Sakana - Fish & Cheese

QUESTION: Is there a danger to cook fish and cheese together? 

ANSWER: The Beis Yosef (YD 87:3) writes that just as one may not eat fish and meat together, because this is viewed as a sakana (danger), similarly one may not eat fish and milk together. The Rema (Darkei Moshe 87:4) disagrees, and writes that he never saw this stringency observed. Most Ashkenazi poskim, including the Shach and Taz, did not accept this chumra. However, the Pischei Teshuva (YD 87:9) points out that Rabeinu Bechaye (13th century) in his commentary on Parshas Mishpatim (Shemos 23:19) also forbade eating fish with cheese because of possible danger. Even among Sefardim who follow the ruling of the Beis Yosef, many differentiate between fish and cheese, which they view as a sakana, and fish and butter which they permit. Some Ashkenazi poskim (such the Pri Megadim YD 87:3) do accept this chumra and write that one should be careful not to eat fish and cheese together. However, most Ashkenzi poskim agree with the Chasam Sofer (YD 101) who writes that since the Rambam who was among the greatest doctors did not caution against this, and there is no mention of this in the Gemara, there is no need to be concerned.

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