Consumer Q&A

Q: May I include sourdough starter in my mechiras chometz, even though I really want it back after Pesach? I’ve heard this might not be allowed.

A: According to some Poskim, the fact that a person wants their specific starter back after Pesach makes the sale not completely genuine. However, most Poskim disagree and consider the sale valid, just like the rest of the chometz that was sold. Strictly speaking, the sale of chametz is a
100% legally binding transaction, and your desire to reclaim it after Pesach does not affect the validity of the sale.

Those who wish to be stringent might choose to discard their starter, rather than sell it, but this is a very stringent chumra.

Sold starter that was fed over Pesach, even by a non-Jew, is forbidden to be used after Pesach.