Dairy Bread - what if the package is marked Dairy?

Hi,

We have noted the prohibition against preparing dairy bread, lest one eat it with meat.

The Shulchan Aruch mentions an exemption to the prohibition, where the bread is unusual in its appearance and therefore people will remember not to eat it with meat. Example: Some agencies use this exemption to certify dairy English Muffins.

On this basis, some contend that bread which is in a package that is labelled "Dairy" would be acceptable.

Others disagree, for a few reasons:
1. Bread is often removed from the package, and so the sign will not be present;

2. In this case, the bread is already formed as prohibited dairy bread before it is placed in the package, and the packaging cannot reverse the extant prohibition;

3. The idea of marking the bread may only be acceptable for personal use, where the user is the one who made the unique mark and is therefore sensitive to it; commercial use could not rely on the anonymous consumer noticing the unique mark.

(Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 97:1; Pitchei Teshuvah Yoreh Deah 97:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai