Those Veggies

Asked by Yair Hoffman · January 11, 2004 · Kashrut

Question

The letter from the OU said: "However, the food industry has become complicated by technology. The OU endorses raw carrots and potatoes for those consumers who want to be sure that those "veggies" are kosher without question. But at this time, those veggies can also be purchased without supervision." Then Yair explained " I believe the answer is as follows: The canned vegetable industry has changed in the past decade where a number of jobbers are doing the canning of all sorts of vegetables. These cans are then steamed in a huge room where other foods are simultaneously steamed." But that still doesn't explain why there is a hechsher on RAW potatos and carrots in bags, not ones steamed in cans.

Answer

Answered by Aaron Abadi

not by any stretch of the imagination - I wonder if their answer was supposed to clear up the issue or confuse it a bit more. CYA Perhaps the reason they feel it may need a hechsher (even though it does not) is because citric acid is a preservative that is placed on carrots. Although the domestic brands of citric acid are not from a wheat source, sometimes we do import european citric acid (empty ships will at time bring them back across the Atlantic so that they wont come back empty-handed) which may be wheat based. Perhaps they feel that it is good to ensure that these are not chometz sheAvar alav HaPesach. Give my regards to Aharon