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Does one need a hechsher on commercially available bagged lettuce? Or is the standard washing process used by the producers sufficient to remove all insects of halachic significance?

Anecdotally, I've noticed that a few Chabad Houses I am familiar with use bagged lettuce without a hechsher and do not check it themselves. When asked, they told me that their custom was not to be "machmir" about the issue of bugs. I assume that means they rely on the view of the Aruch HaShulchan YD 100:13 who provides a limmud zechus for "all the masses of Jews who are not careful (to check) and eat anything that comes into their hands as long as they don't see any obvious infestation, and Heaven forfend to say that all the Jews are stumbling in a great sin like this"

Are there sources for the leniency to rely specifically on commercial washing without a sampling-based hechsher? Or is the Aruch haShulchan really the primary basis for leniency? Are there contemporary poskim who are lenient?

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According to the cRc of Chicago, iceberg lettuce that is prewashed may be used without hashgacha and without any further washing.

But the cRc adds: "It ... still ... can (and must) be checked with a chazaka check."

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  • What about further checking??
    – SAH
    Jul 3, 2016 at 17:31
  • It looks like further checking is required. The cRc adds: "It ... still ... can (and must) be checked with a chazaka check." Nov 21, 2019 at 0:07

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