Hi-
I was wondering if you could provide some clarification regarding the bug checking requirements of strawberries (frozen and fresh)?
You mention here that strawberries do require a specific method of growing that does not require checking:
But here give the okay for frozen strawberries on Pesach:
and here the rabbi shows a video of checking with a microscope:
Thank you so much for the clarification.
Moadeim L’Simcha,
Jacob
All 3 posts are consistent.
Strawberries are problematic as stated in the first post, fresh OR frozen. The reason is, that an insect (that is seen by human eyes) is a torah prohibition no matter how small it is and can not become permitted with the concept of batel (having 60 times more of the permissible item verses the non permissible)
The second question was regarding a SMOOTHIE. Here there is a leniency. In so far as the food product you are preparing (smoothie) requires the pulverization of the strawberry, which would also cause the insect to become pulverized it is in fact now permissible with the rule of batel.
And number 3, a microscope is never required. Actually insects that are viewed exclusively with a microscope are permitted. (Air is full of microscopic organisms, and yet we all breath it) The Rabbi was pointing out that these insects appear to the naked eye as dots on the skin of the strawberry. But under the microscope those dots that one can mistakenly believe are part of the fruit are in fact insects.
Thank you!