THE HALACHIC
CORNER OCTOBER 2024
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תש ר י תשפ״ ה
COR - KASHRUTH COUNCIL OF CANADA
kernels of wisdom A discussion of the bracha rishona of corn chips, Corn Cakes, Corn Flakes and Popcorners BY: RABBI TSVI HEBER
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n this article, we address the appropriate brachos of contemporary products made from corn. There are two important points that should be clarified at the outset. Firstly, prior to the application of hilchos brachos to manufactured products, it is necessary to understand the metzius. Secondly, brachos on manufactured foods can change based on whether the process to make them becomes the normal way to consume that food. An example of this latter point is the bracha on hearts of palm. While the Gemara1 is explicit that the bracha on hearts of palm is shehakol, many Poskim rule that nowadays the bracha has changed to ha’adoma.2 They reason based on the Gemara that explains that shehakol is appropriate since palm trees are not planted for their hearts. However, nowadays, palm trees are indeed planted for their hearts and the bracha changes to ha’adoma. Corn chips are a snack food made from cornmeal (cornmeal is ground corn with a course and gritty texture) fried in oil or baked, usually in the shape of a small noodle or scoop. Snappy Snax, for example, lists whole grain corn, as opposed to corn flour, as an ingredient. For Corn Cakes, a measured amount of pre-mixed grain is dropped into a
mold. The mold is heated and the grain pops due to the high temperature of the mold. The popping grain cannot escape, and it fuses together in the circular shape of the mold that it is contained in.3 Corn flakes are made from corn kernels split into three equal parts, then dried, rolled into flakes and toasted. Finally, Popcorners are made from corn kernels that have been popped and then ground into a fine powder. The powder is then mixed with water and salt to create a dough, which is then formed into the shape of a chip. The chips are then fried in oil and served with a variety of dipping sauces. What are the brachos on these foods made from corn? Some kashrus agencies have lists through which consumers can easily access information regarding the brachos of certified kosher products.4 If a corn flake cereal, for example, is not on the list, how does a consumer know what the bracha is? The Star-K writes that if the cereal lists corn flour the corn has been ground and reformed into pellets; therefore, the bracha is shehakol. If the cereal lists corn or milled corn, it may be a whole grain product and the bracha is ha’adoma or it may be ground and the bracha is shehakol. To determine the bracha one must look carefully at the various flakes. If they have jagged edges and the surface of
the flake is bumpy it comes from a grit and the bracha is ha’adoma. If the corn flakes are relatively smooth with very small bumps and the edges are smoother the corn flakes are from a more uniform pellet and the bracha is shehakol.5 These guidelines are well publicized and as a result have become wellaccepted. But what is the halachic source that they are based upon? The Rema writes that for a cooked or baked product made from kitniyos, such as corn, the bracha only changes from ha’adoma to shehakol if either it has been totally mashed into something whose source is no longer recognizeable, or it has been made into a cooked dish which is not as tasty as the raw product.6 This seems to substantiate the guidelines mentioned above. A product made from corn flour is shehakol because the corn has been ground to the extent that it is no longer recognizaeable. Whereas a product made from corn or milled corn may not be considered ground enough for the bracha to change.7 Some go as far as to say that even if made from whole corn or milled corn the bracha would be shehakol so as long as the source of the product is not recognizeable.8 Accordingly, all the products mentioned above should be shehakol. However, all of this is far from a simple matter.