Brachos of Fiber One, Pringles, Craisins, Corn Cakes, and Granola Bars

(Hakhel)

It could be said that one is not intruding into the life of another if, out of care and concern, he would like to aid another perform a Mitzvah properly.  As one example, we provided cases where the bracha over an item is not well known and one should feel comfortable mentioning this fact and double-checking that his fellow is about to make the correct bracha.  A reader commented that the bracha on several of the foods that we noted, is in fact, the subject of dispute among authorities.  Accordingly, we provide our most recent brief notes on the brachos at hand:

A.  Fiber One.  The OU, which gives the Hashgacha on Fiber One cereal, has determined that the proper brachos on this cereal are Mezonos and Al HaMichya.  We note that the original determination as to Fiber One was that its bracha was a Shehakol, but that position changed over a year ago [we do not know whether this was due to a change in the constitution of the product].

[In doing further research on Fiber One cereals, we have learned from the OU that although the bracha on Fiber One (original) and Fiber One Honey Clusters is Mezonos, the bracha on the General Mills Fiber One 80 Calories Chocolate Squares is Borei Pri Ha’adama.  This demonstrates how each kind of cereal (and other kinds of food items) must be individually investigated as to the appropriate bracha–which is such a great and important part of the food consumption!

B.  Pringles.  This snack product is made from denatured potatoes. According to Rav Moshe Feinstein Z’tl, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach Z’tl (The Halachos of Brochos, page 407), and Rav Elyashiv, Z’tl (V’zos Habrocha, page 239), the appropriate brocha is Borei Pri Ha’adoma.

 C.  Craisins.  Craisins are essentially dried cranberries. The Laws of Brachos by Rabbi Binyomin Forst, Shlita writes that the bracha on cranberries is Borei P’ri Ha’eitz.  However, The Halachos of Brochos by Rabbi Yisroel Pinchos Bodner, Shlita, states, based upon the p’sak of HaRav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, Z’tl, “Cranberries grow on creeping vines which grow along the ground. Although the plant produces fruit year after year, nevertheless, since cranberries grow within nine inches of the ground, its bracha is Borei P’ri Ha’adomah.”  The Sefer V’zos HaBracha by Rabbi Aleksander Mandelbaum, Shlita, also writes that the bracha is Borei P’ri Ha’adomah.  We note that if the proper bracha is Borei Pri Ha’adomah, the recitation of Borei Pri Ha’eitz would be improper, and would result in a bracha levatala and no bracha rishona having been recited on the food!  Accordingly, one should ask his Rav what bracha rishona to recite over cranberries and craisins (and while with the Rav–over cranberry juice as well!).

D.  Corn Cakes.  Rabbi Yisroel Pinchos Bodner, Shlita, writes that in general products made with corn flour would require a Shehakol, but since “rice cakes made from corn” are made from corn kernels which are whole and intact like popped corn the brocha would be Borei Pri Ha’adoma and Borei Nefashos.

E.  Granola Bars.  Rabbi Belsky and Rabbi Bodner both rule that the proper bracha rishona on Nature Valley Granola Bars is Borei Pri Ha’adoma.  Rabbi Bodner adds that the bracha achrona is problematic–as it theoretically may require a bracha achrona of Ahl Ha’adoma Ve’ahl Pri Ha’adoma (see Brachos 37A, Tosafos d’h’ Hakosses), but the text of this bracha does not exist.  Since we have no text for such a brocha, the Shulchan Aruch brings that a yorei shomayim should only eat a product such as this during the course of a bread meal to avoid the need to make a bracha achrona (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 208: 4; and Mishna Berurah ibid., seif katan 17); otherwise, the ‘default’ bracha acharona would be Borei Nefashos. Alternatively, one can eat less than a k’zayis, which will avoid the need to make a bracha acharona (e.g., Nature Valley packages contain 2 granola bars. Eat less than ¾ of one of those bars, wait 6 minutes before eating another ¾.) (see Halachos of K’zayis by Rabbi Bodner, p. 130). A child need not classify himself as a yorei shomayim and could accordingly eat a shiur and recite a Borei Nefashos.

Once again, one should consult with his Rav regarding any particular issue that he may have.

(Hakhel.info – sign up for their daily chizuk email).