By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

It is an uncomfortable notion for many, but one of the greatest challenges in kashrus observance lies in refraining from eating the small bugs found in our vegetables.

The FDA is on top of things, true. But they only care about aesthetic qualities of the fruits and vegetables. Thus, only 30 aphids per 100 grams of Brussel sprouts are permitted by the FDA. Frozen broccoli is allowed 60 aphids per 100 grams. These are the FDA requirements.

And halacha? Halacha allows zero.

Thrips in frozen or canned spinach? The FDA allows 50 per 100 grams. Sauerkraut also has the 50 per 100 gram limit.

Canned mushrooms? Well the FDA allows for 75 white mites per 100 grams. Black eyed peas have the small brown weevil – the FDA allows up to 5 per can.

And halacha? It allows for zero.

But looking for them and knowing how to remove them requires an extraordinary effort. At times we do not know exactly what to do with any particular fruit or vegetable.

The latter issue, however, has been resolved by the development of a remarkable new app developed by Rabbi Michoel Haber, a Rav in Flatbush whose dedication to Halacha has yielded tangible improvements in the Flatbush community. This effort, spearheaded by Rabbi Haber and his son Dovid, will be a boon to the entire Torah observant community in the United States, making the information about what each vegetable and fruit requires– -just one click away.

Do you want to learn how to check lettuce, herbs and strawberries? Now you can.

The app is available at no charge from the i store or on Google Play. Just type in “checkvegetables.” There is a website associated with the app, too. It is called “checkvegetables.com.”

The app has an easy to use alphabetic listing of fruits and vegetables and another listing of grains and nuts. It also has a button for various infestation types as well as alerts.

It is all digital texts, with pictures and not just a copy of a pdf text. The app allows you to email the requirements of that fruit, vegetable or grain to anyone.

If you press on the fruit name it will tell you if it needs to be checked or not. If you press it a second time, it will tell you how to check it.

There are, of course, varying views on what type of checking is required for each different fruit and vegetable. Also, there are seasonal and logistical changes that effect each fruit and vegetable.

As far as what the halachic requirements of each food item are, Rabbi Haber has consulted with leading Poskim and experts in the halachos of checking for infestation. He is also in touch with mashgichim in the field to keep the app and site updated.

This author has checked through many of Rabbi Haber’s conclusions and found that they match the views of leading Poskim in how to deal with infestations.

One should double check with one’s Rav, however, to ensure that his view comports with the site. It is this author’s prediction that most Rabbonim will concur with what Rav Haber suggests.

THE MESH FILTERING PROCESS

Recently, a new method of inspection has developed where the fruits and vegetables are washed in a bin and the “used” water is poured through a scientific mesh that is designed to let liquids through – but not much else. We will call this the “Mesh filtering process.” The mesh is held in between two metal sieves or strainers. When a vegetable is infested, the bugs come off in the water. Bugs that are visible to the naked eye– – are often found on the mesh. The items that are found on the mesh are then placed on a light box, and the bugs are counted.

In some restaurants and kosher stores, the washing process and checking is done repeatedly until there are no more bugs found on the mesh.

Not all Poskim have adopted this method yet, either because they have as yet not seen demonstrations of it or they hold that we are not obligated to look for bugs to such a degree. In other communities, the Vaads have established very strict guidelines. One community has forbidden the fruit stores from selling fruit baskets that contain grape bundles, due to the discovery of bugs through the mesh filtering process.

Generally speaking, if one prefers to examine for bugs on his or her own, the following best practices are recommended for most of the fruits, vegetables and grains listed in the app:

1] Purchase the highest quality fruit or vegetable that you can. Try to purchase from a company that either grows the vegetables under controlled conditions, uses the mesh filtering process or at least triple washes the vegetables.

2] Remove the outer layer or two. This is where most of the bugs are found.

3] Rinse the vegetable thoroughly using a vegetable wash.

4] Try to learn the particular method of inspecting and washing for that fruit or vegetable. The app tells you how to do this.

5] Get used to using a light box and know how to use it.

Often, depending upon the infestation level, these criteria change. The app provides a remarkably updated and reliable system of determining what needs to be checked and how to do it. Virtually, everyone has a phone, and this is one of the most practically useful apps that one can find.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

LINKS TO DOWNLOAD CHECK VEGETABLES APP

Google Play: http://bit.ly/1nrkWiQ

Apple: http://apple.co/1LLVnVl