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Adapted from a Parasha & Halacha Shiur by Rav Yosef Greenwald on Parashat Tzav
The Halacha is that forbidden food that is absorbed in a mixture forbids the entire mixture (within a set of rules and limitations). This rule is known as “Ta’am K’Ikar” – a taste is like the entity itself. Maran (Y.D. 98) follows many Rishonim who hold that this rule is MiD’Oraita. Rashi (Hullin 97b) says it is generally D’Rabanan except for Kodashim. MiD’Oraita, it is Battel B’Rov (nullified in a majority).
Rashi and the Ra’avad argue that if Ta’am K’Ikar were to be MiD’Oraita, then, if less than a KaZayit of non-kosher meat dissolves into a soup and is not Battel B’Shishim (there is no sixty in the soup to nullify it) one is Hayav for eating a KaZayit of the soup on its own right, as the soup now becomes a non-kosher entity. However, most Rishonim maintain that non-kosher taste is not nullified because of its importance. Still, it doesn’t turn the kosher entity into non-kosher on its own right, and thus one is only Hayav if he eats a KaZayit of the actual non-kosher meat (although eating any amount of the soup is still forbidden).
There are certain stringencies unique to Hametz on Pessah beyond the regular rules.
- Hametz is Assur B’Mashehu (forbidden in any amount, even 1:60) if it is mixed on Pessah with non-Hametz.
- Yavesh B’Yavesh (a mixture of two dry items) – Even if it got mixed before Pesach, is Assur B’Mashehu.
- Two pots, usually do not transfer taste from one to the other, but on Pessah we are strict.
- Noten Ta’am LiFgam (when the non-kosher taste is not beneficial to the food) – if food was cooked in a pot more than 24 hours after it was used for non-kosher, we usually permit it. This is true even on Pessah, according to However, the Rama forbids it