Assumed to Be Free of Infestation
29. Assumed clean. Some produce is assumed to be free of infestation. This means that under regular conditions, they are always free of insects and thus do not need to be checked, e.g., watermelons, bananas, avocados, cucumbers, zucchini, kohlrabies, and coconuts.
30. Similarly, there are some dry goods assumed to be free of bugs, e.g., baking powder, coffee, sugar, salt, cinnamon, and more.
Rarely Infested
31. There are other foods only infested rarely. Also, some foods might become infested when stored for a prolonged period or under improper conditions. These do not need to be checked, as it is considered an insignificant minority [מיעוט שאינו מצוי ]. However, it is proper to give them a general look or to check a sample, and then, if there are signs of infestation, they should be checked. Some examples: chocolate, noodles, and matza.
Significant Minority
32. Some foods are occasionally infested, and finding bugs is not considered a rare occurrence. These must be checked. B’dieved if they were already cooked without being checked, they may be eaten. Most fruits are in this category, e.g., prunes, peaches, grapes, apricots, pomegranates, dates, and nuts.
33. Vegetables. There are also vegetables in this category, e.g., beets, radishes, and peppers.
34. Spices. There is also the potential for infestation in spices, e.g., paprika, dried parsley, oregano, and the like.
35. Dry goods. Some dry goods have the potential to be infested sometimes, e.g., flour, rice, sunflower seeds, chickpeas, and dry beans.
Assumed to Be Infested
36. Vegetables. Some types of produce are usually infested and must be checked. If they are not, the food may not even be eaten b’dieved. For example: asparagus, artichokes, scallions, broccoli, lettuce, coriander, cabbage, cauliflower, mint leaves, chard, parsley, dill, corn on the cob, and spinach.
37. Fruits. Examples of fruits in this category are: guava, carobs, raspberries, fresh and dried figs, mulberries, and strawberries. Some legumes in this category are brown lentils and dried fava beans.
Variation in the Same Type of Produce
38. Even if a fruit or vegetable is in a particular category of infestation, there can be variation within that fruit or vegetable. For example, there could be one variety that usually looks whole and healthy, not wilted, and has a smaller chance of infestation, classified as an insignificant minority, which does not need to be checked. However, there can be another variety of that same fruit that has spots of mold or decay, leading to a higher chance of infestation. The obligation to check the latter variety is greater than that of the regular variety.
