Q&A from the Bais HaVaad Halacha Hotline

Fruit Futures

February 6, 2025

Q I made a bracha on an apple, and while eating it I received a delivery of oranges. May I eat one without a new bracha?

A The Shulchan Aruch (O.C. 206:5) says that if someone makes a bracha on food and then receives more of the same food, he does not make a new bracha. But there are exceptions. The rules, per the Mishnah Brurah (ibid. 20-22) and the Igros Moshe (O.C. 1:67), are as follows:

• If the same food arrives (e.g., an apple after an apple), a new bracha is not made.
• If a different food arrives (e.g., an orange after an apple), a new bracha is required.
• If you haven’t finished the first food by the time the second arrives, the original bracha covers the new food, provided both are in the same category (e.g., fruits).
• If you ate fruit as a meal (kvius), e.g., you had two baked apples for lunch, the bracha covers the new fruit, even if you finished the first before the second arrived.
• These rules apply only if you already ordered the oranges and expect them to arrive during the day. If you ordered the oranges only after you made the bracha on the apple, the bracha doesn’t cover the oranges (M.B. 174:18).
• If you are someone’s guest, you do not make a new bracha on the oranges, because a guest does not regard his meal as finished after eating the food placed before him, as he knows that his host may yet serve additional food.
• The Rama (206:5) advises that one make brachos with the intent to include even foods that haven’t yet arrived. This will make the bracha cover all foods, regardless of the situation.
• If you had the specific intention to eat only the apple and nothing more, or if after you finished the apple, you decided to stop eating, a new bracha is always required.