Is quinoa allowed on Pesach?

There are authorities in USA who allow it on Pesach, although in Israel many Rabbis consider it Kitniyot. Thus LBD recommend that you avoid quinoa on Pesach, although if you need it for special dietary reasons it would be permitted provided it is carefully checked to ensure no other chametz grains are mixed in.

Does a non-Jew really own my chametz on Pesach?

Yes! The sale of chametz carried out today is a legally binding sale using a contract. The sale is usually carried out by a rabbi on behalf of his community. Various methods of transaction are used including the buyer making a down payment; exchange of properties; handing over of keys; various legal documents, and in some cases a guarantor on behalf of the buyer.
The buyer purchases outright all the products listed on the sale forms. After Pesach, the rabbi and the non-Jew meet up again at which point the rabbi demands payment in full or the return of the chametz. When the non-Jew chooses the latter, the sale is reversed and the chametz falls back into the property of the rabbi.

Can one buy fresh fish from the supermarket?

It is always better where possible to purchase food for Passover, including fish, that has been prepared under rabbinical supervision. However, if that is not possible, then one may buy frozen or fresh fish from any fishmonger, provided some skin is still attached. It is advisable to rinse it before use.

Are disposable cups and plates allowed?

Starch is often used in the production of paper products which could be of wheat origin. Thus it may be preferable to avoid the use of paperware with hot or wet foods.

Does tea and coffee really need to be kosher for Passover?

Herbal teas and decaf coffee may contain actual chometz. The long standing custom in the UK and beyond is to buy all products for Pesach with a Kosher for Pesach label so as not to confuse ordinary tea with Earl Grey, regular coffee with decaf or other more sophisticated products.

Are eggs with printed wording on them a problem as the ink may be wheat based?

The ink used to print on eggs is made from two components, a colouring agent and the solvent. The colouring agent is purely synthetic and does not present a problem for Passover.

The solvents most commonly employed are isopropanol, ethanol or a combination of both. The solvent is of such nature, that within a fraction of a second after applying the stamp, it completely evaporates. A moist stamp would lead to unwanted smudges.
It is therefore very safe to assume, that not a trace of solvent remains within a short time of application to the egg. To sum up:
It is not certain if ethanol is used in stamping eggs. Even if ethanol is used, it is not certain that it is wheat derived.
Even if wheat derived ethanol was used, none of it remains after the ink has dried and it no longer constitutes part of the ink.

Is there a problem with ordinary bottled water?

All still bottled waters are fine. The KLBD has researched several brands of carbonated water and found some to be not suitable for Passover use as they have been artificially carbonated with CO2 produced by the brewing industry. It is always better to buy products that are made under rabbinical supervision for Passover.

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