As we’ve learned in previous editions of Daily Halacha, in certain situations a person who leaves during a meal must recite a new Beracha when he returns and resumes eating. Namely, if he was eating a food requiring "Boreh Nefashot" (such as fruit or beverages), he must recite a new Beracha when he returns and wishes to resume eating. This is in contrast to one who was eating a meal with bread, as the obligation to recite Birkat Ha’mazon in the place where he eats effectively establishes a sustained connection to that location, and thus he does not have to recite a new Beracha upon returning.
The Rama (Rabbi Moshe Isserles of Cracow, 1525-1572) rules (Orah Haim 178:7) that if a person leaves a meal to use the restroom, this does not constitute a disruption to the meal, and he thus does not have to recite a new Beracha when he returns and resumes eating. The Hafetz Haim (Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan, 1839-1933), in Bi’ur Halacha, comments that the Rama speaks here specifically of one who uses the restroom in the middle of a meal with bread. In his view, this ruling is simply an application of the standard principle regarding meals with bread, that one who leaves is not required to recite a new Beracha upon returning. If, however, a person left while eating a food requiring "Boreh Nefashot," then he would, indeed, be required to recite a new Beracha when he returns. This is also the position of the Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909), in Parashat Behaalotecha.
Others, however, rule differently. Rav Yaakov Kastro ruled that using the restroom is never considered a disruption to one’s meal, since this is a normal, common need that everyone has, and one who begins eating naturally anticipates that he might have to leave for this purpose during the meal. This is also the position taken by several other authorities, including the Lebush and the Aruch Ha’shulhan, as documented by Rav Moshe Feinstein (1895-1986), in Iggerot Moshe (vol. 6).
Hacham Ovadia Yosef, in his work Halichot Olam (vol. 2, p. 44), writes that one who uses the restroom while eating a "Boreh Nefashot" food must recite a new Beracha when he returns. He contends that since one is halachically barred from reciting Berachot in a restroom, this is considered a disruption, and a new Beracha is required when one resumes eating. It should be noted that Hacham Ovadia wrote this when restrooms were already inside the home, and not outside, and thus this ruling would apply even to our conditions, when one who uses the restroom does not have to leave the home. (Moreover, his rationale underlying this ruling – that Berachot may not be recited in a restroom – is applicable regardless of whether the restroom is situated indoors or outdoors.)
In any event, it appears that Hacham Ovadia later rescinded this ruling. The English edition of Yalkut Yosef cites an article written by the Hacham’s son, Hacham Yishak Yosef, in the journal Yated Le’Meir, in which the author recalls discussing this issue with Hacham Ovadia, who ruled that one does not recite a new Beracha after using the restroom during a meal. (Actually, the English edition in Hilchot Yom Tov cites Hacham Ovadia’s ruling in Halichot Olam, but later, in the laws of Berachot, it is mentioned that the Hacham retracted this ruling.) Indeed, the Yalkut Yosef (Berachot 2, p. 97; listen to audio recording for precise citation) concludes that one should not recite a new Beracha in such a case.
Summary: If somebody used the restroom during a meal, he does not recite a new Beracha when he returns and resumes eating, even if he was eating a food or beverage requiring "Boreh Nefashot."
