John Miller
Mushrooms are a type of fungus that grows on the ground but does not derive nutrients from it. This fact is significant in the halachic tradition. The Gemara (Berachos 40b) states that the blessing, or Bracha, for mushrooms is shehakol. This is because mushrooms do not grow from the ground in the same way as plants, and so the blessing said on most plant foods is not recited for mushrooms. Instead, we say the blessing said on meat and other non-plant-based foods: That all came to be from His word (shehakol ni'hi'ye bidvaro). The Bracha Rishona on mushrooms is Shehakol, and the Bracha Acharona is Borei Nefashos.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bracha Rishona | Shehakol |
| Bracha Acharona | Borei Nefashos |
| Gemara | Berachos 40b |
| Aruch Hashulchan | 204:5 |
| Kaf Hachaim | 204:2 |
| Rema | YD 84:6 |
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What You'll Learn
The blessing for mushrooms is 'shehakol'
The blessing for mushrooms is shehakol. This is because mushrooms are a type of fungus that grows on the ground but does not derive nutrients from it. The Gemara (Berachos 40b) states that the beracha for mushrooms is shehakol, which is the same blessing said on meat and other non-plant-based foods.
The Bracha Rishona on mushrooms is Shehakol, and the Bracha Acharona is Borei Nefashos. This means that the first blessing is "Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Everything was created through His words" in English, and "Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Haolam, Shehakol Nihyah Bidvaro" in Hebrew. The second blessing is "Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Who creates numerous living things with their deficiencies; for all that You have created with which to maintain the life of every being" in English, and "Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Haolam, Borei Nefashos" in Hebrew.
It is important to note that while mushrooms are always inherently kosher, there may be kashrut concerns that arise during their processing. Fresh, dried, or frozen mushrooms without questionable ingredients are generally fine. However, canned mushrooms may require kosher certification due to the potential use of non-kosher ingredients or processing equipment shared with non-kosher food. Additionally, it is important to ensure that mushrooms are not infested with bugs, as this can impact their suitability for consumption.
In terms of halachic significance, the fact that mushrooms grow on the ground is noteworthy. While they do not draw nutrients from the earth, their mode of growth means that worms that grow in mushrooms are forbidden, and harvesting mushrooms on Shabbos violates the melacha of kotzeir.
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The Gemara states mushrooms are 'shehakol' because they don't draw nutrients from the earth
The Bracha Rishona on mushrooms is Shehakol, and the Bracha Acharona is Borei Nefashos. The Gemara (Berachos 40b) states that the berachafor mushrooms is shehakol. This is because, unlike plants, mushrooms do not draw their nutrients from the earth. Instead, they draw carbon from other organisms, usually decomposing plants.
Although mushrooms grow on the ground, their beracha is shehakol. This is halachically significant. For example, if one accidentally recited borei pri ha’adama on a mushroom, the blessing would still be considered valid. Additionally, harvesting mushrooms on Shabbos is a violation of the melacha of kotzeir since they grow on the ground.
Mushrooms are always kosher in essence. However, there may be kashrut concerns that arise during their processing. Fresh, dried, or frozen mushrooms without questionable ingredients are generally fine. However, canned mushrooms may require kosher certification due to the potential use of non-kosher ingredients or processing equipment. It is also important to ensure that mushrooms are not infested with bugs.
The blessing typically said for plant foods, "Blessed are You... the Creator of the fruit of the earth," is not recited for mushrooms because they do not grow from the ground. Instead, we say the blessing for meat and other non-plant-based foods: "That all came to be from His word" ("she'hakol ni'hi'ye bidvaro").
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Mushrooms are fungi, not seed-bearing plants
The Gemara (Berachos 40b) states that the blessing (bracha) for mushrooms is "shehakol", which translates to "that all came to be from His word". This is the same blessing said on meat and other non-plant-based foods. The blessing for most plant foods is "Blessed are You... the Creator of the fruit of the earth", but this is not recited for mushrooms because they do not grow from the ground.
The Bracha Rishona on Mushrooms is Shehakol, and the Bracha Acharona is Borei Nefashos. Although mushrooms grow on the ground, they do not draw nutrients from the earth. However, the fact that a mushroom grows on the ground is halachically significant. For example, harvesting a mushroom on Shabbos is a violation of the melacha of kotzeir since the mushroom grows on the ground, even though it does not draw nutrition from the ground.
In practical law, although mushrooms are always kosher in essence, there may be kashrut concerns that arise during their processing. Fresh, dried, or frozen mushrooms without questionable ingredients are fine. However, canned mushrooms require kosher certification, as sometimes non-kosher ingredients are used in the canning process, or the mushrooms may be processed on equipment that is also used for non-kosher food. It is also important to check that mushrooms are not infested with bugs.
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Canned mushrooms require kosher certification
Although mushrooms are considered kosher, there may be kashrut concerns that arise during their processing. Fresh, dried, or frozen mushrooms without any questionable ingredients are fine. However, canned mushrooms may require kosher certification. This is because non-kosher ingredients may have been used during the canning process, or the mushrooms may have been processed on the same production lines as non-kosher foods.
The kosher certification ensures that the mushrooms are not only free from non-kosher ingredients but also that they have not come into contact with non-kosher foods during processing. This is especially important for canned vegetables, as they are often produced in large batches with shared equipment, increasing the risk of cross-contamination with non-kosher products.
In the past, it was assumed that canned vegetables were produced in a kosher environment, and consumers could safely purchase them without special kosher certification. However, with the increasing need for production optimization and diversification, this assumption may no longer hold true. Therefore, it is now recommended that canned vegetables, including mushrooms, bear reliable kosher certification to ensure they adhere to kosher dietary laws.
The kosher certification agency also performs additional checks to ensure the product's suitability. For example, they inspect canned mushrooms to ensure they are not infested with insects. This is an important consideration, as mushrooms are susceptible to insect infestation, which would render them non-kosher.
In summary, while mushrooms are inherently kosher, canned mushrooms may require kosher certification due to potential concerns during the processing and packaging stages. This certification provides assurance that the product meets kosher dietary requirements and has not been contaminated by non-kosher ingredients or equipment used for non-kosher products.
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The Bracha Acharona for mushrooms is Borei Nefashos
The Gemara (Berachos 40b) states that the beracha for mushrooms is Shehakol. This is the same blessing said on meat and other non-plant-based foods: "That all came to be from His word" ("shehakol ni'hi'ye bidvaro"). However, the fact that mushrooms grow on the ground is still halachically significant. For example, harvesting a mushroom on Shabbos is a violation of the melacha of kotzeir.
The Rema (YD 84:6) also writes that worms that grow in mushrooms are forbidden, even though the blessing on a mushroom is Shehakol. This is because mushrooms are treated as vegetables that are attached to the ground, and therefore the worms are forbidden.
The Bracha Acharona for mushroom soup is also Borei Nefashos.
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Frequently asked questions
The Bracha Rishona on Mushrooms is Shehakol.
The Bracha Acharona on Mushrooms is Borei Nefashos.
The blessing for mushroom soup is the same as for mushrooms—the Bracha Rishona is Shehakol, and the Bracha Acharona is Borei Nefashos.
Mushrooms are fungi and do not grow from the ground in the same way as plants. They do not produce their own carbon but draw it from other organisms, usually decomposing plants. Therefore, the blessing said on most plant foods, "Blessed are you... the Creator of the fruit of the earth", is not recited for mushrooms. Instead, we say the blessing for meat and other non-plant-based foods: "That all came to be from His word".
