Yes, distilled water bottled in clean bottles is kosher. Not all water, even distilled, is kosher. Unclean bottles used with distilled water or even a bottling facility that bottles non-kosher flavored drinks may cause distilled water to not be kosher.
It’s surprising to discover that something as simple as water may not be kosher. Distilled water does not need Passover certification. This makes it kosher by default. However, in the case of water, determining whether the product is kosher or not isn’t always easy.
Distilled water is kosher because it’s heavily purified. This type of water is produced first by boiling. At this stage, the water may not be kosher because the pot you’re using to boil it–or the pot the factory is using to boil it in–may have been used for non-kosher ingredients earlier.
Any residue can completely taint the water within the pot. Distilled water can further remove any taint through its second step of production. After being boiled, the steam or vapor that the water gives off is collected. This is the water you drink.
Because it was collected as steam, and then condensed, the water left any minerals or other residue behind. You’re left with a completely pure source of water. At this stage, the water is kosher. Yet bottling it could make it not kosher.
Before you bottle the distilled water, you need to make sure that the bottle has been thoroughly cleaned. The last thing you want is for the water to become tainted just before you drink it. Once the bottle is cleaned, you can fill it with the distilled water and safely drink from it knowing that it’s kosher.
Because distilled water lacks pollutants and minerals, it doesn’t require Passover certification. It’s as pure as something can become.
Is All Water Kosher?
Not necessarily. In order for water to be kosher, it needs to be unflavored and contain kosher elements within it. The Torah speaks against certain flavors. Any kind of food or beverage that contains a prohibited flavor isn’t kosher. When you pick up a bottle of water that has a flavor added to it, then it’s likely that the water isn’t kosher.
The problem is that water, as a whole, isn’t always given Passover certification. You may find some brands that go the extra mile to mark their bottles as kosher-friendly. Yet others don’t. They rely on your investigation skills and understanding of what makes a thing kosher and not to make the decision for you.
Even purified water may not be kosher. This is because purified water sometimes adds certain flavors to its bottle.
You also have to think about any additives. Manufacturers are notorious for adding sweeteners and other additives to their water. They may even add dyes to make the water bluer or clearer. These additives are not kosher.
To determine if your water is kosher or not, you should first see if there’s a label indicating its purity. If you don’t see a Passover certification label, then take a look at the ingredients. If there are additives or flavors, then you should set the bottle aside. Instead, pick up distilled water or look for one that does carry the certification label.
Why Would Some Bottle Of Water Be Kosher And Some Not?
There are many reasons why one bottle of water may be kosher and another isn’t. One of the reasons has to do if whether or not the water is flavored. If it is, then it isn’t kosher. Other bottles of water may not be kosher because of the source. If the source wasn’t pure, then the water likely isn’t pure either.
The biggest difference between kosher water bottles and non-kosher water bottles is the bottling facility. A problem with commercial products is that they’re often made in a warehouse where other manufacturers are also using the machinery to produce their products.
Cross-contamination is common. The bottle that’s used to house the water may be produced by a machine that was handling strips of bacon the previous day. If that machine wasn’t cleaned properly, then bits of pork may still be clinging to it. Those bits could be left inside of the bottle. When water is placed inside of the bottle, then they’re floating inside of it. Any time you drink the water, you’re also swallowing down small pieces of bacon. You may not even taste it or realize it.
Besides physical debris or residue, flavors may also be passed over. This is also due to a lack of thorough cleaning of the machine. Since the Torah also prohibits certain flavors, the very taste of the bacon that is left inside of the bottle may render the entire thing non-kosher.
It’s important to look at where the bottled water was produced in order to determine whether it’s kosher or not. The label will typically state that the bottle was produced in a facility that may have had non-kosher ingredients and staples present.
Is New York Tap Water Kosher?
If you want to stay kosher while living in New York or visiting New York City, then you may want to avoid the water. New York City, in particular, does not filter its water. While the water is treated with various methods, a filter isn’t used to catch out any pollutants or debris.
One reason why New York isn’t kosher is that it relies on tiny shrimp called copepods to eat mosquito eggs in the water. Because the water isn’t filtered, those shrimp may be in your glass of water. This isn’t kosher. Even if the shrimp aren’t technically in your water, the flavor of them may be.
The fact that New York City doesn’t filter its water has made it come into conflict with many Orthodox Jewish communities.
Is La Croix Kosher?
To ensure you’re drinking kosher water, then you may want to buy your water from La Croix. Their water is vegan, gluten-free, and kosher. They don’t just ensure that their water is pure either. They take the time to check that the machines used to produce the water and bottles are kosher as well.
La Croix states that no nuts, meat, dairy, or wheat are used in the production of their products.
