1. Onions
At this time of year, there are 3 types of onions on the
market: a) specially-grown ("Gush Katif") onions, b) onions
from the new crop, with scanty yellow peel, c) onions left
from the previous season, with dark brown peel.
For specially-grown onions with a good hechsher, no
checking or cleaning is necessary. For the new onions, cut
off a slice at the top of the onion (about a centimeter). If
the layers are not tightly packed together, separate the
layers and wash them well. In the old onions, there is a
relatively high incidence of infestation, and each layer
should be separated and washed well.
A reader from Kiryat Sefer wrote to us that, based on our
previous update, in mid-December she stocked up on nice-
looking summer onions. When she first checked them, they
seemed fine, but upon close inspection, they turned out to be
full of white mites. All the onions in three out of the four
stores she tried were similarly infested with mites. She
informed the mashgichim and they confirmed her findings.
(Signs were then hung up in the stores). When mite
infestation is found, the onions should not be used. Our
correspondent stresses that one must study the onions
carefully in order to see the mites, even though they are
alive and moving.
2. Mushrooms
Mites are being found lately in fresh mushrooms. Place the
mushrooms in a vegetable strainer and then shake the strainer
over a white surface. If you find mites on the white surface,
do not use the underside of the mushroom caps (the part with
the gills), and wash the entire mushroom thoroughly.
In addition, the mushrooms should be checked as usual.
