Leaven cheat sheet

Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
- Exodus 12:15
In preparation for Passover, the Bible tells us to remove the leaven from our homes.

This guide will provide a list of leavening agents found in food items as well as FAQs about leaven. If you have additional questions, please feel free to reach out to support@truespiritofchrist.com

What is a leavening agent?
In cooking, a leavening agent (or raising agent) is any one of a number of substances used in doughs and batters that cause a foaming action (gas bubbles) that lightens and softens the mixture. Leavening agents can be biological or synthetic chemical compounds.

What are the different types of leaven?
  • Chemical: such as baking soda and baking powder
  • Biological : yeast
  • Mechanical : air or steam

Leavening ingredients
NOTE: this list may not include all leavening agents. It is an ever evolving document therefore, feel free to contact us if there are any ingredients that you know are missing. 

Ammonium (bi)carbonate
Ammonium Dihydrogen phosphate
Ammonium hydrogen carbonate
Ammonium phosphate, dibasic

Baker’s ammonium
Baking powder
Baking soda:
  • sodium bicarbonate
  • bicarbonate of soda
  • sodium hydrogen carbonate

Barm
Beer
Bicarbonate of ammonia
Buttermilk

Calcium carbonate
Calcium dihydrogen phosphate
Calcium phosphate, monobasic
Cream of tartar

Diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono and diglycerides
Diammonium hydrogen phosphate
Dipotassium carbonate
Disodium pyrophosphate

Ginger beer
Glucono delta-lactone

Harsthorn
Horn salt
Hydrogen peroxide

Kefir

Monocalcium phosphate

Pearlash
Phosphates (anything with “phosphate” in the name)
Potash
Potassium acid carbonate
Potassium (bi) carbonate
Potassium carbonate
Potassium hydrogen carbonate
Potassium bitartrate
Potassium hydrogen tartrate
Powdered baking ammonia

Sodium acid pyrophosphate
Sodium aluminum phosphate
Sodium bicarbonate
Sodium hydrogen carbonate
Sourdough starter

Yeast


Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What about leavening agents found in cleaning products and water?

A: True Spirit of Christ's position regarding keeping leavening agents that are used to clean as brush teeth is they are still allowed according to the law.

Exodus 12:19
Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.

Water - If you have water that has one of the ingredients above in it, you can still keep it in your home. These ingredients are not being used as an active leavening agent within your water.

Toothpaste - If you have toothpaste with certain ingredients above in it, you can still keep this product in your home, because this is not a food product used for baking/cooking, and the ingredient within the toothpaste is not being used as an active leavening agent.

If you find within your spirit you would like to still throw these items away as personal preference please feel free, just understand the law is referring to food/baking products we would consume.