I saw on the OU website (http://www.oukosher.org/index.php/common/article/ou_pas_yisroel_pas_yisroel_products_as_of_elul_5771/)
that they consider cereal and “wafers” tavshil and therefore the laws of pas yisroel do not apply. What is the basis for the distinction and what, therefore, would be considered a “wafer”?
Answer:
The basis for the distinction is that because the mezonos part of the wafer is very this – wafer thin – it follows that it does not have tzuras pas (the form of bread), and therefore the laws of pas yisrael do not apply.
Although some dispute this, the distinction between a significant ‘cookie’ and a wafer-this layer is made by a number of berachos sefarim with regard to keviyus se’udah, and the same principle will apply to pas yisrael.
The same idea is true for breakfast cereals. They do not have tzuras pas, and therefore the laws of pas yisrael don’t apply.
Best wishes.
