11a) relates that Rebbe .] Iceberg Lettuce. (Tuv Ta’am v’Da’as O.C. One might think it a simple matter to wash salad and put it into a plastic bag. , and each individual piece must be inspected prior to consumption. The determination of which vegetables fall into each category depends on the type of vegetable, as well as its locale, and season of growth. Step 1, Plant the iceberg lettuce six to eight weeks before the last expected spring frost. The Halachic Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is an annual plant of the daisy family, Asteraceae.It is most often grown as a leaf vegetable, but sometimes for its stem and seeds. Ground or pureed fruits and vegetables may therefore be permitted even where the infestation level is Miyut ha’Matzuy I do find iceberg lettuce to ⦠This problem was resolved in the 1990’s by the development of selective barrier film materials. – a “complete” item, and a Beryah We may be tempted to take the easy way out, but Shlomo ha’Melech issues involved, it would be helpful to note certain circumstances where insects are indeed permitted. was מציץ מן החרכים – “peered through cracks” – we must, pardon the e(n)tymology, be מציץ מן החרקים – “watch for insects” – in our scrupulous observance of this prohibition of eating bugs. by enjoying lettuce regardless of the season. . (Biblical prohibition)! Although the issues involved in dealing with this vegetable are Halachic According to the P’ri Chodosh Microscopic Insects. The reason for this difference is that modern pesticides were unknown until recently. The first involves the water in which they grow. are of the opinion that if three or more samples of a specific lot are found to be insect free, one may assume that the entire lot has a Chezkas Kashrus , the reason for this extraordinary compounding of prohibitions is the ubiquity of insects and the resultant ease by which one may easily transgress this prohibition. The current lettuce “crisis” can be partially blamed on the general trend in the food industry for “ready-to-eat” foods. background of the prohibition of Sh’ratzim The key to a “Kosher” washing system is to develop a method by which the water is sprayed with sufficient force to dislodge the insects but without pulverizing the lettuce. Today, merely opening a bag of mixed greens to make an instant salad completes the meal, and packages of croutons and dressing are often included in the bag, creating another set of Kashrus ! With this rather detailed presentation of the Halachic authorities have grappled with the potential that drinking the water in one of the greatest cities in the world may involve an Issur d’Oryssa when we use the term “insect” it is in its non-technical sense. Asteraceae Lactuca sativa refuse to certify leafy greens (e.g. Since insect infestation in these types of lettuce is considered a Miyut ha’Matzuy of such varieties of lettuce, therefore, requires much greater diligence in verifying the absence or removal of prohibited insects. As such, most people might think that they would never knowingly eat an insect. The short legs of such animals are not readily noticeable as they move, rendering their movement akin to slithering. Since fruits and vegetables (with the notable exception of vegetables grown in special hot houses, see below) grow in open areas and may contain prohibited insects, their consumption poses significant Halachic The doctor asks him to drop his trousers and examines him. Whole Insects. , such as insects, worms, and other “creepy crawlies”. But Iceberg has its own place and, like almost anything, if you grow it in your own garden, youâll find it a lot more satisfying than if you buy it in the produce aisle. presumption – that a given batch of produce is not infested. While the prohibition of insects is severe, not all insects are prohibited. Enough vegetable wash should be used to make the solution feel slippery and sudsy. All agree, however, that extreme care must be taken when removing the viscera from fish to ensure that the prohibited insects commonly found in them do not escape into the flesh of the fish. The head is less firm and somewhat smaller than that of the Iceberg type. The second stipulates that even sh’ratzim Iceberg lettuce has a rather pale green color, while varieties of open leaf lettuce – romaine, big, and Boston, for example – have a much darker hue. carry out Mitzvos The problem of insect infestation of lettuce was further exacerbated by restrictions on the use of pesticides that began in the 1970’s due to recognition of the harmful affects of many common insecticides, such as DDT. – Rov Pests & Diseases Lettuce is susceptible to several pests and diseases including aphids, caterpillars, slugs, armyworms, imported cabbageworms, cabbage loopers, leafhoppers, leafminers, lygus bugs, and thrips. is not considered Batel , finds a home in the New York City reservoir system and, since the water is not filtered, into city taps. Also, they werenât harmful. As such, most authorities in the United States consider worms commonly found embedded in fish fillets Halachically As such, it is important to understand how this prohibition affects our ability to eat many types of fruits and vegetables. A second mitigating factor involves the concept of Bitul Soak the leaves in a solution of vegetable wash and water. Unfortunately, being open to the sun’s providence also means it is open to hosting insects, which is precisely what they do and, once the insects do take up residence in the nooks and crannies of the leaf, they are much harder to find and dislodge. regardless of its ratio in the mixture. He went on to say he would invest in iceberg lettuce. Fortunately, however, these flies are easily noticeable and wash off readily with a simple water rinse, and customers are therefore admonished to rinse these products before use. status of this material is subject to much debate (according to some it was the Tola’as Shani standpoint, what cannot be seen by someone with average eyesight has no Halachic applications, from cracks in letters of a Sefer Torah Such regal recognition, however, has not always been the lot of this lowly member of the sunflower family. . that we apply to all other foods. Although requiring time and effort, checking whole leaves of lettuce was considered part of keeping a Kosher household. (Makos Iceberg Lettuce is frequently infested with insects and must be checked. . and is no longer a Miyut ha’Matzuy would be considered Batul. y, in which case there would no requirement for any further checking. In addition, the RaShB”A 67b) teaches us that worms that originate in the flesh of a fish have the same Halachah Since Halacha . . When I went to use it I found small bugs, they almost looked like a cross between a fruit fly and a spider all over the lettuce. It must be fresh and crisp, and so sparkling that you scarcely notice the bitter in it.â However, the once highly-popular iceberg lettuce has seen a dramatic fall in sales over the last couple of decades whilst bagged-leaf varieties and other salad crops such as rocket and watercress have risen rapidly in popularity. Check the next 5 layers (10 leaves). ). It is important to note, however, that while no washing system has yet been devised that is proven to remove all permit its use. One must, therefore, exercise great care to avoid eating foods that contain insects and thereby transgress these prohibitions. to vegetables, however. The answer to this question was unequivocal. [A definitive listing of the status of specific fruits and vegetables at any one time or place is beyond the scope of this article.] (nullification). Dried Insects. allow a company to ink-jet a Kosher symbol on the bag and rely on spot sampling of product off site. insight. perspective. , Aquatic sh’ratzim fruit or vegetable individually (he specifically states that one cannot rely on the checking of the majority). Iceberg lettuce should be washed just before you use it, if possible. The firm leaves of the iceberg lettuce can also be filled with meat or fish. Green, leafy plants were not food – they were what “food” ate! Others, on the other hand, argue that such insects nonetheless constitute a “recognizable” bug. If this is done on a number of separate occasions, and, in every instance the leaves show no infestation at all, one may, from then on, spot check only twenty per cent of the product (after following all the cleaning steps that we specified). ” – “Chasa For the dressing, place all of the ingredients in a large jar. 2. If even one insect is found, repeat the entire process. A second point involves the size of the copepod itself. Produce bundles typically contain more than one serving, thus potentially yielding a higher computed incidence of infestation. [See Kosher Food Production (p. 308) for a full discussion of the Kosher status of carmine.]. as the fish itself. . to be considered Batel Dutch iceberg lettuce forms the basis of many salads and dishes. was משגיח מן החלונות מציץ מן החרכים – “watching through the windows and peering through the cracks”. [The term “produce” refers to both fruits and vegetables, and for purposes of this discussion these terms may be used interchangeably.]. If we accept the fact that lettuce falls into the category of Miyut ha’Matzuy Specific prohibitions govern those that live in rivers and lakes, those that creep on the ground, and those that fly in the air. As such, many common fruits and vegetables should not be eaten unless thoroughly inspected. Iceberg lettuce is 96% water which is why itâs an excellent source for keeping the chickens hydrated. inspect the field prior to harvesting to determine its cleanliness. Another approach to dealing with insects in lettuce is to grow them insect-free. ’s students have quoted him as having endorsed this approach. dictates that sh’ratzim . rules that cooked Iceberg lettuce contains Vitamin A, which helps make the bone stronger and keep them healthy. It can never go out of style," he wrote in a series of tweets defending it. (tradition) by which we may identify Kosher species of grasshoppers has been lost. Additionally, as noted before, taking water from a well and placing it in a container poses other concerns – and most of us do not drink directly from the tap! 6:6), לך אל נמלה עצל, וראה דרכיה וחכם – “Go to the ant, lazy one – see its ways and learn!”. (2:9), Shlomo ha’Melech The size into which the leaf is cut is also a factor. Many vegetables, however, fall into a third category called Miyut ha’Matzuy Iceberg belongs to the crisphead variety of lettuce. concern. Vinegar Eels. A third argument involves the question of the level of infestation. authorities do not permit its use. Iceberg, which takes up to 80 days to mature, is the least tolerant. To be sure, people ate salads, but these were invariably made from “simple” greens and, given the perishable nature of such vegetables, were limited to locally grown produce. that grow in the sea, rivers and lakes are prohibited, whereas those that grow in containers and cisterns are permitted. might seem archaic given our advanced state of hygiene and modern municipal water systems, recent discoveries regarding the New York City water system have given us reason to appreciate the relevance of this Halacha Before eating such vegetables, there is a Rabbinic requirement to check for infestation. Yesterday I opened the re-seal bag to a COMPLETELY different bunch of Romaine Heads, and sure enough The bugs were all over them as well! Worms in Fish. A man goes to the doctor and says âDoctor, thereâs a piece of lettuce sticking out of my bottomâ. "Iceberg lettuce is the color black. Direct a stream of water at each leaf, on both sides, and rub the leaves with your fingers during the process. 5. Other creatures that are considered Sh’ratzim One should therefore conduct himself according to the instruction of his Posek Honey, an ancient and common sweetener, is the quintessential product of the prohibited bee yet is clearly permitted, as explained in the Talmud Chaza”l The first consideration involves the cleanliness of the raw product as it arrives from the field. Recently, more studies have revealed the pathogen behavior on fresh produce. Kosher certification programs for such products rely ultimately on creating a situation where we may Halachically This culinary succulence, however, does not come without a price – at least from a Kashrus 376-382 for a full discussion of these insect derivatives.] We make instant soup, bake instant cookie dough, and microwave instant dinners – complete with desert. has already, and poignantly, admonished us (Mishlei bugs, they may reduce the level of infestation to Halachically Iceberg Lettuce is frequently infested with insects and must be checked. and Esav consequence, although the bug should certainly not be eaten. Lettuce, iceberg (includes crisphead types), raw has a nutritional value score of 25 out of 100.Comparing the fiber content and the nutritional density in 100g for Lettuce, iceberg (includes crisphead types), raw; We class this as a medium to low fiber content item.In terms of overall nutritional value we class this as an item with a high nutritional density value. While issues of aquatic sh’ratzim If you don't know when the last expected spring frost is in your area, look it up online. and cuisine, however, has recently come under assault. However, while they have been successful in protecting the crop from most insidious pests, they could not prevent certain flying insects from landing on the crop after it was harvested. Should the insect be so tiny as to be imperceptible to a person with normal eyesight, it would pose no Halachic To address this infestation issue, some Hashgachos Please also note that all assumptions relating to agricultural practices are subject to change, and must be reviewed on a regular basis. – which referred to the milky, bitter juice that one sees in older lettuce stalks (“lac prohibits the consumption of many types of sh’ratzim Fruits and vegetables that rarely exhibit infestation, such as apples and cucumbers, are clearly in the category of Miyut she’Ayno Matzuy and the Roman Emperor Antoninus demonstrated their royalty as the scions of the families of Yaakov reasons that insects mixed in vegetables qualify as a legitimate Ta’aroves If it can be seen and identified by a person with normal eyesight, albeit only under careful inspection, it would be prohibited. produce may also be permitted in such circumstances, based upon the concept of S’fek S’feka If the frequency of finding copepods in tap water is very low, one may by able to rely on the Halachic As such, the copepods would be permitted entities per se piece of lettuce in the bag, obviating the benefits the product was designed to confer. ramifications were obvious. Unfortunately, a variety of small crustaceans, known as copepods or Miyut ha’Matzuy If insects were found after the second time, discard. Although not particularly appetizing, this rule has practical applications in cases such as beans that have been dried and stored for twelve months. concept known as “Rov , they could only be permitted if the cleaning and monitoring system was deemed sufficient to address this level of infestation. As such, Old World fruit was often infested, and had the status of either Muchzak b’Tola’im unrecognizable, they may also be permitted. If no insects are found, the entire head of lettuce may be used. Three factors usually govern the Halacha application of these concepts, we can understand which and how fruits and vegetables may be eaten. Research indicates that the reason for the greener color and greater nutritional value of such lettuce is precisely because they are open to the sun. The term “She’retz Derivatives of Insects. Such vegetables are subject to a Biblical requirement to inspect each piece to verify that it is insect-free. noted every assault on his people, as it says (Sh’mos – meaning that although only a minority of such vegetables would be expected to exhibit insect infestation, such infestation is nevertheless considered relatively common. lot be checked. Canned or frozen vegetables, as well as sugary preserves, are not subject to this leniency since these forms of processing tend to preserve the insects without dehydration. [“Romaine” lettuce indeed derives its cognomen from its popularity in Rome. , these include small animals, such as mice. , and the fruit or vegetable must be inspected. – literally, “the red worm” acceptable levels (i.e. Finding three or more bugs, however, may change the food’s status to Muchzak b’Tola’im Waterborne Insects. and Muchzak b’Tola’im 7b). . [The term “lettuce” actually derives from the Latin lactuca – engaging in disgusting behavior. 4. All that was missing for an “instant and balanced” meal was an “instant” fresh salad. This dichotomy between the Old and New World, however, remains in dealing with many other types of produce. will only certify thinly chopped lettuce, while others allow much larger pieces. With the lettuce in a container, fill with water on the hole and let stand for 15 min. For the purposes of our discussion, the word “insect” connotes any type of small, prohibited organisms – insects, crustaceans, and worms.). Even when looking very carefully, without using a magnifying glass a copepod may be virtually indistinguishable from other eminently Kosher impurities commonly found in water. 68b) considered them disgusting. In many cases, an observer may notice “something” in the water, but would be hard-pressed to actually discern that it was a living creature. (Rabbinic), and since there is only a Safek In the case of terrestrial Sh’ratzim Other authorities, however, have advanced several rationales to be lenient. Browse pictures and read growth / cultivation information about Lettuce, Iceberg (Lactuca sativa) 'Bugs Off' supplied by member gardeners in the PlantFiles database at Dave's Garden. "Step 2, Plant iceberg lettuce ⦠Many Poskim 123), he is less than sanguine with the concept since it does not seem to comport with the RaShB”A Halachic and thus free from concern. Icebergâs crunchy texture and convenience make it a favorite among salad lovers of all ages. This point has limited practical application, however, since Poskim ,” are specifically permitted in the Torah Larger leaves provide a greater haven for the bug than chopped product, but are also more desirable in a salad. In addition, organic produce, which eschews the use of synthetic pesticides, often has a greater propensity to insect infestation. It is often listed under the euphemisms “lac resin”, “resinous glaze” or “confectioners glaze” and many, though not all, Poskim , these authorities note that this rule is only d’Rabbonon Iceberg is the flagship of the lettuce family. . The iceberg you can buy at the grocery store is normally plastic warped so that it's protected from most dirt during transport. For example, people who lived in Europe may remember checking each cherry before eating it, while in the United States we eat cherries without any checking whatsoever. Others may rely on a Mashgiach A more practical example of permitted sh’ratzim A corollary to the issue of aquatic insects involves a type of nematode (a parasitic worm) called Turbatrix aceti approach to them, are fairly straightforward. As we shall see, however, not all “insects” are created equal. Sh’ratzim Iceberg Lettuce VS. Major Problem in Plants vs Zombies Battle for Neighborville About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How ⦠an uncommon minority. To ensure that this directive is heeded, the lettuce is sprayed with “clean” sand prior to packaging – making then virtually inedible without compliance! The first involves the concept of Nireh l’Ayin , we can now address the most recent “Lettuce Crisis.”. Cabbage loopers (Trichoplusia ni) and alfalfa loopers (Autographa californica) are green caterpillars with single white stripes running down their sides. These worms can easily be seen swimming freely in unpasteurized vinegar, and have been the source of much Halachic Other than those exceptions noted above, virtually all other insects are subject to a Biblical prohibition. Post-packaging inspection alone is not reliable, because the Halacha vegetable be checked if it has the status of a Miyut ha’Matzuy Harvest in about 62 days. Download the free app from CheckVegetables.com and you'll have all the kosher info you need at your fingertips, wherever you are. As long as one can be sure that no fresh insects have contaminated the beans during this period, they may be eaten without any further inspection. If we consider such insects Halachically So I quickly threw it down the sink in the shredder. It should be noted that some authorities are lenient on both points. acceptable. The problem with this approach is that the inspection does not take place in “real time” – it may be days or even weeks before a problem is detected and corrective action taken. Lettuce is most often used for salads, although it is also seen in other kinds of food, such as soups, sandwiches and wraps; it can also be grilled. have ruled, however, than where the existence of insects is only a Safek Some Hashgachos Other bee products also find their way into the food chain. are placed on the bags of that shipment. Washing alone is insufficient, since no cleaning system has proven Halachically of Maror The recent withdrawal of certification of bagged romaine, Boston, and bib lettuce – and their subsequent re-certification – was based upon these considerations. For heads of iceberg lettuce, discard the outer leaves. Helps with digestion. Under normal circumstances, mixtures containing forbidden components are permitted if the offending material is less than one part to sixty (about 1.6%) of the whole mixture and not intentionally added. (double doubt). Many Poskim The Torah prohibits the consumption of many types of shâratzim, such as Iceberg lettuce is low in vitamins and minerals, but it has high water content and is low in calories. relates that Hashem He concludes that perhaps this approach may be appropriate where it is virtually impossible to inspect the entire lot, but does not sanction it unequivocally.