Kosher cough drops and throat lozenges: is Ricola kosher?

By the KosherVitamins.com team · Updated November 13, 2026

A cough drop sits somewhere between candy and medicine, which is why customers often ask whether it needs to be kosher. Here is how the kosher agencies look at cough drops and lozenges.

Medicine or candy?

Kosher agencies treat medicine differently depending on how it is taken. A plain tablet you swallow is generally not treated as food. Something you suck or chew and taste is different: the cRc lists a cough drop as an example of an edible medicine, and says chewables and liquids should be certified or free of kosher-sensitive ingredients when they are taken for minor discomfort.

The OU makes the same point about over-the-counter cold, cough and allergy products: because they are taken in situations that are not life-threatening, they should be certified.

What makes a cough drop a kashrus question

• Glycerin. The cRc calls glycerin the most kosher-sensitive ingredient in medicines: it can come from animal fat, it is used in large amounts, and it tastes sweet. The OU says glycerin without a hechsher should be assumed non-kosher.
• Flavors. Natural and artificial flavors can contain non-kosher ingredients. The cRc advises treating uncertified flavored products as possibly non-kosher for minor discomfort.
• Gelatin. Some soft lozenges and gummies contain gelatin.

Is Ricola kosher?

The Ricola drops we sell carry kosher certification from the Rabbinat Orthodox Geneva, which you can see on each product page. The cRc has also published a list of specific Ricola flavors it accepts; other flavors are not covered. Recommendations like this can change, and products made for different countries can differ, so check the package and your agency’s current list.

Zinc, vitamin C and B12 lozenges

Zinc lozenges and other chewable or sublingual supplements are tasted in the mouth, so the same reasoning applies: choose ones with a reliable kosher symbol. Many of the lozenges we carry, from brands like Maxi Health, Zahlers, Landau and Bluebonnet, are certified kosher.

When you are really sick

The OU writes that any medicine required for an illness that is even remotely life-threatening does not have to be kosher. Never avoid medicine you need because of a kashrus question; ask your doctor and your rabbi.

Passover

Year-round certification does not cover Passover. Agencies such as the cRc publish Passover medicine lists each year. See our Passover guide.

Checklist

• Cough drops and lozenges are tasted, so look for a reliable kosher symbol.
• Watch for glycerin, flavors and gelatin in uncertified products.
• Ricola: check the package and your agency’s current list.
• Serious illness: medicine comes first; ask your doctor and your rabbi.
• Passover: check this year’s Passover medicine list.

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Frequently asked questions

More guides

• Kosher certification symbols on vitamins and supplements
• How to tell if a vitamin or supplement is kosher
• Kosher capsules and gelatin: softgels, veggie caps and fish gelatin
• Kosher for Passover vitamins and supplements
• Kosher fish oil and omega-3
• Kosher probiotics: dairy vs. pareve
• Kosher vitamin D: D3, D2 and vegan options
• Is glucosamine kosher? Shellfish vs. vegetarian glucosamine
• Is collagen kosher? Bovine, fish and vegan options
• How to choose a kosher multivitamin
• Kosher prenatal vitamins: what to look for
• Kosher vitamins for kids: gummies, chewables and liquids
• Cholov Yisroel vitamins and supplements
• Is creatine kosher? Powder, capsules and gummies
• Kosher protein powder: whey, casein and plant protein
• Kosher toothpaste and mouthwash
• Kosher protein bars: dairy, pareve and Cholov Yisroel
• Kosher iron supplements: tablets, liquids and chewables

Sources

• OU Kosher: nothing to sneeze at (cold, cough and allergy medicine)
• cRc: over-the-counter medicine
• cRc (via KosherQuest): Ricola cough and throat drops
• OU Kosher: glycerine and detergent issues
• STAR-K: glycerin and gelatin