How To Check Strawberries For Bugs

Published Fall 2011

1. Introduction

Over the past number of years, there has been much discussion regarding insect infestation and the procedures used to bank check fruits and vegetables. Many guides have been published, many lectures and demonstrations have been given, L'Hagdil Torah Ul'hadira. Nevertheless, infestation tin and does modify over time, ^one so it is worthwhile to stride dorsum from time to fourth dimension and review the facts too as the procedures used.

The Biblical prohibitionof eating insects is extremely astringent. Depending upon the blazon of insect eaten, a person can violate equally many every bit six Biblical prohibitions² for each insect ingested. Furthermore, the negative spiritual issue that eating shratzim, insects, tin can have on a person is particularly detrimental.^three
Insect infestation is not a contempo phenomenon. Since the times of chaza"l ⁴until today, poskim take been dealing with this issue.⁵The lesser line is that the fact remains that many species of produce take infestation problems and it is not possible to simply ignore the issue and pretend it doesn't be.^half-dozen While the USDA is enlightened of the being of insects in produce, their guidelines are hardly a consideration from a halacha standpoint.⁷Unquestionably, if we are to bask our vegetables, we take to observe effective ways to control or accost infestation.
Every bit we know, the Torah was "not given to angels,"⁸and we are not expected to be able to avoid eating something which we tin can't run across. In truth, the insects we are discussing are all considered past halacha to be visible to the naked center, Nireh L'Einayim. This ways that they are able to be seen without the help of any special magnification or tools. A jeweler's loupe or lite box may be used to brand checking easier, quicker, and more efficient, only they are not used to discover insects that otherwise would not be visible due to their size.⁹The fact that bugs can hide in the crevices of a leaf or inside a broccoli floret does NOT make them invisible to the naked middle. ^ten
Insect inspection is a skill that requires proper preparation and decent vision, besides as a lot of practice and patience. What at first glance may appear to be a piece of dirt, may actually be an insect. All Star-K mashgichim who audit produce are personally trained, tested and specially certified to bank check for infestation. It is worthwhile to point out that equally in all areas of Torah, a personal lesson is preferred. Sleeky color guides are excellent resource for reference and further noesis merely should non replace a personal lesson.
A complete discussion of this topic is beyond the scope of this article. Yet, we volition provide a general overview of what needs to be accomplished from a halacha perspective and explore the applied application primarily in an industrial setting¹¹

1. Halacha Overview

There are three categories defined by halacha regarding what needs to be checked: 1) Rov – something that is infested a majority of the fourth dimension (over 50%); 2) Miyut HaMatzui -something that contains a meaning percent of infestation, although less than a rov; 3) Miyut ShEino Matzui ­-something that is infested just rarely or infrequently.
How 1 defines what constitutes a Miyut HaMatzui or ShEino Matzui is a lengthy discussion among the poskim. ¹² The generally accepted guideline^thirteen is to follow the opinion of the Mishkinos Yaakov, ^xiv that Miyut HaMatzui is anything infested betwixt x-50% of the time and Eino Matzui is annihilation which is infested less than 10% of the time.
How are these percentages determined? Practise we look at each species or each harvest or each field or each serving, etc.? Rav Moshe Heinemann, shlit"a, paskens ^fifteenthat the percentages are determined by serving or portion size.¹⁶ This ways that if one insect is found in ten inspected portions, one will have a ten% infestation rate. This is determined afterward ane washes the produce.¹⁷
It is as well important to have an agreement of the mechanics of the requirement to bank check for infestation, chiyuv bedika. Each private has an obligation to cheque food which may be infested before he is permitted to swallow it. If the produce passes inspection, information technology may be eaten; if it fails, it may not. In that location is no pre-existing prohibition, issur, on any one particular lot of lettuce; each lot is evaluated on its own merits. In classic Yeshiva terminology, there is no prohibition on the cheftza (lettuce), rather an obligation on the gavra (to check and/or remove any insects from his food).
The requirement for checking fruits or vegetables with an established rov of infestation is M'diorayso. ¹⁸ This means that the Torah requires inspection of fruits and vegetables that are infested a majority of the time (a rov). The requirement for inspecting vegetables whose infestation is less prevalent, Miyut HaMatzui, is Midirabanan. ^xix These requirements may be fulfilled by either checking each particular and removing the insects^twenty or subjecting the produce to a process that effectively removes the insects.²¹
Having said this, with the increasing popularity of pre-washed bagged salads, the fourth dimension needed for preparing salads has dramatically decreased. The question notwithstanding, begs to be asked. How can produce exist effectively cleaned to a degree that avoids leaf by leaf inspection? How tin massive amounts of vegetables be processed and verified every bit "free from further inspection"?
Before we address these questions, we demand to familiarize ourselves with the 'facts on the basis' regarding ingather dynamics.

1. Fact Check

Fact number one: Infestation can and does vary greatly by region, country, and continent. Produce that may exist very infested in Eretz Yisroel or other countries may not be as infested in North America.²² All of the information presented in this article applies simply to produce institute in North American markets.
Fact number two: Crops tin vary from one section of a field to another. This includes variances in taste, colour and ripeness, every bit well as infestation. The reason for this is the diverse factors which contribute to the finished production, which include but are not limited to sun, water, current of air, and soil weather condition. These factors tin can vary for each area of the field. An surface area where in that location is more moisture, less wind, and warmer weather is a more inviting surroundings for insects. Due to these factors, farmers will mostly harvest each section of the field separately²³ and assign unique lot numbers which  follow that section all the way through production.²⁴
Iv. Manufacturing plant Settings
In large production facilities, head lettuces such as romaine or iceberg lettuce and cabbage, arrive daily on big pallets, each with its own unique lot number. The heads are cored and topped, and the outer leaves removed, either in the field or the washing facility. The lettuce is then sized and sent into a wash system, which can use either a long flume or triple wash systems. The lettuce is vigorously agitated and done in 36^oF chlorinated (or other anti-bacterial chemical) water, and is placed on a vibrating screen to remove any residue water. It then enters into a big spinner, which dries the lettuce more thoroughly so it will retain shelf life. From there it is fed into a hopper, where it is packed into bags.
Star-K requires that every single lot of romaine lettuce be checked by a mashgiach before it can be certified.²⁵ A big sample is taken from each lot afterwards it is done and is checked using a lightbox. If no insects are institute in the sample, that detail lot can be certified.²⁶  If even 1 insect is establish, the entire lot is rejected and will not be certified. Since each lot is uniform and undergoes the same washing process, the test sample serves as a clear indication of the cleanliness of that particular lot.
When a lot of romaine passes, the Star-K symbol is added to the engagement lawmaking. When at that place is no Star-G symbol on a product, it is an indication that the lot failed inspection. Consumers should be enlightened that some produce companies attach stickers to their product, implying that it has been kosher certified. At times, these stickered bags do not bear the Star-K symbol by the appointment lawmaking. The absence of the Star-K symbol by the engagement code means that that detail lot failed inspection or was never checked. Other stickers circumspection the consumer in Hebrew and land that inspection is required before rinsing the lettuce. Consumers are urged to look for a reputable symbol to be sure that no further checking is necessary.
The to a higher place mentioned washing organisation is used exclusively for fresh romaine lettuce, and is non designed for other leafy vegetables such equally spinach, broccoli, or herbs. The only available options for these products (fresh or frozen), if you don't want to check them yourself, are those varities grown in greenhouses and/or certified with reliable kosher certification.

1. Strawberries

Strawberries are more difficult to check than lettuce. The prevalent culprits are mites and baby thrips or nymphs (also known as thrips larvae). These thrips are small and white (but withal very visible), resembling a strawberry seed but simply a quarter of the size. They tend to hide either around the base of the top green area of the strawberry, or in the crevices next to the seeds. It can accept a considerable corporeality of time to bank check fifty-fifty one strawberry. Additionally, moisture strawberries are even more difficult to cheque since water aerosol tin can easily hide these insects. Fortunately, strawberry insects are significantly easier to remove, and if the prescribed washing method²⁷ is followed correctly no checking is necessary.
Industrially produced strawberries pose an unusual claiming. Strawberries are a very sensitive fruit, and many companies are agape to discipline them to an aggressive washing procedure since it may damage the fruit and reduce the quality and shelf life of the finished product. For most companies (and the USDA), a quick rinse or mist spray using an edible anti-bacterial solution is plenty. From a kashrus perspective yet, this is far from adequate. At a recent inspection at two different strawberry facilities, a 40-50% infestation rate was found subsequently the washing process was completed.
Star-Chiliad requires that strawberry companies use a washing process that agitates and soaks the strawberries in a strong (nutrient class) solution.²⁸ The solution is tested until acceptable h2o/chemic proportions are plant, and so the solution is subsequently metered in to the wash using a computer. This ensures a consistently insect-free production, without the demand to check every lot.²⁹ Star-K recommends that consumers only buy retail packaged strawberries bearing the hechsher of a reliable certification that has adequately addressed this result. Consumers can enjoy fresh strawberries past using the same washing method employed in an industrial setting. The Star-1000 recommends vigorously agitating the strawberries in at least two tablespoons of liquid detergent per gallon of water, letting them soak for approximately ane infinitesimal and and so rinsing them off thoroughly before eating.³⁰ No further checking is required.

1. Checking on Shabbos

In that location is a Biblical prohibition of Borer, selecting, on Shabbos. This involves removing any unwanted item from a mixture of other items. This would also include washing produce that is subject to infestation.³¹ If at that place is no requirement to check this particular,³² ane is permitted to wash it as long as the intent is solely for cleanliness.³³ One may even so, check produce and use it if it is found to exist insect-gratuitous.³⁴ If an insect is institute, it may non exist removed;³⁵ still, ane may remove the insect together with a piece of the fruit.³⁶

There is much written about the tremendous rewards and holiness that we merit by avoiding forbidden foods.³⁷ May our heightened awareness of these issues bring much Kedusha into our lives, and may we all merit a Ksiva Vechasima Tova.

one.וכן ע' ש"ך יו"ד סי' פ"ד ס"ק כ"ב

two. In that location are three types of שרצים . 1) שרץ המים which is four לאווין ; 2) שרץ הארץ which is v לאווין ; 3) שרץ העוף which is six לאווין . The איסורים are listed in ויקרא פרק י"א and דברים פרק י"ד .

three.ע' שו"ת ודברת בם (פסקים של הגר"ד פיינשטיין שליט"א) סימן ר"י. וכן יעוין בספר בדיקת המזון כהלכה מאת הרב משה ויא שליט"א שער ראשון פרק א' שמאריך בזה

iv.ע' חולין ס"ז ע"ב, סוטה ג' ע"ב

5.יעוין בפרי חדש סי' פ"ד ס"ק כ"ב. וע"ע בספר בדיקת המזון כהלכה פרק ג'

6.ע' שו"ת ודברת בם הנ"ל

7. For example, the USDA Food Defect Level Handbook allows up to 60 aphids, thrips, or mites per 100 grams of frozen broccoli. A standard 32 oz handbag of frozen broccoli is over 900 grams.

8.ברכות דף כ"ה ע"ב

9. ע' אגרות משה יו"ד ח"ד סימן ב'

10.ע' חכמת אדם כלל ל"ח סי' ח', ערוה"ש סי' פ"ד סעיף ל"ו

xi. For a more comprehensive guide, which includes instructions for home and other not-industrial utilise, please visit the STAR-K website (here) to view or download the STAR-G Guide to Checking for Insect Infestation or visit www.Checkforinsects.com.

12. ע' שו"ת הריב"ש סימן קצ"א, שו"ת שבט הלוי ח"ד סימן פ"א, שו"ת ודברת בם סי' ר"ז

xiii. פסק של הג"ר שלמה זלמן אוירבאך זצ"ל

14. תשובות סימן י"ז

15. יעוין בתשו' חת"ס יו"ד סי' ע"ז

16. This is still difficult to make up one's mind definitively, as lettuce can vary greatly past season. It is worthwhile, however, to quote the words of the משכנות יעקב וז"ל כל דבר שנראה לעינים שהוא מצוי תדיר זה שמו אשר יקראו לו מיעוטא דשכיח עכ"ל.

17. יעוין באג"מ או"ח ח"א סי' קכ"ה שדרך אכילה היא לרחוץ את החסא קודם שאוכלה

xviii. ע' ש"ך יו"ד סימן פ"ד ס"ק ל"ה

xix. ע' פמ"ג שפ"ד סי' פ"ד ס"ק כ"ח

twenty.  רמ"א סי' פ"ד סעיף ח'

21. יעוין בשו"ע סי' פ"ד סעיף י'

22. 1 case of this is strawberries. In Eretz Yisroel, all the leading experts crave peeling or soaking strawberries for numerous extended periods of time. In Due north America, all that is required is soaking ane time in a stiff solution and so rinsing. Encounter Star-1000 guide for more than detailed instructions.

23. For quality purposes

24. This is a USDA requirement for traceability, in instance a recall becomes necessary.

25. The washing process is not effective plenty to be able to create any sort of chazaka for cleaning romaine lettuce properly on a consequent basis; therefore, every lot is checked. For iceberg lettuce and cabbage nonetheless, the industrial washing processes (at least in STAR-1000 certified facilities) has consistently been proven to finer make clean the lettuce completely. Iceberg lettuce and cabbage are airtight heads (as opposed to romaine, which is open) and, therefore, they are less decumbent to infestation. Additionally, the leaves are much stiffer and smoother and insects tend to wash off much more than easily than on romaine. Therefore, hashgocho temidis is not needed for iceberg lettuce or cabbage.

26. In that location are 2 reasons for this. Get-go, Rav Aharon Kotler, zt"l, paskened that since there is always reason to believe that this lot may be from the majority that is non infested, one may take 3 servings and check them. If they are make clean, we may consider the rest of this lot not infested and information technology need not be checked. See טוב טעם ודעת מהד' קמא סי' קכ"ג and ברכי יוסף יו"ד סי' רצ"א and דרכי תשובה יו"ד סי' פ"ד אות קי"ט-קכ"א . Second, even without using a chazaka, if the sample would exist divided into ten portions and 1 insect is found then the rest of the lot must be considered Matzui, and so too, if no insects are found then the residue of the lot may be considered Eino Matzui.

27. See STAR-K Guide to Checking for Insect Infestation.

28. This organisation is only used for frozen strawberries where the companies are less concerned nigh damaging the fruit since they will anyways be frozen. An alternating process that one visitor uses is a organisation of brushes that scrub each berry, thereby effectively removing all insects.

29. If one is going to puree the strawberries, there are those who are lenient due to the fact that any insects will be crushed and batul/nullified in the rest of the puree. Each person should consult their own rabbinic authorisation for guidance on relying on this lchatchila.

xxx. Every bit an extra assurance, it is preferable to remove the peak green area.

31. שו"ע או"ח סי' שי"ט סעיף ח', שמירת שבת כהלכתה פרק ג' אות י"ח

32. For instance, if information technology is something known to be אינו מצוי .

33. אגרות משה או"ח ח"א סי' קכ"ה

34. שמירת שבת כהלכתה שם אות ל"ו

35. שמירת שבת כהלכתה שם אות י"ח

36. משנה ברורה סימן שי"ט ס"ק ס"א ושם

37. ע' יומא ל"ט ע"א, חכמת אדם סי' ל"ח ס"ק כ', ערוה"ש סי' פ"ד ס"ק ס"ד, העמק דבר עה"פ והייתם קדושים (ויקרא י"א, מ"ד)

Source: https://www.star-k.org/articles/kashrus-kurrents/587/keeping-bugs-in-check-insect-infestation-revisited/

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