"Thrips" Hiding in Plain Sight: 10 Facts About Insects in Strawberries

1. Strawberries have been a problematic product for several years in terms of kosher standards. Field strawberries contain many small "thrips" that hide in the recesses of the strawberries. These "thrips" don't come off with regular washing.

2. This year (winter 5776/2016) the situation is even worse than usual. A large sample of different strawberries was examined and a higher than normal infestation was found, even compared to recent years.

3. Rabbi Moshe Vaye, author of "Proper Food Inspection According to Halacha," instructs that it's advisable to buy fruit with a straight and smooth structure. Not squashed, not folded, not "twins," and without cracks.

4. There are several ways to eat strawberries without concern for insects: Cut off the green leaf with a small part of the fruit touching it (about 1 mm) as well as folded and cracked areas. Soak in soapy water for 3 minutes. Rinse thoroughly, a few fruits at a time under a strong stream of water, from all sides, so that the water reaches all parts of the fruit. If the crack reaches the inner cavity, cut the fruit in half. Repeat this process three times and then grind or cook.

5. It is recommended to cut a few fruits as a sample and check from the inside.

6. Another option is to peel a thin layer from all sides of the fruit (the entire outer layer including deep grooves and the leaf attachment area) and rinse thoroughly with water after peeling.

7. Another way to clean strawberries is as follows: Remove the green top with a little fruit. Then soak the strawberries in some soapy water for 3 minutes. After soaking, remove the strawberries and scrub each one with a toothbrush under running water, then repeat the soaking, rinsing, and scrubbing process once more. For the second soaking, be sure to use fresh soapy water.

8. The "Noam Elimelech" writes at the end of Parshat Vayigash: "Even in bitter exile, if one maintains his service to Hashem and returns in complete repentance for his sins to correct all his limbs and sinews, to sanctify and purify them with kosher foods, and not to introduce forbidden foods into his intestines, and sanctifies his limbs in all ways, he will merit even now in exile to divine inspiration."
9. In the Midrash Rabbah on Leviticus it is said: "Hashem will prepare a great feast for His righteous servants in the future to come, and whoever did not eat non-kosher food in this world merits to see Him in the world to come."

10. In the name of the Arizal it is written that if one guards himself from forbidden foods, then Hashem also guards him with divine providence and no forbidden food comes near him, but only if he constantly asks for mercy to be saved from forbidden foods, and it is proper to ask for this in every prayer during 'Shema Koleinu.'