Location Change Regarding Brochos, part 1 vol.1 no.11

In general, the brocha one recites when beginning to eat a food applies for the entire time he is eating that food. There are, however, several circumstances under which a bracha ceases to function and further eating is prohibited without a new bracha. One of these circumstances is known as shinuy makom - change of location. When one is detached from the site where his bracha was recited, his bracha is no longer effective and even upon his return to that original site a new bracha is necessary. For example: if one recited the brocha of Shehakol while drinking water in his home, left his home and went to a neighbor's home, he would be required to recite a new brocha of Shehakol even over water in his neighbor's home. Furthermore, upon his return home, he could not continue to drink, even from the same glass of water without reciting a new bracha.

There are however situations in which his leaving the site of his eating is not treated in halacha as an actual departure and no new bracha is required.

1. If one had been eating together with family or friends and temporarily went outside, no bracha would be necessary on his return. The fact that others have continued eating in his absence keeps him "connected" and his temporary departure is not regarded in Halacha as a change of location.
2. If one had been eating any food whose Brocha Achrona (blessing after eating) would demand his return to the site of his eating this departure is, by necessity, not final. (In this context, according to many Poskim, all products deserving Birchas Hamazon, Al Hamichya, Al Hoeitz, or Al Hagofen qualify to maintain his connection with the site of his first bracha.) Even while physically remote from his original place of eating, he is not halachically regarded as having changed his location and no new bracha is required.

Another situation exists in which a location change will not be cause for a new bracha. If no particular place had been established for eating, e.g. eating while travelling, walking from place to place while chewing gum, being distant from one's point of origin is not treated as "shinuy makom" and no new bracha is necessary.

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