How Many Worms Are Hiding on Your Plate?

When you visit the market to purchase a fresh bunch of cilantro, you probably don’t realize that hidden among the herbs are dozens of tiny insects and worms.

Rabbi Yosef Dorfman, an international expert in kosher food and a pioneer in the field of insect inspection, explains: “In one kilo of parsley grown under special conditions to prevent insects, you might find between two and five bugs. But in regular parsley, there could be 200 to 300.”

In leafy greens grown using special methods to prevent infestation, any bugs that are present usually wash off easily. But in regular greens, you’ll often find bugs that cling tightly to the leaves and don’t come off with a simple rinse—such as leaf miners, aphids, and more. The key difference between the two types of produce lies in the kind and quantity of bugs found.

For most people who aren’t trained in spotting insects, these bugs are practically invisible. Some are the same color as the leaves and blend right in. Others go unnoticed in cold storage because they don’t move when chilled. Often, someone who’s not familiar with them may just assume that a bug is a speck of dirt. There are countless cases documented by experts showing the sheer number of insects found in regular, untreated greens.

The Torah strictly forbids eating insects, worms, and crawling creatures. As it says in Leviticus 11: “Every swarming thing that swarms upon the earth is detestable—it shall not be eaten ... Do not defile yourselves with them, and do not become impure through them … Be holy, because I am holy.”

One of the core ways the Jewish people are set apart is through the food we eat. Eating non-kosher food creates a form of spiritual blockage that dulls the soul's sensitivity and makes it harder to feel connected to anything holy. Our sages explain that the word “וְנִטְמֵתֶם” (“you shall become impure”) is related to “טמטום הלב”—a kind of spiritual numbness. In other words, non-kosher food doesn’t only affect the body—it affects the soul too.

Eating insects is considered a particularly serious offense. For comparison: eating a small amount of pork (about 27 grams) is a single transgression. But eating a single bug can be a violation of four to six Torah prohibitions, depending on the type of insect. This means that someone eating contaminated food might, in just one meal, break dozens or even hundreds of Torah prohibitions.

It’s important to know that it’s not only leafy greens that are affected—other foods can also have insect issues. To learn which foods are affected and how to clean them properly, you can check out Rabbi Moshe Vaya’s guide, “Kitzur Bedikat HaMazon KaHalacha.” These days, it’s also easy to find many products with strict kosher supervision that certifies they're free of insects.

Weekly Challenge:

This week, try doing your grocery shopping at a store trusted by observant Jews, which carries products with top-tier kosher certification. When buying leafy greens such as parsley, cilantro, lettuce, cabbage, celery, green onions, mint, basil, or dill, look for packages that say “grown with special methods to prevent insects” or “no checking necessary” printed next to the kosher stamps. Follow the instructions on the label to make sure your food is clean and kosher.

To purchase the book "Concise Guide to Food Inspection According to Halacha", click here.

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