Many tiny bugs on lettuce ok to soak wash check and eat?

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Forum -> Judaism -> Halachic Questions and Discussions

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amother

Slateblue

Fri, May 11 2018, 3:02 pm

I think for cauliflower and broccoli if you see a bunch of bugs you're supposed to throw it out, does the same apply to lettuce which is easier to wash and see the bugs? I have organic lettuce, which I know is buggier, but one package each lettuce seems to have many tiny bugs on them. Is it ok to wash soak in unscented soap and wash and check it? Or does it all need to be thrown out?

amother

Ruby

Fri, May 11 2018, 4:24 pm

I learned that if you see more than three it is infested and needs to be tossed.

flowerpower

Fri, May 11 2018, 4:53 pm

I would trash it!

greenfire

Fri, May 11 2018, 4:57 pm

you can rinse a couple off ... you cannot rinse an infestation away

amother

Indigo

Fri, May 11 2018, 5:41 pm

You could but it would be time consuming.

I would wash it carefully and check it twice. If it’s clean its clean and kosher.

Broccoli and cauliflower is worse because they have little crevices where if a bug hides you cannot find it as much as you check. Lettuce isn’t the same.

amother

Burlywood

Fri, May 11 2018, 7:34 pm

I soak my org greens in a mixture of cold water and little bit of white vinegar. The creatures die immediately.
Then I rinse them off and dunk in a basin of clean water.

FranticFrummie

Sat, May 12 2018, 1:47 pm

It sounds like you have aphids. They come off really easily in vinegar or salt water rinse. Just double check in good light, if you trust your eyes.

I never buy organic lettuce for this reason. I have yet to find any that isn't buggy. Where I live I can get greenhouse lettuce, and I rarely ever find a bug, maybe just one or two.

reality mom

Sat, May 12 2018, 10:24 pm

I would trash it!

amother

Smokey

Sun, May 13 2018, 12:15 am

I washed it well each piece of romaine and then checked it with the lightbox and found quite a few and when I rechecked I didn't see any . Was wondering if I should eat it

tichellady

Sun, May 13 2018, 12:48 am

amother wrote:

I washed it well each piece of romaine and then checked it with the lightbox and found quite a few and when I rechecked I didn't see any . Was wondering if I should eat it

Sounds fine to me. I would have tossed it but since you already cleaned it and checked twice I don’t see why you can’t use it

AlwaysThinking

Sun, May 13 2018, 8:47 am

No way. First I heard if there's more than three you have to toss it, but also so many times I've seen infestation inside the tiny hollow stalks when the lettuce is badly infested. Almost impossible to see without cutting the lettuce down the stalks and looking and even then, do you really trust yourself not to miss even one? Totally not worth the risk, spiritually speaking!

amother

Slateblue

Sun, May 13 2018, 12:29 pm

amother wrote:

I washed it well each piece of romaine and then checked it with the lightbox and found quite a few and when I rechecked I didn't see any . Was wondering if I should eat it

OP here. this is a different poster. I used different lettuce.

Bnei Berak 10

Sun, May 13 2018, 12:54 pm

Riff wrote:

Thank you for writing this!
G-d forbid, eating pork is one lav from the Torah. Each bug on your lettuce is between 4 or 5 lavim (if I remember correct)
Any questions?
Organic leafy produce=full of bugs, don't buy it!!!

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