Caution - The Chief Rabbinate Warns of Worm-Infested Flour

In the kashrut update issued yesterday (Tuesday) by the Kashrut Department of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, it was written: "With the arrival of summer and in light of recent reports received by the National Kashrut Division, we have learned that there is a concern of serious infestation in various types of flour, soon after they are supplied from flour mills".

Therefore, flour should be sifted as follows: Regular flour - should be sifted with a sieve of at least 50 mesh density. Whole flour, bran, and various types of whole flours are recommended to be purchased on the day of grinding and immediately refrigerated. Make sure it's not the first flour ground that day, as it has a high probability of being infested. Additionally, before use, it should be randomly checked on a light table. If flours are not received directly from flour mills - ensure that the above conditions are strictly met.

זהירות, קמח (צילום: shutterstock)

It is worth noting the great reward awaiting those who are strict about kashrut. It is brought in Midrash Rabbah that "Hashem will prepare a great feast for His righteous servants in the future, and whoever did not eat non-kosher food in this world merits to see it in the world to come." The Chafetz Chaim writes that one who is careful about kashrut merits that Hashem's light will be a crown on his head and will receive great reward in the world of recompense. From the Zohar it is brought that when a person is careful with forbidden foods, the divine image rests upon him, and all the animals of creation and birds of the sky fear him. In the book "Shulchan HaTahor" it is brought that a person who is strict about kashrut "is elevated and exalted greatly in heaven and many sins are atoned for him, more than if he had fasted hundreds of fasts."