[Avodah] Etrog jam and pesticides

[Chana Luntz]

RGW writes 0n Areivim:

> I used to make Etrog jam after Sukkot, until an Etrog dealer 
> cautioned me against it, telling me that to keep the fruit in 
> good condition, the etrog orchards are constantly sprayed 
> with strong pesticides, which wind up inside the flesh of the 
> fruit.  He said they are grown for religious use, not for 
> eating, so they don't treat them like they would edible fruit.
> 
> Is there someone on list who is familiar with how etrogim are 
> treated as they are grown, the pesticides used, and whether 
> they are safe to eat?
> 

And if not why is it valid for use in the arba minim?  I thought that
everybody held that one of the criteria for use of an esrog was that it
must have a heter achila (see Sukkah 35a) due to the requirement of
l'chem (see eg Rashi there)?  And yet I have never heard of anybody
enquiring into the pesticide status of an esrog to determine its
kashrus.  Why not?


> Gil Winokur

Regards

Chana