QUESTION

Philadelphia, PA

Can I use hamster food (a seed mix that has raw wheat, oats, barley, rye spelt) like this for Pesach?

ANSWER

Why should it be okay? We cannot assume that they didn’t use water. The only question would be if it were fit to be eaten by humans (ignoring the “gross” factor because they know it is hamster food). If it were never fit for humans, then it is chameitz nukshah, so one does not transgress de’orayta of bal yera’eh, but it is still assur derabanan to keep. See Mishnah Berurah 442:2. If it is not fit for achilat kelev,