may not deliver meat with a non-Jewish delivery boy? Is there a distinction in this regard between meat and other foods?

Chacham Ovadia Yosef writes (Halichot Olam, vol. 7, p. 171, Halacha 13) that meat may be delivered via a gentile only if it is wrapped in a double seal. Since one must tear open two seals to take the meat, any tampering of the package would be immediately discernible. Therefore, if the customer finds the meat with its double-seal packaging intact, he may rest assured that it was not tampered with and the meat is Kosher. This applies to wine, as well; one may allow a gentile to deliver wine only if it is packaged with a double seal. The Mashgiach (Kashrut supervisor) of a restaurant or store must ensure that meat and wine is packaged in a double seal before sent for delivery via a non-Jew.

If, however, one sends Yayin Mevushal (wine that had been brought to a boil) or dairy products, then a single seal suffices. So long as the food or wine was packaged with a single seal, it may be delivered via a gentile courier.

This Halacha applies as well to sending one's non-Jewish housekeeper to the store to purchase food. It is permissible to have her bring from the store sealed, packaged food, and one may have her bring meat or wine that is not Yayin Mevushal only if it is packaged with a double seal.

Summary: If a gentile brings or delivers Kosher meat, or wine that is not Mevushal, one may partake of the meat or wine only if it had been packaged with a double seal. For Mevushal wine or dairy foods, a single seal suffices.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Saying Kadish and Hazara If A Minyan Formed After Praying BeYachid
Answering “Amen” to the Beracha “Shomer Et Amo Yisrael Mi’kol Dabar Ra La’ad”
The Status of Israeli Residents Visiting America with Regard to “Barech Alenu”
Holding and Kissing the Sisit During Shema
Reciting the 'Yag Middot' Privately and with a Minyan; Counting the 'Yag Middot' with One's Fingers
Learning After One Finishes the Amida, Before the Hazzan's Repetition
The Proper Way to Hold One's Hands During Tefila
Must One Wear a Belt During Tefila?
If One Does Not Remember During the Amida Which Beracha He Just Recited
Insights On The Kadish
Reciting Berachot, Praying or Studying Torah When One Needs to Use the Restroom
Halachot Concerning the Recitation of the First Verse of Shema
Standing for the Recitation of Shema
"Keri" and "Ketiv": Words in the Torah That are Not Pronounced According to Their Spelling
Studying Torah or Praying When One Smells a Foul Odor
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found