Three Insects Found in Food

Q. What is the Halacha if one finds three insects in their pot of soup?

A. Shulchan Aruch (84:10) writes that if three whole insects are found in a pot of cooked vegetables, we must assume that there might be more. The Chochmas Adam (38:22) explains that this a safek D’oreisssa (a doubt involving a possible Torah prohibition), and therefore we must be strict. The liquid portion of the soup can be filtered through a cloth or a mesh. However, the vegetables should be discarded because it is too difficult to check most vegetables after they are cooked. The Chochmas Adam writes that pieces of meat can be scrubbed and eaten. The same would hold true for firm vegetables such as potatoes and carrots that can be washed clean. The Shach (84:34) and Aruch Hashulchan (84:75) write that fruit that stays firm even when cooked can be visually inspected and eaten.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.