Can we eat fresh blueberries and strawberries?

amother

Wed, Aug 03 2022, 4:13 pm

Awhile ago it was announced that there are too many bugs as no we shouldn’t eat it at all because it wasn’t possible to check it.

amother

Mint

Wed, Aug 03 2022, 4:16 pm

In America yes, with rinsing with some soap (for strawberries) and then look up what the crc or Ou write for blueberries. Not sure about Israel …

Raspberries in America are in the “too hard to check” category and I believe this.

LK1

Wed, Aug 03 2022, 4:16 pm

Ask your LOR.

We still don't but there are people that do.

amother

Wed, Aug 03 2022, 6:37 pm

LK1 wrote:

Ask your LOR.

We still don't but there are people that do.

I heard recently that I shouldn’t but dd said that people do

amother

Pearl

Wed, Aug 03 2022, 6:52 pm

My husband is a mashgiach in kashrus.
My family eat strawberries and blueberries.
Wash all with soap and rinse well. Strawberries should be brushed with finger or sponge.
Ask your Rav. Opinions differ.

Mommyg8

Wed, Aug 03 2022, 6:57 pm

I found this guide very helpful: (strawberries)

https://kosherquest.org/crc-ch.....ries/

amother

Chartreuse

Wed, Aug 03 2022, 6:57 pm

LK1 wrote:

Ask your LOR.

We still don't but there are people that do.

Same here. Haven't eaten a strawberry in years. Sad

nicole81

Wed, Aug 03 2022, 7:28 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

I heard recently that I shouldn’t but dd said that people do

Do you have a rav? Follow any major organization re kashrut? We follow the star-k for all fruits and vegetables so yes we eat blueberries and strawberries cleaned as per their recommendations.

amother

Peru

Wed, Aug 03 2022, 7:32 pm

amother [ Pearl ] wrote:

So is mine. Strawberries we only frozen with an hashgacha. Blueberries we eat fresh after washing well.

amother

Lemonlime

Wed, Aug 03 2022, 8:23 pm

Mommyg8 wrote:

I found this guide very helpful: (strawberries)

https://kosherquest.org/crc-ch.....ries/

This is from 2017. Have they updated guidelines since then?

AlwaysGrateful

Wed, Aug 03 2022, 9:26 pm

We hold by the star-K in all things, including insect checking. They did change the process of checking blueberries a little while ago -- they used to not have to be checked at all, now they should be washed the same way as strawberries, as per the Star-K's instructions.

https://www.star-k.org/checking

amother

Lightcyan

Thu, Aug 04 2022, 12:04 am

Yes you can eat them, without bugs.

So cute little grey aphids on strawberries are actually less gross than the creepy caterpillar worms on blueberries.

These bugs hide out.

You needs to soak in soap water then check.

You wont miss them if you use a white bowl or bin.

Sometimes you get a clean streak in a season. Other times its just disgustingly infested.

It varies all the time. Season to seaon, farm to farm, year to year.

amother

Bone

Thu, Aug 04 2022, 1:47 am

I guess you're all talking about in the US

amother

Lemonchiffon

Thu, Aug 04 2022, 2:04 am

We eat them too in Israel. We wash them as described above.

My husband is also a mashgiach in kashrus.

amother

Forsythia

Thu, Aug 04 2022, 11:38 am

AlwaysGrateful wrote:

We also use the Star-K method for cleaning the strawberries (in the US).