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27 Tammuz 5761 - July 18, 2001 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
Current Bug Information
by D. Plaut

Here are a few updates on checking for bugs.

1. GRAPES

The Otzar Beis Din seedless green grapes on the market now are more wormy than grapes usually are.

To use the grapes: Cut up large or crowded clusters into smaller bunches. Remove any rotting grapes or grapes with holes in them.

Soak in soapy water (a few squirts of dishwashing liquid dissolved in a basin of water) and rinse under a strong stream of running water, making sure that the water gets around every grape.

Look at each grape (may be done as you're eating). Any grape with a hole, dark spot (larger than a dot), or dark shadow should be cut open and checked inside for worms.

2. BEETS (BEETROOT)

In last week's newspaper there was an advertisement from the Vaad Hakashrus of Shearis Yisroel warning about worms in beets. It said, "The public should be aware that the variety of red beets currently in the Israeli markets are infested with bugs." The beets should be carefully checked before use.

The procedure:

Cut off a 1/2 cm. slice across the top of the beet (beetroot). Continue slicing across into slices about 1 cm. thick. (Usually we say 1-2 cm., but for now, I would advise using the narrower slice.) Check each slice on both sides, looking for a hole where a worm tunneled his way down the beet. Whenever a hole is found, it should be followed to its end, by cutting alongside it or through it, to see if the worm is still there. After removing the worm, the beet may be used.

I found a little worm in a beet about 2 weeks ago by following this procedure. He was white and much smaller than the worms I've found in beets before (about 1 mm. long), but he was quite easy to identify, as he was alive and wriggling.

3. RAISINS

There's been a change in the instructions for yellow California raisins. While in the past, these raisins used to be in the category of mi'ut she'eino motzui and did not have to be checked, during the past year yellow cocoons have sometimes been found among the raisins. Therefore it is now recommended that these raisins also be checked.

Procedure:

Put the raisins in a bowl and pour boiling water over them. Soak them for at least 10 minutes. Swish around the raisins, remove them, and check the water for yellow cocoons. If any cocoons are found, you should wash the raisins well under running water while rubbing them with your fingers. (With other raisins, where we're checking for beetles, if infestation is found we get rid of the whole package).

Tip: When buying yellow California raisins, look at the raisins in the box. If the individual raisins are separate from one another, it is more likely that they are clean (although they still have to be soaked and checked). If they're clumped together, there's a greater chance that there are cocoons.

 

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