PRINT16 Adar 5770 - March 2, 2010
I have been informed by the RCC that the list i distributed earlier this week was a preliminary list. The following is the official Rabincial Council of California list prepared for publication.
Rabbinical Council of California
Updated 2/20/2010
The following are the preliminary findings of various fish experts. We will update this list as new information is received.
The Anisakis worm is found in the following fish (frozen or fresh) and may not be eaten unless checked for worms. [Even with a hechscher]
Butterfish
Canned Salmon (wild)
Cod: Scrod, Hake
Flounder: Yellow Tail/ Wild Dabs/ Black Backs, Turbot, Yellow Fin Sole
Halibut
Pacific Red Snapper (Eastern or Atlantic Red Snapper is a different variety and is OK)
Pollack – Alaskan – Fillet fish sticks or patties
Red Perch
Sable a.k.a Black Cod
Sardines – Norway, Scotland
Sole
Wild Salmon – All types
Yellow Fin Sole
The following fish do not require checking:
Farm Raised Salmon [E.g. Atlantic, Norwegian, Chilean, New Zealand, British Columbia)
Flounder – Only Fluke, Georgia Banks, Channel
Gefilte Fish
Herring fillet
Lox [Farm raised, if wild would state "wild"]
Minced Fish Sticks
Pike
Pollock - Atlantic
Sardines from Morocco, Philippines, Portugal
Sea Bass – Striped Bass, Grouper (Mexican), Blue Nose (New Zealand)
Tilapia
Trout
Tuna
Whitefish: Michigan - Lake Superior [Some allow the Canadian as well}
Whiting
Fish with white flesh can be checked [after the skin is removed) by shining a flashlight from underneath or holding up to a bright light. They may appear as extended worms or coiled in a circle. They are readily visible.
Salmon or pink fish require an ultraviolet light and some expertise to check.
This list is a bit different than what what posted on Sept 1 in the name of Rav Vaya (in Hebrew). I noticed the difference in carp - Rav Vaya says it needs checking, or at least washing if bought with a hechsher. Readers should be aware that there may be differences.
So let me see if I understand correctly (and perhaps you can ask the RCC to clarify?)…
1. The Rabbinical Council of _California_ is making a world-wide psak?
2. Will the shining a light technique work if I place the light below an unopened can of wild salmon? Will it work on the cooked product (given that canned salmon is cooked prior to opening)? How does one hold a cooked juicy hunk of canned salmon up to the light?
3. Pollack - used for fish sticks or patties, can be checked for worms after being minced or ground for patties?
4. Checking Sardines? Could someone explain how this could be done?
5. Gefilte fish? Is this a Purim shpiel? There is no such thing as a gefilte fish! Rather, it’s ground fish of various varieties, some of which are on the NOT PERMITTED WITHOUT INSPECTION list above. “Traditionally, carp, pike, mullet, or whitefish are used to make gefilte fish, but more recently other fish with white flesh such as Nile Perch have been used, and there is a pink variation using salmon.”
6. Fish sticks appear on both lists! So which is it, check (as noted, how???) or not check? [See Pollack list 1, Minced list 2.] Further, fish sticks are made from “pollack or cod”, both of which are on the check list!
Seems to me that this list is confusing, conflicting, and not well thought out.
From a Reader
In your list of fish that do not require checking you mentioned “gefilte fish”. Can you please clarify exactly what this means. (Ie. Frozen ready-made brands, home made etc…) Also, Gold Seal produces a flaked pacific pink wild salmon in a can with an OU hechcher. Is this salmon forbidden to eat? If so, is there any way of checking it since it is already flaked?
Thank you in advance for attempting to clarify these issues for me.
From a reader
Shalom Uvrocho,
I see Hake fish in not allowed on your list. The whole South African community LIVES on Hake fish. Why would it not be acceptable?
Kol Tuv
From a reader
Am I understnding this new list. One cannot eat halibut at all? I thought it it comes from a . certain place or is wild, then it is permissable.
No types of sole at all??
I would appreciate your answer.
thanks,
From a reader
So, with one team saying eat and the other team sayiing don’t eat, who will dare be the greater posek and solve this riddle for us?
From a reader
From what I’ve heard from a Rav hamachshir who atended ACCO the presentation of Rav Belsky’s opinion was that worms that are 1.2 millimeters are OK, not 1-2 millimeters.
To me mind that’s a fairly significant difference. 1.2 is still a spec, 2 is a more noticable.
From a reader
please ask the RCC what we should do under the following circumstances if,
1. just before pesach, a fish swallows some bread that was deposted in the seas on Rosh Hashana tashlich. can we eat that fish on pesach, or is it chometz; or
2. a fresh water fish is swimming in a NY City reservoir. since we know that NY City water is “contaminated” with ecrustians, are we allowed to eat that fish at any time, or may we use the fish to make boulibase?
From a Reader - Problems with Fish, problems with meats, problems with veggies…..I think Im just gonna start having my meals via a tube in my arm…..
Purim Sameach
From a reader - Shalom R’ Yechiel,
I did not think it was a Purim spoof but was nonetheless a little confused about the totally opposite positions presented. Could you just confirm that I understand correctly that Rav Belsky considers the entire matter to be of no concern at all ?