Chief Rabbinate lab tests of cauliflower and broccoli samples from the Sunfrost, Pri HaGalil and Milotel companies show unacceptably "high levels of infestation of insects and worms."
The Rabbinate's announcement states, "There is practically no possibility of removing, on the home level, insects and worms from broccoli and cauliflower that have been found to be infested, and certainly not on the industrial level."
Rabbi Haggai Bar-Giora of the Chief Rabbinate's Food Industry Division explained to Arutz-7 that the cold weather of the winter months reduces the number of tiny insects found in these vegetables. For this reason, he explained, all processing and marketing of the frozen produce is done during the winter exclusively.
Probably due to the unseasonably warm weather of this winter, Rabbi Bar-Giora said, produce samplings tested by the Rabbinate in an external laboratory showed an increased number of bugs.
The Rabbinate says that if and when the required changes are made, it will issue another announcement.
USDA regulations permit 60 or more aphids, thrips or mites per 100 grams (3.6 oz.) in frozen broccoli.
The Alei Katif "Hasalat" plant - formerly of Kfar Darom in Gush Katif, and now operating out of the industrial zone in Sderot - continues to grow bug-free cauliflower in closed hothouses. The company has not yet been able to resume its broccoli production, but cauliflower output is the same as it was in Gush Katif.
The Rabbinate's announcement states, "There is practically no possibility of removing, on the home level, insects and worms from broccoli and cauliflower that have been found to be infested, and certainly not on the industrial level."
Rabbi Haggai Bar-Giora of the Chief Rabbinate's Food Industry Division explained to Arutz-7 that the cold weather of the winter months reduces the number of tiny insects found in these vegetables. For this reason, he explained, all processing and marketing of the frozen produce is done during the winter exclusively.
Probably due to the unseasonably warm weather of this winter, Rabbi Bar-Giora said, produce samplings tested by the Rabbinate in an external laboratory showed an increased number of bugs.
The Rabbinate says that if and when the required changes are made, it will issue another announcement.
USDA regulations permit 60 or more aphids, thrips or mites per 100 grams (3.6 oz.) in frozen broccoli.
The Alei Katif "Hasalat" plant - formerly of Kfar Darom in Gush Katif, and now operating out of the industrial zone in Sderot - continues to grow bug-free cauliflower in closed hothouses. The company has not yet been able to resume its broccoli production, but cauliflower output is the same as it was in Gush Katif.
