Beth Din revises its policy on strawberries

ANT KATZ

“After extensive testing and the application of relevant Halachic principles, the Beth Din has revised the checking/cleaning methods for strawberries,” read a notice from the Beth Din today.

There are three changes from the previous method, they say:

• First, it is no longer necessary to sponge the strawberries down;
• Second, they need not be vigorously agitated in the water; just some light “swooshing” will suffice; and
• Third, there is no need to cut them in half to look inside for worms.

The new method is as follows:

1. Cut off (don’t pull off!) the green leaf with about 1mm of the fruit.

2. Cut off any mushy parts as well as deep folds.

3. Soak the strawberries in very soapy water for 3 minutes.

4. After the soaking, the strawberries must be agitated in the water

5. Carefully wash the entire surface of each strawberry under a stream of cold water.