OK Tests Its Veggie Guide

By COLlive reporter

Here is what you will need to check vegetables for insects: Basins, water, strong light, a brush, knife and a mobile device.

Rabbis at OK kosher certification have recently decided to review the instructions they gave in the 2009 published “Vegetable Checking Guide.”

The 35 page manual promised to enable the kosher consumer to check all produce and ensure that it is free of insects.

“When you serve your famous salad to your Shabbos guests, you will be confident that you are serving a perfectly kosher salad,” said Rabbi Chaim Fogelman, a Rabbinic Coordinator at OK.

Endorsing the procedure were Rabbi Usher Anshel Eckstein, Dayan of the Belzer Kehilla of Brooklyn and Kashrus Administrator of the Belzer Hashgocha.

“These methods were originally developed for the mashgichim
in our restaurants, who wash and check large amounts of produce without compromising our Torah standards,” noted Fogelman.

Wanting the wider public to have access to that information as well, the guide was made available free as a mobile app for Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android devices.

Recently, a group of OK rabbis reviewed the washing and checking procedures for various produce, including strawberries, scallions, mint and basil.

Upon initial inspection, many insects were found in the produce, but after cleaning the produce according to the published OK guidelines, all the produce was found to be completely clean, the told COLlive.com.

You can join the veggie inspection squad by downloading the printable guide or the apps at AppStore and GooglePlay.