New York – Days after questions were raised regarding the halachic implications of bugs that were reportedly found in Tropicana orange juice, the kashrus agency that certifies the product is assuring kosher consumers that they can continue enjoying their favorite beverage without any worries or hesitations.
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In a halachic analysis published last week by the 5 Towns Jewish Times, Rabbi Yair Hoffman discussed the issue of scale bugs that adhere to the outer peels of citrus fruits.
As Tropicana adds essential oils obtained from orange peels to its juice in order to boost flavor, the concern arises that these miniscule bugs, or even bug fragments, may be introduced to the finished product. Conducting his own testing using 62 micron nylon mesh filters, Rabbi Hoffman found that he was able to see bug parts when using a light box, a finding he confirmed with a USB microscope. Rabbi Hoffman also stated that he found an intact bug in approximately one out of every 20 cups of juice.
While Rabbi Hoffman concluded that Tropicana orange juice would still be halachically permitted based on a ruling by the Mishkenos Yaakov, given the rarity of whole bugs found in the samples tested, OK Kosher which certifies Tropicana products, stands firmly behind the product saying that no bugs have been found in numerous tests conducted by Tropicana, independent laboratories and OK personnel.
“There have been claims made that bugs were found in Tropicana and we have sent all correspondence to Tropicana who tested the product in their own labs,” Rabbi Chaim Fogelman, rabbinic coordinator and director of public relations and education at the OK, told VIN News. “They found no bugs, only cells from an orange peel.
Since the claims and accusations have continued, we made our own tests here and bought at least three different types of Tropicana orange juice. We used three different levels of mesh filters. One was so tight that the orange juice wasn’t going through. Even plain water wouldn’t go through. Anything that could possibly be in the juice was caught and there were no bugs.”
According to Rabbi Fogelman, a few small dots that were trapped by the filter were sent to an independent laboratory. The written report from the laboratory indicated that no bugs were present in the samples sent in by the OK.
VIN News obtained both Hebrew and English copies of a further analysis of the issue by Kashrus expert Rabbi Usher Anshel Eckstein, which supported the OK’s findings.
According to Rabbi Eckstein, scale bugs bury their legs in fruit peels in their infancy, secreting a substance that dries into a hard scale around their bodies while they are still attached to the fruit. While the insect’s legs may fall off over time, the scale remains attached to the fruit and even if bits of scale or parts of an insect were to become introduced into the juice, they would still be permitted for three reasons: because the insects are not whole, the fruit is cooked during pasteurization and cooked fruit does not require checking and any scale found would be halachically nullified, given the minimal amount found.
Despite his view that insect fragments and scale would be permitted, Rabbi Eckstein noted that the independent laboratory which tested the OK’s samples determined that while particles on the mesh screens did resemble both scale and insect matter, they were actually bits of either orange peel or orange seeds.
Rabbi Eckstein also stated that based on the laboratory’s findings in the OK tests, even if a few insect related fragments had been found, they would be halachically nullified since they would clearly be less than one sixtieth of the actual product.
Despite the fact that any potential bug related matter would not affect the kashrus of Tropicana orange juice, Rabbi Hoffman hopes that consumers will contact Tropicana and ask them to address the scale bug issue to prevent further kashrus problems down the line.
“It would be a good thing if orange juice manufacturers would do what it takes to make sure that the oranges are completely free and clear of the scale bugs before they are juiced,” said Rabbi Hoffman. “It seems that now it is okay but who knows what the future will hold?”
For the majority of frum yidden, the determination by the OK that these bug fragments are not an issue will be sufficient. For those who strive to be machmir on all matters of kashrus, they will stay with one of the two heimeshe brands of OJ that have the approval of a reputable chassideshe hashgacha, which is the gold standard of kashrus. No chassideshe mashgiach will sign off on bug fragments.
Hog wash. There is absolutely no halachic basis for prohibiting tiny bug fragments. If that would be a problem you are better off with Tropicana anyways. Their factory is ultra-sanitary, whereas the so called “chassidishe” brands are manufactured in second rate factories that have a much higher rate of bug infestations. There is actually more basis to be lenient with naturally occurring bugs that breed inside the fruit than those that enter the production process due to unsanitary conditions.
Rabbi Hoffman’s analysis is totally flawed. He has proven his ignorance of the relevant laws when he weighed in on the bugs-in-fish controversy a few years ago. At that time he seemed to indicate that he felt it should be forbidden because it looked “disgusting”, while in reality, the halachic standards don’t revolve around if something offends his sensibilities.
The fact that he raised an issue with bug parts further shows his ignorance of the issue. If he has an issue with bug parts then I suggest that he start a hunger strike right now. Since anyone involved in the food industry would tell you that there is not a single food item that does not contain microscopic bio matter.
To Rabbi Levy of the OK I have only two words to say; fooooooeeeey, fechhh.
Wait and see, tomorrow we will hear Rabbi Levy should consider retirement from kashrus. Also, you should be interested to know that Rabbi Heinemann has stated that he stopped drinking Tropicana orange juice in the morning with his pancakes.
Chassidishe hechshers are notorious for looking the other way when it comes to sanitary conditions at their facilities. The proof is obvious when you see that the many restaurants that get a “C” on their health department inspection have no problem obtaining so called chassidishe hechshers. While officially the star-k told me that they would not certify a grossly unsanitary facility.
The bugs that Rabbi Hoffman found, were they visible to the naked eye or only with his “USB microscope”. It would make a big difference. It is also well established that one bug in 20 cups falls well below the 10% threshold that even the biggest machmirim go by.
Rabbi Hoffman, because you find it “disgusting” doesnt mean it’s a problem. Sometimes its better not to see how the sausage is made.
It would seem to me that the OK has a little self-interest here making sure this is Kosher. I would be happier if the OU did the tests on the OK product!
Also, how did the OK allow people to drink the juice before they tested it? Why didn’t they temporarily recall their certification until they did the testing?
I am afraid they knew they would get it right. They would use the “right” filter and the “right” labs…
Why is this any different than Mehadrin strawberry yogurt where strawberry puree is used, with DEFINITE bug fragments…?
Ask OU….
Very interesting. what about the avairus you can see with the naked eyes without micro. what ever who cares about those
To the first poster, you obviously know very little about the hechsher business, what they do allow and don’t allow
If you want to be machmet you make your own food and don’t trust anyone (there are plenty of people like that)
“one of the two heimeshe brands of OJ”
How does their processing of oranges differ from that of the national brands?
It’s highly recommended to use a 7o mesh sifter to filter all of your orange juice to remove the insects and the parts as well. A number of insect experts checked the orange juice from Tropicana and every container had insects, R”L.
For those of us that are frum Yidden, we remember what the OK has done over the years. Worthington Farms, makers of soy burgers, which was labeled as pareve, was actually dairy. Pesach vinegar was actually treif wine. And the list goes on.
It is one thing to me bachmir. It is another thing to CLAIM that you are machmir, yet be maikel more than anyone else.
“this sanctimonious manure about chasidish hechsherim especially when many of them would not know a pig even if it bit them on the elbow”
You should seek machilah from each and every chassidish rav ha machshir you see on the street or at minyan or at any restaurant for such loshon horah and mamash apikorsus. If you style yourself as a “Kashrus Pro”, I’d hate to see what an amateur is about….perhaps you worked a Monsey selling treif chickens from the back of your truck
Does anyone know whether the frum brands are produced by Tropicana? I don’t have inside information on OJ, but I do on, for example cream cheeze. Since it takes a pretty large investment to set up the factory, there are really only three major manufacturers of cream cheeze in the U.S.; Kraft, Borden, and Raskis. The brands you see in the supermarket are all made by one of them. There are frum brands that are not made by one of them, but there are only two such facilities in the US for those. So if you want a particular hashgacha, it is only a matter of who the machgiach is that hour – the facility is the same for all of them My bet is the same applies to OJ.
Question. Has anyone tried to squeeze juice from actual oranges and see if there are bug fragments in there?
Of course they’ll find a means to be matter. Otherwise the hashgacha loses a very lucrative national account.
if the concern is for bug parts then wouldnt it be a sofik derabanan which is likoola. and even if the concern is for whole bugs then wouldnt it be a sfek sfayka which is mutar.
Dear ShatzMatz,
You obviously did not read Rabbi Hoffman’s article. Had you read it you would have seen that he said that the orange juice was permitted.
The heiliger Rambam discusses the matter of bugs in water and doesn’t recommend using a microfilter or looking at the water with a microscope before drinking the water.
To #2 .
“while in reality, the halachic standards don’t revolve around if something offends his sensibilities”.
Well, in halucha if one gets digusted from a sheretz he may not consume it due to “Baal teshaktsu”.
Worse are the worms in COD FISH sold in chasidisha supermarkets.
What a wonder! A mainstream rav daring to stand up go the chumra-mongerers! If there would be a Jewish pope, he ought to be nominated for the position.