[Avodah] Kosher

[Isaac Balbin]

On 04/12/2009, at 1:44 AM, Gershon Dubin wrote:

> <<Bishul Akum from factories is not an issue according to many
> opinions.>>
> 
> This is a daas yachid; I have never heard of anyone being somech on it
> halacha lema'aseh. 

It is true that this is the opinion brought by the Birkei Yosef quoting Geonim from the 1600's and that it is not accepted ALONE lehalocho, however, in food production it is very much relied upon as a second tzad lehokel, and we have a tradition in Bishul Akum that when there are two tzdodim lehakel, that it is muttar. A second tzad lehokel is often "steaming in the can" which according to Rav Ovaydya is muttar as he considers it like the "smoking of food" which is muttar according to the Yerushalmi. Others don't agree with Rav Ovadya. In combination, however, we are meikel. As I understand it, this is also the policy of the OU and is standard practice.