Buying Raw Skinless Fish Without Hashgacha

May one buy raw skinless fish without a reliable hashgacha?

Once the skin is removed from a fish, there is no way to determine whether it is a kosher species (unless it was skinned in the presence of a shomer Torah u’mitzvos who checked its kosher status first). Even an expert cannot make a positive identification of a kosher fish on the basis of flesh alone. Since the skinless fish cannot be positively identified, the rabbis forbade the fish as kirvei dagim (fish innards). (See YD 83:5) Salmon is an exception to this rule and will be discussed in a later Halacha Yomis.

For those interested in a more in-depth look at the halachos of fish please contact grossmany@ou.org to inquire about the OU’s Fish Industry Manual.

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.