Halacha: What Blessing is Said for Vitamins?
Curious about which blessings to say for vitamins? We've got you covered with all the details, including an explanation on the required quantity for blessings.
- הידברות
- פורסם א' חשון התשע"ז

#VALUE!
Regarding vitamins, no blessing is recited (unless they are pleasing to one's palate) (first blessing)
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The amount one must eat to be obligated to recite the concluding blessing (from "Daily Halacha" based on the rulings of Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef of blessed memory):
For everything a person eats, they must recite a "first blessing," such as the blessing "shehakol" or "ha'etz." Even if one eats only a small portion of the food, a blessing is required, as long as the intention is to eat it as food. (However, if one only intends to taste the food to adjust its seasoning or similar, no blessing is required for this tasting at all). Therefore, someone chewing flavored gum, although they swallow only a small amount, must still recite a blessing on the enjoyment of the gum's taste. Similarly, for drinking, one must recite a blessing even if they only intend to drink a single drop of the beverage.
However, this applies only to the first blessing. A concluding blessing is not recited unless a "significant eating" occurs, which is defined as an eating amount of "kazayit," namely twenty-seven grams, and in drinking, the amount is "revi'it," which is eighty-one grams.
Additionally, the eating or drinking must be within a period where the eating or drinking amounts combine. For example, if a person eats a "kazayit" of bread over an entire day, bit by bit, they certainly cannot recite the Grace After Meals. Instead, the "kazayit" portion must be eaten within the time frame of "achilat pras," although there are differences of opinion among poskim (Jewish legal decisors) regarding its exact duration, with some saying it is five minutes and others about seven and a half minutes (and there are other opinions as well). Therefore, it is best to ensure eating a "kazayit" (especially during Shabbat meals) within four and a half minutes to fulfill all opinions.
Regarding the concluding blessing on a beverage, one must drink a "revi'it" (which is eighty-one grams) at once; if one pauses between sips, no concluding blessing is recited at all. Therefore, when drinking soup with a spoon, no concluding blessing is recited, as one does not drink the "revi'it" at once, and similarly when drinking hot coffee or tea, no concluding blessing is recited since one cannot drink it all at once.