[Avodah] Star-K on Worms in Fish

[Yitzchok Levine]

Below is the recent Star-K post regarding 
checking for bugs in fish. It is from 
http://star-k.org/cons-vegdetail.php?ID=74

I found the listing under "only the variety of 
fish found on the following list may be used 
without any need for inspection" of gefilte fish 
and minced fish sticks surprising.   After all, 
one could conceivably use some of the varieties 
of fish listed under "should NOT be used" in the 
making of gefilte fish and/or minced fish. 
Indeed, A & B sells (or at least did sell) salmon 
gefilte fish. See 
http://www.gefiltefish.com/product.asp?id=1&subid=58&productID=445

Presumably the fact that the fish is ground up 
and therefore the worms are also ground up is why 
the Star-K lists gefilte fish and minced fish as 
being OK, no matter what kind of fish these 
products are made from. IIRC, there was something 
about pureeing strawberries that might be bug infested and then using them.

I am not sure exactly how grinding or pureeing 
works halachically so that one may use the 
result. True, one can no longer see the worms or 
bugs, but why is one allowed to do this 
l'chatchila?  Is it not being mevatel an issur up front?

YL


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Fish

Checking Instructions

Please note the following regarding all Star-K 
insect checking instructions: When applicable, 
guidelines apply to produce grown and purchased 
in the United States. Checking procedures in other countries may be different.

May 18, 2010

Recently there has been much discussion about the 
fish worms called Anisakis. These worms/parasites 
have been found in certain species of fish. Some 
Gedolei Eretz Yisroel have ruled that these worms 
are halachically prohibited and, therefore, those 
species of fish must be inspected prior to use. 
Since we at Star-K strive to have our kosher 
certified products accepted by all kosher 
consumers, Rabbi Moshe Heinemann has instructed 
Star-K establishments and mashgichim that only 
the non-problematic fish be used. Until we issue 
policies and procedures for inspections (as we 
have for vegetables and fruit) the problematic 
species of fish - fresh, frozen or canned - will 
not be used, even with kosher certification 
(unless prior approval is given by Star-K.)

Rabbi Heinemann recommends that consumers follow 
the same policy. Therefore, only non-problematic 
fish should be used until guidelines for 
inspection are issued. As with all halachic 
issues, people should follow the guidance of their personal Rav.

Updates will be posted on this site.

Policy

The following lists are based on research by 
<http://www.kehilasyaakov.org/Fish.html>Rabbi 
Gershon Bess. Note: Please READ CAREFULLY since 
there are some species of fish that appear on 
both lists. Their acceptability or 
non-acceptability depends on where they 
originate. We have no information about fish not included on this list.

Until further notice, only the variety of fish 
found on the following list may be used without any need for inspection:
    * Carp
    * Flounder - Only Fluke, Georgia Banks, Channel
    * Gefilte Fish
    * Herring fillet
    * Lox - Farm Raised [if wild, would state "wild”]
    * Minced Fish Sticks
    * Pike
    * Pollock - Atlantic
    * Red Snapper - Eastern or Atlantic only
    * Salmon - Farm Raised (e.g. Atlantic, 
Norwegian, Chilean, New Zealand, British Columbia )
    * Sardines - from Morocco, Philippines, Portugal
    * Sea Bass – Striped Bass, Grouper (Mexican), Blue Nose (New Zealand)
    * Tilapia
    * Trout
    * Tuna
    * Whitefish - Michigan-Lake Superior
    * Whiting

Until we issue policies and procedures for 
inspections (as we have for vegetables and fruit) 
the following species of fish (fresh, frozen or 
canned) should NOT be used (even with kosher certification):
    * Butterfish
    * Cod - Scrod, Hake
    * Flounder - Yellow Tail, Wild Dabs, Black Backs, Turbot, Yellow Fin Sole
    * Halibut
    * Pollack – Alaskan – Fillet fish sticks or patties
    * Red Perch
    * Red Snapper - Pacific
    * Sable a.k.a Black Cod - including Smoked
    * Salmon, Wild - Fresh/Frozen/Canned – All types
    * Sardines – Norway, Scotland
    * Sole
    * Yellow Fin Sole
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