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I work as a mashgiach (as you probably know) and am constantly worried that I’m not checking the fruit & vegetables properly. I’m washing it properly, however due to the fact that I’m a recent mashgiach I usually think I don’t know what I’m looking for so since I can’t find what I think is a bug I give it a pass and say it’s kosher.
Is this healthy?
(I’m talking about my work, not people’s eating habits)
Please let us all know which establishment this is, so we should avoid eating from it.
That is absolutely rude shmoel. If you don’t see a bug then you have done exactly what you should. You should be very scared and therefore make sure you check properly. But once you have properly checked you should feel confident that you did exactly what was required of you.
This warning is from Gitten 57, the Gemara we learn on 9 Av. There the warning is be fearful of hard line actions against your fellow Jew, or inappropriate piety that can lead to Destruction.
Sam: It was a joke.
Coffee since you are always concernd that makes you a good mashgiach. Its the overconfident mashgichim that are problematic.
If you did your due diligence, then there’s nothing to worry about. Lo nitna hatorah lemalachei hashereis. As long as to a trained eye it’s not a bug, then halachically it’s not a bug.
there are many videos available on CD/DVD and online showing how to check and more importantly what to check for in various types of fruit and vegetables.
On a side note I’ve been extensively involved with a well known kashrus org and it was suggested (ie: i suggested) to them many times that they train food service mashgichim the same way they train industrial mashgichim and the unfortunately to date not much has been done
Also mods, please change the title to mefacheid tamid- meing mefaked tamid means you are commanding all the time.
Interesting that shmoel rhymes with troll.
Could the word be Mefachaid?
CA: If you have an honest doubt then it’s a problem. If you honestly doubt it too often then you may need to consider getting a different job or undergoing more training. But most organizations give guidelines and as long as you follow the guidelines of whatever your organization tells you (I’m assuming it’s a good organization) then you’re fine.
josh: It’s in brachos too. Rashi says that it’s referring to someone who is always scared of forgetting his Torah and reviews constantly.
There are instructional material online OU ChofK and Star-K sites and Chof K put out a color pamphlet with pics of thrips, leafminers, and aphids or just google those three to see pics online. Also Rav Vaye’s sefer has many photos and a guide to each type of fruit and veggie, very helpful.
CA: Ask whoever is in charge of the Kashrus place that you work for whose standards they use. Most places like the Star-K have pretty detailed websites explaining what you have to worry about and what you don’t.
A bit of practical advice that I have found: When you have black dots that you’re not positive about, try and catch it on your fingertip. It’s much harder to tell when it’s wet, so let it dry out there then hold it up and look at it into the light. You’ll usually be able to tell if it’s a bug or not once it’s dried out.
Another idea I suggest is go to a Fruit/Veg. Store and buy low grade stuff, Romaine, scallions, etc. Perhaps the place you work is using a high grade that is coming in quite clean to begin with. Hatzlacha in your avodas hakodesh.
I’m sorry, but that is a terrible suggestion. Why would you get worse stuff? The goal is not to find bugs, it’s to make sure the food has no bugs. Buying low-grade stuff just increases the chances that a bug gets past you.
Were you not trained in with live examples?
Having worked as a mashgiach in a number of Pesach hotels, the best way to identify bugs (in my experience) best option is a magnifying glass with a strong light, or else looking in a well lit area on a clean white surface. The first thing you can see is appendages – legs or feelers etc. Just a little note from experience. Hatzlocha!
Corner vegetable stores have lots of cheap produce, filled with aphids and thrips.
Usa-tralian: If it is only identifiable as an insect by use of a magnifying glass and only looks like a speck of dirt to the naked eye then according to most (maybe even all) opinions it’s not Assur. You should definitely ask a Shaila before ever using a magnifying glass.
Sam2, it’s a machlokes between the Tchebiner Rav and the Chazon Ish, Chazon ish says if you see a speck but a magnifying glass shows it’s a bug, it’s a bug. Tchebiner holds like you. As always, ask your LOR.
I’m just curious, how strong does the magnifying glass have to be?
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