<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

This week I spoke with Rabbi Gershon Bess, researcher/author of the annual
<A Passover Guide to Cosmetics and Medications> published by Kollel - Los
Angeles. This helpful guide has been cited on the list before, expecially
during our Dairy Ease and Lactaid discussions. During Passover, some people
of the Jewish faith refrain from owning and using items which are
<chometz>, that is, which contain wheat, barley, rye, oats, or spelt.

So you see, Rabbi Bess' annual research is very valuable to celiacs who
wish to avoid gluten in their medications and toiletries. Last spring the
list identified such everyday items as <chometz> such as Lactaid Drops and
Caplets, Imodium Capsules, Blistex Lip Ointment, and many lipsticks.  The
1995 Guide contained 25 double-collumned pages of product names (in small
type) organized into categories, with chometz items marked by a *.  For
further details about the Guide, address them to Kollel - Los Angeles. I am
merely a happy user of this public service and a fan of Rabbi Bess and his
pain-staking work.

For those who wish to be in the mailing list for the annual guide, write to
Kollel - Los Angeles, 7466 Beverly Blvd. #204, Los Angeles 90036.  A
donation is suggested.  I can't recommend the phone number since it is
generally answered by a machine: 213/933-7193, and I would doubt that
long-distance messages are appreciated by a non-profit organization.

The guide will be ready in early March. (Passover is on April 4 in 1996.)
 Make a New Year's resolution to review last spring's archives for terrific
Passover shopping and ordering hints, since some manufacturers and bakeries
become gluten free every Spring.  Meanwhile, Happy Hanukkah!

Mary
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L.A.