Note: The information provided here is only with regard to
the incidence of bugs in products and does not address other
kashrus issues such as chodosh.
I. Infestation in Onions
The new crop of onions is coming onto the market. These
winter onions, sold approximately from December until June,
are more likely to have thrips in them, and they must be
checked more thoroughly.
Thrips are small insects between 1/2 mm and 2 mm in length
and are shaped like a splinter, slightly wider at the head
and pointed at the tail, with thin legs protruding from the
sides. When they are young they are a yellowish-white color,
and when they mature they become gray to black.
Onions that are imported generally do not have a problem of
infestation if the onions are firm and nice looking.
How do we recognize the difference between the imported and
local onions?
a. The imported onions are covered with a dry brown skin. In
the summer, Israeli-grown onions also look like this.
b. The skin of the winter onions from Eretz Yisroel is light
brown or yellowish, is thin and often does not cover the
entire surface of the onion. The stem is green where it was
cut off.
THE PROCEDURE FOR CHECKING ONIONS
1. FIRM ONIONS THAT HAVE A DARK BROWN SKIN AND ARE NOT
SPROUTING
One is not obligated to check these onions at all. However,
since thrips do sometimes get into these onions as well, it
is preferable to check them as follows.
Cut off and discard about 1/2 cm. from the top part of the
onion below the stem. Remove the brown skin and the first
white layer. Rinse both sides of the layer that you removed
under running water, while rubbing it with your fingers. Wash
the outside of the remainder of the onion in the same way. If
the onion is made up of two joined onions (twins), one must
separate the onions and do the above procedure to both of
them.
2. a. ONIONS WITH LIGHT-COLORED SKIN (as described above)
b. ANY ONION THAT IS SLIGHTLY SOFT WITH SKIN THAT IS SLIGHLY
WRINKLED
c. ANY ONION THAT IS SPROUTING (green shoots growing out of
the top of the onion)
Cut off and discard about 1/2 cm. from the top part of the
onion below the stem. For sprouting onions, remove and
discard the green sprouts. Peel the onion. If you notice
particles that look like shiny off-white grains of sand,
these could be mites. (Or they could be sand). It is
recommended to examine these white sand-like particles using
a magnifying glass, and if a body with legs is noticed then
one must throw away the onion, and the remainder of the batch
should be checked very carefully. The presence of mites in
onions is unusual, and is generally found only in onions that
were stored for a long time in a moist place.
If no mites are present, cut the onion down the middle,
separate all the layers, and then rinse each layer on both
sides under a strong stream of water while rubbing lightly
with your fingers.
Another option, instead of washing, is to check visually by
holding each layer up to a good source of light (like a good
lamp or a window).
A third option is to put all the individual layers in a bowl
of soapy water (water with a little dishwashing liquid mixed
in), soak for 3 minutes, and then rinse the layers under
running water.
3. ONIONS THAT ARE VERY SOFT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ONION
WHERE THE ROOTS ARE
Check as above in number 2. In addition to mites and thrips,
look for small white worms (up to half a centimeter long)
between the layers.
ALL THE WINTER ONIONS GROWN IN ERETZ YISROEL NEED TO UNDERGO
THE CHECKING PROCEDURE OF NUMBER 2 (above).
II. INSECT-FREE ONIONS
After reading the above, you will be relieved to hear that
Glatt Alim has just come out with specially-grown onions,
grown under special supervision. They are packaged in net
bags, with mehadrin kashrus supervision. These onions are
insect-free and there is no obligation to check them.
III. INSECT-FREE RICE (SUGAT)
The Israeli company Sugat has come out with 1/2-kilo packages
of rice in vacuum-sealed bags. The company removes any
insects before packing the rice, and the vacuum prevents any
new infestation from developing.
IV. QUAKER OATS FROM ENGLAND
The Quaker oats in round packages from England do not have to
be checked. This is true not only for the cans (tins) of
oats, but also for the new packages, which have a similar
design to the cans but are dark red and blue, and made of
hard cardboard with a metal bottom and plastic lid.
