Matzah with Other Ingredients
Many of these year round Matzos contain other ingredients such as salt, onions or other seasonings. We do not have an authentic Halachic tradition of how long it would take for such a dough to ferment. It could be that it will rise a lot sooner than pure flour1. Therefore, these Matzos are automatically not fit for Passover.
Non-Passover Matzah
However, even Matzos made of pure flour can be Chometz.
One cannot make Matzah from grain that has been soaked in water, as this starts the fermentation process2.
Most flour in the USA undergoes a process called tempering. The wheat kernels are processed with water which allows unnecessary parts of the chaff to separate more easily creating the clean white look we are used to. There is much discussion as to what effect modern tempering has on the Chametz status of the flour. Nonetheless, there is at least a strong possibility that such flour is Chametz.
While one can debate the extent of the issues caused by tempering, a far more serious issue occurs in non-Pesach Matzah. In order to render Matzah usable for Pesach, constant vigilance is required in the baking and mixing process. Care must be taken that all machines and mixing equipment are constantly cleaned off from any residue from previous batches. If dough remains sitting for any length of time, it is discarded and the line thoroughly cleaned. Steps are also taken to keep the temperature moderate in the mixing area so as not to make the dough rise prematurely.
During the year-round production,these precautions are simply not taken. Therefore it is all but certain that the Matzos produced for year round use are complete Chometz.
Egg Matzah
Matzah made with liquids other than water is somewhat of a double edged sword. While the Talmud states that fruit juices do not cause leavening3, there is a risk that some water may enter the mixture. In that case, it is possible that not only will leavening occur, it will occur much more rapidly than with water4.
For this reason, Ashkenazic Jews do not consume egg matzah on Pesach unless one is elderly or infirm and cannot consume regular Matzah5. Even so, egg matzah may not be used for the Seder since only Matzah made of bread and water is considered Lechem Oni “bread of affliction”6.
As with all products, look carefully at the symbols and warnings on the package. While two boxes of Matzah may appear similar, one may be kosher for Passover and a mitzvah to eat while the other is completely forbidden.
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Rabbi Moshe Reich of Kof-K Kosher Certification provided information for this article.