The majority of fruits and vegetables are now suspect for infestation, say rabbinic authorities. With increased frequency, rabbis are finding the tiny bugs in previously “clean” fruits and vegetables under the microscope.
In an exhaustive review, the Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc) website notes that it “is continuing conducting an intense review of its policy regarding insect infestation in fruits and vegetables.”
The rabbis note that the insects can be removed with proper cleaning but add that most people simply do not have the knowledge to do such a proper cleaning.
In fact, the cRc wants to keep customers away from that task: “Many times one comes across a fruit or vegetable that is highly infested with insects. This is especially true with some organic produce. In such a case, one should not attempt to try and check and remove the insects and the produce should not be used. This is due to the fact that you are highly unlikely to properly check and remove all of the insects.”
Bug checking has become a major topic for seminars for rabbis and mashgichim as well as ordinary consumers.
It has become rather routine for a kashrus agency to alert unsuspecting customers about a certain category of food.
The MK Kosher certification of Montreal recently issued a “kashrus alert” about strawberries that they found to contain bugs. In each case, the agency does offer advice on how to cut the suspected fruit or vegetable and how to properly rinse.
For those in kosher food service this can create havoc in a business. “Imagine ordering a large quantity of a fruit or vegetable only to be told by the rabbi that I cannot use it because my agency just sent out an alert about it,” said one caterer.
A major kosher supermarket said it had to discontinue some salads when such notices were received by their rabbi.
Some vegetables have become no-nos as rabbis say they cannot be checked. A good example is artichokes, which the rabbis say cannot be properly checked for insects and are not recommended. Fresh artichoke bottoms may be used after a general inspection to rule out obvious infestation. Canned artichoke bottoms are acceptable only with a reliable hashgacha. Frozen artichoke bottoms may be used if there are no added kosher sensitive ingredients.
When asked for their reaction, some rabbis simply said that in an age where pesticides are no longer used, it is no mystery why the bugs thrive and clearly consuming bugs is against Jewish law.
That if you can’t see it by the naked eye then you don’t have to worry about it. Read the article again … These agencies are using a microscope.
Pesticides are poison! Would you feed yourself or your kids Round-up? That is what you are eating when you don’t eat organic. Celery had more bugs that wash away in a second.
Stop all the fuss and follow the tzemach tzeddik!
I had a talk with my head mashigiach once and he explained to me how all this “bug problems” are mostly about business and less about Halacha
Instead of kvetching about everything, and fighting against any information that could keep one from eating “traif,” why not be grateful that we are being saved by the bugs in certain fruits and vegetables we might not have thought needed such checking!??
To ppl in the know, organic produce should be just as clean as produce that is not organic. They are suposed to use organic pesticides. And other organic growing tips.
A bit of a publicity cue, as he writes in the article “Bug checking has become a major topic for seminars for rabbis and mashgichim as well as ordinary consumers.”
They have enough YouTube videos (usually badly made) On how to check for bugs.
Simply put since they stopped using pesticides in the USA bugs have become a much bigger problem. I don’t understand why artichokes are problems, i also believe ive that if you are looking to find bugs and you have a microscope… You will find bugs.
I don’t think they would spray thier fruits with chemicals back in the days but besides a strawberry wich is too questionable other fruits are ok because if the eyes don’t see bugs than it’s ok to eat this community is only getting stricter
This is why organic shtick is a waste of money. It is impossible to grow fruit and vegetables without pesticide.
Besides for the mention of artichokes (and strawberries questionably) there is no mention of any fruits or vegetables! What is one meant to do with this information?! Are we meant to stop buying fruits and vegetables entirely?! Are canned items included?! Botul beshishim? Either way, what kind of kashrus alert doesn’t mention the foods one is being alerted to?! Why not at-least include a list of those which are approved?! Either way, it would seem advisable to listen to the Rabbis, if only because it’s a cover story to protect us from, for exmaple, intelligence reports of certain foods being… Read more »
Someone knowledgable explain. And specify which fruits and veggies to check!!
The bugs are visible to the naked eye. Just because you mistake it for a seed, dirt or anything else, does not make it kosher.
We also hav microscopic bugs in our bodies too!
We must be treif. (Sarcasm intended)
In Russia nobody had a microscope to check vegetables. And there were no pesticides either. Are these people saying our great-grandparents ate treif?!
If it can’t be seen by the naked eye, is it ‘there’? The air we breathe is full of tiny bugs. Did Moshe rabbeinu have a microscope? Please explain.
can someone tell me why if i open a restaurant i am not trusted without a hasgacha but the hasgacha companies (the for profit ones) they dont need to be observed?
When I was a young student in School we had a Rov teaching us Halochos.
If a healthy eye can’t see bugs we can eat it.
If we have to rely on a microscope you won’t be able to eat anything.