Foods prohibited during Passover (“chametz”) are generally any food containing wheat, rye, barley, oats, or spelt. This includes baked goods, leavened bread, and pasta. 

Because they may contain ingredients that are chametz, the following products require a certification on the package indicating that they are kosher for Passover: cookies, cakes, crackers, etc; matzah and any product containing matzah, matzah flour, or matzah meal; candy (including chocolate); ice cream; oil; soft drinks; vinegar; wine; yogurt; an processed foods, including tuna fish, tomato sauce, etc.

Passover certification is not necessary for fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, dairy products, and fish.

Kitniyot (Hebrew for “legumes”) are beans, corn, millet, peas, rice, soy (including tofu), mustard, buckwheat, green beans, and sesame seeds. They are traditionally eaten by Sephardi, but not Ashkenazi, Jews during Passover. In recent years, however, more Ashkenazi Jews have followed the Sephardi practice of considering them not to be chametz. Although peanuts and peanut oil are derived from legumes, both communities have always considered them kosher for Passover. If you bring an item with kitniyot, please label it clearly.