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Shailah of the Week

Is One Who Is Lactose Intolerant Permitted To Take A Lactase Pill On Shabbat?

OU Kosher November 10, 2022

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By: Halacha Yomis Team of OU KOSHER

 

Is One Who Is Lactose Intolerant Permitted To Take A Lactase Pill On Shabbat?

 

Shulchan Aruch (OC 328:1 and 17) writes that it is forbidden to take medicine on Shabbat to alleviate a discomfort, unless he feels sick and functions with difficulty (chalah kol gufo) or he must lie down (nofel limishkav). Chazal enacted this prohibition because they were concerned a person who is ill might grind ingredients to prepare medication on Shabbat. This would violate the Torah prohibition of tochain (grinding) on Shabbat. However, Rav Belsky, zt”l (Shulchan HaLevi 10:2) ruled that lactase pills may be taken because they are not viewed as medicines. Chazal only forbade medicines because a person who is ill is physically distressed and might impetuously grind the ingredients on Shabbat. Lactase pills are not used to treat an illness. They simply provide the body with the missing enzymes that are necessary for the digestion of the milk sugars.