[Avodah] Halacha Yomis - Raisins & bugs

[Prof. Levine via Avodah]

  Do raisins require checking?

OU Kosher


OU Kosher Halacha Yomis
This column is dedicated in memory of:
Rav Chaim Yisroel Belsky, zt'l
Senior OU Kosher Halachic Consultant (1987-2016)
Q. Do raisins require checking?

A. This shailah was already discussed by the Taz Y.D. 84:12. He 
writes that even when it is common to find infestation in raisins, 
they do not require checking. The reason provided is because it is 
uncommon to find infestation in grapes at the time that they are 
harvested. Infestation that develops occurs primarily in storage. As 
such, when considering the status of raisins, there is what is known 
as a sfek sfeikah, a double doubt: Insects might not be present in 
this batch of raisins, and even if they are, they may be permitted if 
they were never shoretz al ha'aretz, literally "crawl on the ground". 
(Infestation that develops on fruits after they are harvested is not 
forbidden until the insects leave the fruit.) However, if one notices 
that the raisins in question are infested, they may not be eaten, 
since there is no longer a double doubt.

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