I use both frozen and fresh fruits and vegetables in my smoothies, and mostly organic. Does the type of fruit or vegetable matter? For example, produce that generally has more insects, such as raspberries or strawberries? I use kale, spinach, raspberries, strawberries, and more.
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To focus the question: would blending such fruits be considered "mevatel issur le-chatchillah," which is not permitted.– yitznewtonFeb 2, 2014 at 5:28
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Crushing a berya should be prohibited. It's exactly the case of the Gemara: egozim v'nesparzu. See YD 99. (I didn't make this an answer because I am not sure and have no seforim in front if me)– Ish Ploni ViKohenFeb 2, 2014 at 5:58
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also relevant: shemayisrael.com/parsha/halacha/Issue10.pdf and kosherveyosher.com/insects.html– mblochMar 9, 2019 at 18:50
2 Answers
You should CYLOR for a final ruling, but it seems (Shach and Taz to YD 84:13, Chochmat Adam 52:9, see also Rama OC 553:3 (however see Shu"t R Akiva Eiger 76)) there should be no problem blending the fruit as the intention is to prepare the food not to nullify the insects. Once the insects are cut up, they are nullified in the mixture (YD 101:6).
Additionally, if it is not a majority of that kind of fruit that is infested with bugs, but rather just a significant minority (miut hamatzui) have bugs, then it is possible that there is no problem nullifying it as it is only a doubtful prohibition (Terumat HaDeshen 171, Shach YD 92 sk 8).
If it is known that these fruits and vegetables contain bugs one has to check them.To go ahead and blend it up and now the bugs are not whole that is assur because of the din assur mevatel issur lchatchilah.However if it was done bshogeg I believe it is mutar.There are some fruit which people won't eat because of bugs and even washing doesn't help and if someone who holds it can be cleaned and checked blended it already then one can partake in it .
when it comes to which fruit or vegetables need to be checked and clean one should ask his posek or hasgacha he holds of which ones need checking or not.
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What do you mean "known"? If it is known then you have to remove the bugs, not just check for them...– Double AA ♦Feb 2, 2014 at 19:17
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It is obvious what I meant when I wrote check it means take them out,the whole question is concerning the bugs!– samFeb 2, 2014 at 19:20
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I don't know if you are talking about fruits which for sure have bugs or might have bugs. There are different kinds and it can make a difference.– Double AA ♦Feb 2, 2014 at 19:21
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The halacha is the same one has to check and remove them if it for sure has or likely has bugs!– samFeb 2, 2014 at 19:22
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If it's just a miut hamatzui then you have a chiyuv bedika miderabanan. That's different than a vadai issur deoraita. It's not even clear the former is currently a cheftza shel issur, as opposed to just having a chiyuv bedika. Plus you haven't even addressed why this is mevatel issur if you are just trying to make it into a liquid.– Double AA ♦Feb 2, 2014 at 19:23