Checking for Bugs: Difference between revisions
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==General Rules of Checking for Bugs== | |||
# There are four types of vegetables and fruits with respect to checking bugs. | # There are four types of vegetables and fruits with respect to checking bugs. | ||
## Vegetables that the chance of finding a bug in a serving is less than a miyut hamatzuy<ref>Yalkut Yosef v. 2 p. 212 quotes the Mishkenaot Yakov 17 but seems to conclude that the halacha is like the Rivash 191 that miyut hamatzuy is close to rov. He cites there Bedikat Hamazon p. 181 who quotes Rav Shlomo Zalman as holding like the Mishkenot Yakov, See Shevet Halevi 4:81 who is concerned for less than 10%.</ref> of bugs is permitted and doesn't need to be checked at all.<Ref>Badei Hashulchan 100:46 citing Shulchan Aruch 84:8</ref> | ## Vegetables that the chance of finding a bug in a serving is less than a miyut hamatzuy<ref>Yalkut Yosef v. 2 p. 212 quotes the Mishkenaot Yakov 17 but seems to conclude that the halacha is like the Rivash 191 that miyut hamatzuy is close to rov. He cites there Bedikat Hamazon p. 181 who quotes Rav Shlomo Zalman as holding like the Mishkenot Yakov, See Shevet Halevi 4:81 who is concerned for less than 10%.</ref> of bugs is permitted and doesn't need to be checked at all.<Ref>Badei Hashulchan 100:46 citing Shulchan Aruch 84:8</ref> | ||
## Vegetables that the chance of finding a bug in a serving is more than a miyut hamatzuy of bugs but less than 50% needs to be checked. This obligation is rabbinic.<Ref>Badei Hashulchan 100:46 citing Shach 84:26</ref> If a person washed the vegetables and afterwards there's less than a miyut hamatzuy there's no longer an obligation to check the vegetables.<ref>Yalkut Yosef Iser Vheter p. 318 he clarifies that if after washing there was less than a miyut hamatzuy it would be sufficient to wash it without checking it.</ref> | ## Vegetables that the chance of finding a bug in a serving is more than a miyut hamatzuy of bugs but less than 50% needs to be checked. This obligation is rabbinic.<Ref>Badei Hashulchan 100:46 citing Shach 84:26</ref> If a person washed the vegetables and afterwards there's less than a miyut hamatzuy there's no longer an obligation to check the vegetables.<ref>Yalkut Yosef Iser Vheter p. 318 he clarifies that if after washing there was less than a miyut hamatzuy it would be sufficient to wash it without checking it.</ref> | ||
## Vegetables that the chance of finding a bug in a serving is 50% needs to be checked and the obligation to check is | ## Vegetables that the chance of finding a bug in a serving is 50% needs to be checked and the obligation to check is biblical. If it was cooked without being checked after the fact the food is permitted since it could be that there weren't bugs and it could be that the bugs were crushed.<Ref>Badei Hashulchan 100:46 citing Shach 84:35</ref> | ||
## Vegetables that the chance of finding a bug in a serving is greater than 50% then they are forbidden until it is completely checked. If it was cooked without being checked it is forbidden.<Ref>Badei Hashulchan 100:46</ref> | ## Vegetables that the chance of finding a bug in a serving is greater than 50% then they are forbidden until it is completely checked. If it was cooked without being checked it is forbidden.<Ref>Badei Hashulchan 100:46</ref> | ||
# With regard to fruits that are supposed to be checked, checking the majority of the fruits is not enough to ascertain that the rest are kosher. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:36 </ref> | # With regard to fruits that are supposed to be checked, checking the majority of the fruits is not enough to ascertain that the rest are kosher.<ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:36 </ref> | ||
# If one notices a dot (that is not moving) on a fruit or vegetable, but even someone familiar with insects cannot identify it as a bug without a microscope, it would be permitted. <ref> Halichos Shlomo Moadim (Pesach), pg. 176 and Shevet HaLevi 7:122 </ref> | # If one notices a dot (that is not moving) on a fruit or vegetable, but even someone familiar with insects cannot identify it as a bug without a microscope, it would be permitted.<ref> Halichos Shlomo Moadim (Pesach), pg. 176 and Shevet HaLevi 7:122 </ref> | ||
# Most poskim hold that you do not need to use a magnifying glass to check for bugs. <ref> Aruch HaShulchan YD 84:36, Iggerot Moshe YD II: 146, Halichos Shlomo, Moadim (Pesach) p. 176, and Yechave Daat 6:47. </ref> | # Most poskim hold that you do not need to use a magnifying glass to check for bugs.<ref> Aruch HaShulchan YD 84:36, Iggerot Moshe YD II: 146, Halichos Shlomo, Moadim (Pesach) p. 176, and Yechave Daat 6:47. </ref> | ||
# Even though bugs are disgusting nonetheless it would make a mixture forbidden since it is a living creature and isn't nullified.<ref>Pri Chadash 103:5 and Kaf Hachaim 103:5 unlike the Aruch Hashulchan 103:11. The Pri Chadash proves his point from the Rambam (Machalot Asurot 2:21). The Kaf Hachaim proves his point from the Shulchan Aruch 103:4 and Torat Chatat 85:24 (which was written by the Rama, but the version which is a proof is from an emendation and not the Rama). Some achronim including the Panim Meirot and Chavot Yair agree with the Aruch Hashulchan in explaining the Rama to mean that something isn't a briyah as long as it is now pagum since it is a bug. However, the Gra 103:2 and Pri Chadash 103:5 explain that the Rama is talking about a good tasting food that became spoiled.</ref> | # Even though bugs are disgusting nonetheless it would make a mixture forbidden since it is a living creature and isn't nullified.<ref>Pri Chadash 103:5 and Kaf Hachaim 103:5 unlike the Aruch Hashulchan 103:11. The Pri Chadash proves his point from the Rambam (Machalot Asurot 2:21). The Kaf Hachaim proves his point from the Shulchan Aruch 103:4 and Torat Chatat 85:24 (which was written by the Rama, but the version which is a proof is from an emendation and not the Rama). Some achronim including the Panim Meirot and Chavot Yair agree with the Aruch Hashulchan in explaining the Rama to mean that something isn't a briyah as long as it is now pagum since it is a bug. However, the Gra 103:2 and Pri Chadash 103:5 explain that the Rama is talking about a good tasting food that became spoiled.</ref> | ||
# If a hechsher is placed on a vegetable you can assume that it is permissible to eat without further checking unless stated explicitly. This doesn't necessarily mean that there are zero bugs in the bag. Either the hechsher might mean that the vegetable has a instance of infestation less than miyut hamatzuy (10%) and doesn't need checking, they rely upon checking three sample sizes in a larger batch, or they rely upon the washing and checking of the quality control supervisor of the company.<ref>[https://oukosher.org/blog/consumer-kosher/in-the-bag-kosher-certification-of-bagged-salads/ OU Hechsherim on Salads]. The source for checking three out of a larger sample is from Tuv Taam Vdaat 1:123.</ref> | |||
==Specific Foods== | |||
===Bugs in Water=== | ===Bugs in Water=== | ||
# There is a concern for copepods in the New York City tap water. Some hold that the water needs to be filtered before drinking it.<Ref>See [https://www.sefaria.org/Contemporary_Halakhic_Problems%2C_Vol_VI%2C_Chapter_7_New_York_City_Water Rabbi Bliech's article in Contemporary Halachic Problems v. 6 ch. 7]</ref> As to which filters suffice see Rabbi Dr. David Shabtai RJJ article (v. 49 pp. 38-80). | # There is a concern for copepods in the New York City tap water. Some hold that the water needs to be filtered before drinking it.<Ref>See [https://www.sefaria.org/Contemporary_Halakhic_Problems%2C_Vol_VI%2C_Chapter_7_New_York_City_Water Rabbi Bliech's article in Contemporary Halachic Problems v. 6 ch. 7]</ref> As to which filters suffice see Rabbi Dr. David Shabtai RJJ article (v. 49 pp. 38-80). | ||
===Strawberries=== | ===Strawberries=== | ||
# The Star-K writes that one should wash the strawberries in soap water and agitate them in the water. Afterwards the tops | # The Star-K writes that one should wash the strawberries in soap water and agitate them in the water. Afterwards they should be rinsed, the tops cut off, and no checking is required.<ref>https://www.star-k.org/checking. Rav Shlomo Amar in Shma Shlomo YD 7:4-5 5772 writes that the strict halacha is that any bug that's not visible to the naked eye is permitted and even if it is detectable by its movement it is permitted. Rav Amar explains from many poskim that anything which is so small that it isn't visible to the naked eye it is considered nothing in halacha and not forbidden. He explains that it isn't just because things which are so small are hard to discover and the Torah doesn't expect us to find them with microscopes. Rather they aren't considered anything of significance and are permitted. As such he thinks that strawberries don't need to be checked but it is proper to wash them in soap and water and remove the tops. | ||
* Rav Amar quotes that the Yavetz 2:124 writes that checking for bugs in rice with a magnifying glass or in the sun is a reason to be strict but one shouldn't rule that it is forbidden. Pitchei Teshuva 84:5 and Machzik Bracha 84:41 cite this. Aruch Hashulchan 84:36 holds that seeing something in the sun is considered normal sight unlike seeing through a microscope. Shevet Halevi YD 7:125:2 writes that one has to be concerned with bugs that are visible to someone with good eyes even though a regular person couldn't see it. | * Rav Amar quotes that the Yavetz 2:124 writes that checking for bugs in rice with a magnifying glass or in the sun is a reason to be strict but one shouldn't rule that it is forbidden. Pitchei Teshuva 84:5 and Machzik Bracha 84:41 cite this. Aruch Hashulchan 84:36 holds that seeing something in the sun is considered normal sight unlike seeing through a microscope. Shevet Halevi YD 7:125:2 writes that one has to be concerned with bugs that are visible to someone with good eyes even though a regular person couldn't see it. | ||
* Chayei Halevi YD 3:56:5 quotes that the Chazon Ish held that even bugs that aren't recognizable are forbidden and Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach agreed. Rav Amar argues that the Chazon Ish couldn't have said that. From his text Chazon Ish YD 14:6 it could be explained otherwise, only if it is once recognizable and whole but just not recognizable because it is mixed up is it not nullified. | * Chayei Halevi YD 3:56:5 quotes that the Chazon Ish held that even bugs that aren't recognizable are forbidden and Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach agreed. Rav Amar argues that the Chazon Ish couldn't have said that. From his text Chazon Ish YD 14:6 it could be explained otherwise, only if it is once recognizable and whole but just not recognizable because it is mixed up is it not nullified. | ||
