Q. If one eats fruits or fries that he sinks in ketchup, pepper sauce or any other similar source of flavouring liquid, does he have to wash hands ‘Netilas Yodaim’?

A. In principle we do not need to wash our hands when eating something that was dipped in or has any of the above flavouring liquids on it, based on a number of reasons. 1. The Halacha of washing our hands on foods that are dipped into liquids is in principle debatable, and many are not particular on observing this tradition.

Even according to those who keep this minhag, if the “liquid” being used as a dip is mostly other ingredients and not water, we don’t consider the item to be one of the seven required liquids, and it seems from the order of the list of ingredients that they are not more than 50% water.

Besides, even if it would be mostly water, according to many Poskim, if the water was cooked together with other items and the liquid doesn’t taste like water, it isn’t considered water. Therefore the above liquids which are basically cooked tomatoes or tomato paste cooked with water, will not be considered one of the required seven liquids, and one would not have to wash hands before eating them.

(Mishna Berurah O:H 158-20, M:B ibid 26. Shulchan Aruch Horav 158-3, Aruch Hashulchan O:CH 158-4,5, 10, Daas Torah Siman 158, Piskei Teshuvos 158-9, Sharei Habracha 1 n. 156.)
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is similar.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a