KosherClasses: Chalav Yisroel Powdered Milk

I make my own yogurt from Chalav Yisroel milk and I need to add powdered Chalav Akum to it to thicken it. I do not want to follow the opinion of HaRav Tzvi Pesach Frank, zt"l that powdered milk was not included within the issur of Chalav Akum. Would there be a way to add it so the Chalav Akum powdered milk would be become batul in the Chalav Yisroel milk. If so, how much of it would be batul and how would I measure it?

There is powdered Chalav Yisroel milk (under Star-K supervision) but I live in a small community and can't obtain it.

I am wondering if one could not order online at one of the kosher supermarkets.

To deal with your question - since one is not permitted to be mevatel (nullify) prohibited foods intentionally, you first have to presuppose that the powdered Chalav Akum milk is permitted. This is a reasonable assumption, since Rav Moshe Feinstein permitted milk (in the U.S.) and Rav Frank permits powdered milk. So then your intent is to rely on them to nullify, and at least avoid eating food with any significant amount.

You would need a ratio of 60 to 1, measured by volume not weight.

Again, normally one is not allowed to be mevatel intentionally.

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Does the issur of being mevatel (nullify) prohibited foods intentionally apply to an issur d'robbonon, like Chalav Akum?

If it is, are you saying that since the Rav Moshe permitted regular Chalav Akum (produced in the U.S. if one can not get Chalav Yisroel), and Rav Frank permitted powdered chalav akum, in general, then the issur of powdered Chalav Akum (made in the U.S.) is "weakened," so to speak, to the point where regular Chalav Yisroel can nullify the the powdered Chalav Akum even when added intentionally?

Also, how can one measure the 1:60 ratio of powdered milk to regular milk since the powder is a solid and the milk is a liquid?

I was buying the powdered Chalav Yisroel (under Star-K supervision) but the price went up very significantly, and regular Cholov Yisroel milk costs much less than the powdered milk.

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The prohibition to nullify applies to d'rabanon as well.

What we are saying is that in order to nullify you have to assume that the cholov stam is permitted anyway.

To measure by volume, take a liquid measuring cup, fill to the 1 oz level with powder, and then measure 60 oz of liquid.

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I kind of see your point. But, if we assume that Chalav Akum is permitted then there would be no need to me'vatel any issur!! So what is the real status of the the Chalav Akum?

This no problem according to Rav Frank's view, but according to the Chazon Ish who vehemently disagreed with him and prohibitted powdered Chalav Akum this is a question - since my groundrule was that I did not want to use Rav Frank's heter.

I got this info from Rabbi Jachter's Halacha Files, www.koltorah.org:

Indeed, many of the great twentieth-century authorities believe that the Halacha essentially regards responsible government supervision as Halachically equivalent to Jewish supervision in the context of the halacha of Chalav Yisrael because it creates a Mirtat to introduce non-Kosher milk. Rav Moshe Feinstein (Teshuvot Igrot Moshe Y.D. 1:46) writes, "In a case where there is fear (“Mirtat”) of government penalty, this rabbinic prohibition does not apply." Other authorities who essentially accept this position include the Chazon Ish (Y. D. 41:4,) Rav Zvi Pesach Frank in case of powdered milk (ad. loc.), Rav Yosef Eliyahu Henkin (Teshuvot Ivra 38) and Rav Yaakov Kaminetzsky (Emet LiYaakov p.308).

Indeed, the Chazon Ish (Y.D. 41:4) aligns the idea of relying on the government supervision with the reasoning of the Pri Chadash. According to the Chazon Ish, the Chatam Sofer rejects relying on government supervision in this context. We must clarify, though, that the Chazon Ish in his writings is quite inclined to the view of the Pri Chadash, although he does not rule explicitly in accordance with the Pri Chadash. The Chazon Ish’s view on this matter is clarified by his brother-in-law Rav Yaakov Kanievsky (Krayna D’igrata 2:123) that the Chazon Ish relied on the Pri Chadash to permit frail Yeshiva students drink powdered milk in difficult wartime years when milk was not readily available in Eretz Yisrael. Thus, the Chazon Ish essentially accepts the view of the Pri Chadash but only in case of great need. For further discussion of the Chazon Ish’s view on this issue see B’n’tivei Hechalav p.31.

So, would the Chazon Ish allow powdered Chalav Akum (American made) if it had become battul in Chalav Yisroel even intentionally?

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Not sure about his particular position, but you do need to use Rabbi Frank's leniency to some degree here. If you don't want to use it at all, then you should not add the powder.

Would be happy to discuss further by phone, call me at the Star-K office.

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Lefriedman,
I want to encourage you: keep on searching -
me too, I tried different addresses of online ordering for kosher products but I could not order the quantity I wanted because it was too small.
Now, after a lot of searching, I FINALLY have found a kosher shop which delivers just the quantity I need.
(By the way, I am living in Germany and can't give you hints for the US)
Regards idi

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