The following is a list of common questions and answers that pertain to insect infestation of fruits and vegetables.
Q. I have heard that you can take a problematic fruit or vegetable and puree it to make it kosher. Are dead bugs kosher?
A. Dead bugs are not kosher. A bug that is disintegrated and is mixed into 60 or more parts is batul and is permitted. In general, one would not be permitted to perform this act by oneself. But when a puree is needed, one may puree (to a liquid substance) fruits and vegetables that may be infested, such as broccoli, as long as the item is washed and rinsed as best as possible (in vegetable wash etc.) before it is pureed.
Q. If strawberries, raspberries and other berries are so difficult to check and clean, how could the COR and other prominent kashruth agencies certify fruit jams and yogurts?
A. We may rely on a halachic principle called sfek sfeyka “double (or triple) doubt”. It is possible that there are no bugs on a berry. Even if there are bugs, it is possible that it has been washed off during pre-washing. Finally, these items are always pre-cooked. It is, therefore, possible that the insect has disintegrated and is batul.
Q. Dill is on your list of produce that may not be used at all. What about dill pickles?
A. Many brands of dill pickles already filter the dill out of the jar at the production facility. Any possible infestation will be filtered out with the dill. For the brands that do not filter the dill (dill will be clearly visible in the jar), one must wash the pickle before consumption.
Q. Do flour, pasta, or rice have to be checked?
A. Flour, pasta and rice may develop worms and beetles when stored in warm areas such as next to ovens or oven vents. Infestation is more prevalent in summer months. It is also more prevalent in yoshon flour. These items should be stored in cool places. When properly stored, it is uncommon to find worms in Canada and the US. Many have the custom of checking these items regardless. This custom is substantiated as the COR has found, on occasion, flour to be infested with a beetle called the confused flour beetle. One should follow one’s own custom or refer to the COR Guide. Wild rice and basmati are often infested.
Q. If herbs are so hard to check and clean, why can we use them in a gourmet bag? How fine must the mesh be?
A. The taste of a bug is permitted for consumption. As long as we can ensure that the actual bug does not make its way into the mixture, even if it is cooked together with the mixture, it is permitted. The mesh must be fine enough to ensure that even small bugs will not slip through holes. A gourmet bag or a Bodek bag is adequate. A cheese cloth is not adequate.
Q. Can we be sure that all certifying agencies across North America have the same standards for preparing fruits and vegetables as COR?
A. No. One should always verify with one’s own Rav or with the COR office as to the standards of a particular certification agency.
Q. I have heard that mashgichim are using microscopes to check. I thought that anything that is not visible to the naked eye is allowed?
A. Mashgichim do not check with microscopes. Some carry a 10X microscope for inspection of dots or spots that they are unsure about.
Q. Is a light-box really required?
A. When checking potentially infested produce, one must provide a direct light source in order to achieve a proper check. One must place or hold a leaf in between the source of light and one’s eye. By doing this, one will be able to identify the opaque insect on the translucent leaf. A light-box will help accomplish this goal. An alternative would be to hold the leaf up against a window on a bright, sunny day.
Q. Is there a way to check broccoli?
A. Yes. Please note that our Guide is tailored for large-scale restaurants and caterers where it may not be practical to spend the necessary time checking the more tedious items. At home, this may be a feasible option. Please refer to the following link for a copy of the OU Guide and clear instructions for cleaning broccoli and other problematic items.
http://oukosher.org/images/uploads/OU_Guide_to_Fruits__Veg.pdf
Q. If herbs are infested produce, then why are dried herbs certified? I cannot believe that a mashgiach sits at these large companies and checks for bugs!
A. Dried herbs do not have to be checked for bugs. Halacha assumes that the bug disintegrates during the drying process.
By Rabbi Tsvi Heber, Director of Kashrus, Foodservice Division, COR - Kashruth Council of Canada
For more information or for a copy of the COR Guide to Preparing Fruits and Vegetables please contact Rabbi Heber @ (416) 635-9550 ext. 365
First published in the Community Link Magazine
