Leading the battle are Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger Shlita and Tzfat Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu Shlita, who heads the Chief Rabbinate’s leafy greens department. They are targeting growers who feel that instead of using the necessary controlled conditions to create insect-free vegetables, they resort to regular methods and spray mega doses of insecticides to drive the pestilence away. The Chief Rabbinate is concerned with the consequences of consumers ingesting vegetables that have been exposed to the extreme levels of insecticides.

Ironically, in addition to posing a health risk, Rav Eliyahu explains it is ineffective, not reaching all areas of a leafy item, as well as killing the pests but not eliminating them. One may not eat a dead insect any more than a live one.

The Chief Rabbinate explains that after consulting with experts in the health and agriculture ministries, it may weigh the possibility of revoking the kashrut certificates from such growers.

Rabbi Metzger is also aware the matter may find its way to the High Court of Justice but he is comfortable that the decision will be upheld, explaining that over use of pesticides poses a serious health hazard and one may not give kashrut supervision to a poisonous item.

Interestingly, the report is in line with recent statements quoted by Jerusalem Kosher News (http://www.jerusalemkoshernews.com/) from internationally renowned expert, Rabbi Moshe Vaya Shlita, who explained to me that the insect-free greens grown properly actually use less pesticides than their regular counterparts, explaining in many cases, growers plagued with insect infestation just boost the pesticides, which often go undetected but the bug-free brands with kashrut supervision are closely monitored and inspected, and therefore, such an occurrence is avoided.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)