Author Topic: Do you check your lettuce; which method do you use?  (Read 6805 times)

Offline churnbabychurn

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Do you check your lettuce; which method do you use?
« on: July 11, 2014, 02:21:59 PM »
We recently realized that we are being taken to the cleaners by Bodek et al. Their romaine lettuce is very inferior and 9 times the price as costco.

Google shows a few methods of bedika, which one works and how long does the lettuce last in the fridge after a washing etc? 


The CRC method:
Quote
When we refer to a “Chazaka Check”, the following procedure should be followed:

The vegetable must be washed thoroughly in cold water with either a small amount of a kosher vegetable wash or a soap solution such as dish liquid.* The vegetables are then removed from the water. If there are insects found in the water, the process should be repeated until no insects are found in the water. Then three samples or batches of the vegetable must be checked and if no bugs are found, the remaining produce may be used without further checking.

The Star K method:
Quote
Leaf by Leaf Inspection - Low Volume

Preparation (Optional)

We recommend separating leaves and soaking in water prior to checking, preferably with mild soap or special veggie wash (such as Tsunami 100).

Note: When using soap, use only a food grade cleanser that meets all federal, state, and local regulations. The water should have enough soap to make it feel slippery. Wash thoroughly with clean water before checking to remove any soap residue.

Check

Make a complete leaf by leaf inspection, checking both sides of the leaf.
Note: Leafy vegetable inspection is greatly enhanced when vegetables are placed over a light box. Therefore, all Star-K caterers and restaurants are required to use a light box during vegetable inspection.

Wash off any insects prior to use.

Chazaka Check - High Volume (More than three heads from one source)

Remove and discard outer leaves.
Separate leaves of three heads of the vegetable.
Do NOT wash leaves.
Make a complete leaf by leaf inspection of the three heads, checking both sides of each leaf.
Note: Leafy vegetable inspection is greatly enhanced when vegetables are placed over a light box. Therefore, all Star-K caterers and restaurants are required to use a light box during vegetable inspection.

If one bug is found in the test heads, all the produce in the consignment must be checked leaf by leaf.
If no bugs are found, the rest of the shipment from the same consignment does not require checking and may be used after pulling off the outer leaves of the heads of the remaining consignment.

The OU method:
Quote
PEN LEAF LETTUCE (e.g., GREEN/RED LEAF, BOSTON, CHICORY, BOK CHOY, ROMAINE, et cetera)

Type of insect: Aphids or thrips

Location of insect: Found even in the inner leaves due to its open growth

Method of Inspection: Cut off lettuce base; soak lettuce in cold water with several drops of concentrated, non-scented liquid detergent or vegetable wash. Agitate leaves using a heavy stream of water to remove all foreign matter and soap from the surface, or use a vegetable brush on both sides of the leaf. Check each leaf on both sides under a direct light.

The OK method:
Quote
Please do not order any salad mixes containing FRIZEE. If found, remove the
frizee, it must be checked the same way as lettuce. The following types of
lettuce must be checked according to the instructions below: ARUGULA, BOSTON
LETTUCE, CHICORY, ESCAROLE, GREEN LEAF, ICEBERG, ROMAINE, RED LEAF.
Separate leaves from the head, opening all folds and creases. Soak the
lettuce in water with Veggie Wash for five minutes, and then rub each leaf
between your fingers. Empty basin by removing lettuce with both hands
(holding loosely) in small bunches and shaking them under the water.
Put lettuce in a clean basin of fresh water. Swish vigorously. Repeat this
step until there is no foam on the surface of the water.
Rinse each piece of lettuce, one-by-one, under a strong stream of water.
Check one-by-one (on both sides) against a fluorescent light. A light box is
recommended for this procedure.

Offline aygart

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Re: Do you check your lettuce; which method do you use?
« Reply #1 on: July 11, 2014, 02:42:52 PM »
We recently realized that we are being taken to the cleaners by Bodek et al. Their romaine lettuce is very inferior and 9 times the price as costco.

Google shows a few methods of bedika, which one works and how long does the lettuce last in the fridge after a washing etc? 


The CRC method:
The Star K method:
The OU method:
The OK method:
The first thing you will need is to know what to look for and where to find them
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline george

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Re: Do you check your lettuce; which method do you use?
« Reply #2 on: July 11, 2014, 02:50:58 PM »
I use the star-k/OU method (they are the same). After washing and checking, I use paper towels to remove as much moisture as possible. Then put in zip lock bags in the fridge. Stays fresh at least a 7-9 days. Much longer than the prechecked bagged stuff.

Offline churnbabychurn

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Re: Do you check your lettuce; which method do you use?
« Reply #3 on: July 11, 2014, 04:46:35 PM »
I got a pack of 5 heads from SR, was trying for the starK chazaka method. Checked three heads without washing, found 1 bug. Soaked them in soap and water, found another 1 bug floating in the water!
Washed them all in running water and did a quick check, i'll eat them now, but finding those tiny thrips really makes me nervous about this....
 :-\

Offline MC

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Do you check your lettuce; which method do you use?
« Reply #4 on: July 11, 2014, 05:19:30 PM »
Live Gourmet living butter lettuce is my favorite to use, because it DOESNT NEED TO BE CHECKED! (Yup you read that right)
You just need to make sure you cut the root off before shabbos, since it's technically still growing, and rinse off the dirt.

But when I buy other lettuce I use the OU method. Or the CRC method if I'm checking a lot, but I don't like to rely on it unless the batch has been really clean and bug-free.

Offline george

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Re: Do you check your lettuce; which method do you use?
« Reply #5 on: July 11, 2014, 05:28:10 PM »
I got a pack of 5 heads from SR, was trying for the starK chazaka method. Checked three heads without washing, found 1 bug. Soaked them in soap and water, found another 1 bug floating in the water!
Washed them all in running water and did a quick check, i'll eat them now, but finding those tiny thrips really makes me nervous about this....
 :-\
You really think bodek washes it any better than you? If you're nervous even after washing and checking, you should stay away from bodek as well. But you shouldn't be nervous...

Offline churnbabychurn

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Re: Do you check your lettuce; which method do you use?
« Reply #6 on: July 11, 2014, 05:30:45 PM »
You really think bodek washes it any better than you? If you're nervous even after washing and checking, you should stay away from bodek as well. But you shouldn't be nervous...
The difference is that when I am in court and charged with eating thrips, if it was bodek i'll refer them to the rav hamachshir... Its all on him.  8)

Offline churnbabychurn

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Re: Do you check your lettuce; which method do you use?
« Reply #7 on: July 11, 2014, 05:31:58 PM »
Live Gourmet living butter lettuce is my favorite to use, because it DOESNT NEED TO BE CHECKED! (Yup you read that right)
You just need to make sure you cut the root off before shabbos, since it's technically still growing, and rinse off the dirt.

But when I buy other lettuce I use the OU method. Or the CRC method if I'm checking a lot, but I don't like to rely on it unless the batch has been really clean and bug-free.
Where you get that and how much is it?

Offline george

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Re: Do you check your lettuce; which method do you use?
« Reply #8 on: July 11, 2014, 05:35:53 PM »
The difference is that when I am in court and charged with eating thrips, if it was bodek i'll refer them to the rav hamachshir... Its all on him.  8)

So if you see a bug in a bodek bag, you'll eat it?
Pure halacha doesn't require us to eat foods with a hechsher. Pure halacha doesn't know what a hechsher is. Pure halacha requires you to not eat bugs. How can you "not eat bugs" but still eat lettuce? Either buy paying a kashrus agency to check for bugs before you eat it, or by checking by yourself. You are no less qualified to check for bugs than anyone else.

Offline aygart

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Re: Do you check your lettuce; which method do you use?
« Reply #9 on: July 11, 2014, 05:38:35 PM »
Live Gourmet living butter lettuce is my favorite to use, because it DOESNT NEED TO BE CHECKED! (Yup you read that right)
You just need to make sure you cut the root off before shabbos, since it's technically still growing, and rinse off the dirt.

But when I buy other lettuce I use the OU method. Or the CRC method if I'm checking a lot, but I don't like to rely on it unless the batch has been really clean and bug-free.
why do you say it doesn't need to be checked?
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline aygart

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Re: Do you check your lettuce; which method do you use?
« Reply #10 on: July 11, 2014, 05:42:14 PM »

So if you see a bug in a bodek bag, you'll eat it?......
.You are no less qualified to check for bugs than anyone else.
The regular straw man. They don't claim that there are no bugs only that it is below miut hamotzuy and does not need to be checked.
The Chasam Sofer among others writes that you need someone who is a baki in bug checking. There is some training involved in doing it effectively.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline MC

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Do you check your lettuce; which method do you use?
« Reply #11 on: July 11, 2014, 05:44:52 PM »
I get it at Vons or Albertsons. Not sure about the east coast. I think it's about $3 per container.
It doesn't need to be checked (just rinsed) because it's hydroponically grown in greenhouses.
« Last Edit: July 11, 2014, 05:53:38 PM by MC »

Offline churnbabychurn

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Re: Do you check your lettuce; which method do you use?
« Reply #12 on: July 11, 2014, 05:46:11 PM »
<img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/tapatalk-emoji/emoji57.png" />
So if you see a bug in a bodek bag, you'll eat it?
Pure halacha doesn't require us to eat foods with a hechsher. Pure halacha doesn't know what a hechsher is. Pure halacha requires you to not eat bugs. How can you "not eat bugs" but still eat lettuce? Either buy paying a kashrus agency to check for bugs before you eat it, or by checking by yourself. You are no less qualified to check for bugs than anyone else.
Fine but if I do pay a responsible rabbi to check my lettuce, shecht my meat and milk my cows, I have a halachic right to rely on them. Therefore even if it turns out that there were bugs in the lettuce I would be classified as an oines.

If I am responsible to check my own lettuce, it would be harder to become comfortable that I have done the best possible job to a degree that if I end up eating a bug, I would be classified as an oines.

Offline aygart

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Re: Do you check your lettuce; which method do you use?
« Reply #13 on: July 11, 2014, 06:18:36 PM »
I get it at Vons or Albertsons. Not sure about the east coast. I think it's about $3 per container.
It doesn't need to be checked (just rinsed) because it's hydroponically grown in greenhouses.
does it have a hechsher? There are bugs in greenhouses as well. The kosher greenhouses have methods to prevent the bus more than just hydroponics. There was an article about that. Hopefully we'll find after shabbos.
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Offline MC

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Re: Do you check your lettuce; which method do you use?
« Reply #14 on: July 11, 2014, 06:32:30 PM »

does it have a hechsher? There are bugs in greenhouses as well. The kosher greenhouses have methods to prevent the bus more than just hydroponics. There was an article about that. Hopefully we'll find after shabbos.
There's no hechsher but the psak I got was to just rinse. I usually give the outer leaves a cursory check too but nothing near the checking necessary on anything else. The "check" and rinse is only because of the possibility that a bug flew in during the packing/transport process.

That's what I was told but I would love to read the article if you find it.

Offline MC

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Re: Do you check your lettuce; which method do you use?
« Reply #15 on: July 11, 2014, 07:16:17 PM »
Um, so apparently it's very good you brought this up!

I asked again just to double check and was told that recently the company (Live Gourmet) changed its process. They now first plant the lettuce outside and then take the seedlings into the greenhouse. So the lettuce needs to be completely checked. :(

Online ckmk47

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Re: Do you check your lettuce; which method do you use?
« Reply #16 on: July 12, 2014, 10:19:25 PM »
I separate each leaf.  Hold up to the light and look at each area. Eat.
If the leaves are dirty, wash under running water before checking.

Big hint: Use Andy Boy brand.  and not the ones sold cheaper in larger bags in Costco.  The leaves are usually very clean and often even the outer leaves don't require washing.
My favorite cause: cssy.org

Offline aygart

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Re: Do you check your lettuce; which method do you use?
« Reply #17 on: July 12, 2014, 11:53:28 PM »
There's no hechsher but the psak I got was to just rinse. I usually give the outer leaves a cursory check too but nothing near the checking necessary on anything else. The "check" and rinse is only because of the possibility that a bug flew in during the packing/transport process.

That's what I was told but I would love to read the article if you find it.
http://oukosher.org/blog/consumer-kosher/hydroponics-and-greenhouses/
Is it someone familiar with the facts about this?


Um, so apparently it's very good you brought this up!

I asked again just to double check and was told that recently the company (Live Gourmet) changed its process. They now first plant the lettuce outside and then take the seedlings into the greenhouse. So the lettuce needs to be completely checked. :(
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline yesitsme

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Re: Do you check your lettuce; which method do you use?
« Reply #18 on: January 14, 2023, 11:37:15 PM »
nothing beats greenhouse grown

Offline DaasTora

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Re: Do you check your lettuce; which method do you use?
« Reply #19 on: January 15, 2023, 01:08:26 AM »
I had lettuce last year with an OU caterer and I saw three bugs on one of the leaves. I’ve never had fresh lettuce since, only heimishe companies greenhouse grown.