Sources and Reasoning:
The Prohibition of Eating Worms
The Torah warns through several negative commandments against eating worms, in Vayikra, chapter 11, verses 41–44:
“Every creeping creature that creeps upon the earth is an abomination; it shall not be eaten. Whatever goes upon its belly, and whatever goes on four legs, up to every creature with many legs, among all creeping creatures that creep upon the earth—you shall not eat them, for they are an abomination. Do not make yourselves abominable through any creeping creature that creeps, and do not defile yourselves through them, lest you become defiled by them. For I am Hashem your G-d. You shall sanctify yourselves and be holy, for I am holy; and you shall not defile yourselves through any creeping creature that moves upon the earth.”
Must Every Fruit and Food Item Be Checked for Worms?
The Ran wrote in tractate Chullin, folio 19, explaining that one need check only fruits in which infestation by worms is a common minority occurrence, and he likewise proved this from the words of the Rambam.
This is the Ran’s wording on the Rif, Chullin 19:
What was written concerning dates from a jug that became infested does not appear correct. For if we are dealing with dates known with certainty to have become infested, why did he specify dates rather than fruits generally? Rather, it appears that he specified dates because infestation is common in them, teaching that since this is common, even though it is a minority, they were concerned for a common minority, just as they were concerned for adhesions of the lung. As we say later at the end of the chapter [folio 67a], a person should not strain beer at night over a vessel, lest a gnat have separated into the vessel. There, it is not known that there were gnats in the beer, and even if there were gnats there, it is not known whether they separated; nevertheless, since it is a common occurrence, they were concerned. Here as well, there is no difference. The Rambam likewise wrote in chapter 3 of Hilchot Ma’achalot Assurot: Therefore, all types of fruit that commonly become infested while attached [to the ground] may not be eaten until they are checked. End quote.
From the above, we learn that anything with a percentage of worm infestation, even if it is only a minority, requires checking in its entirety for worms. However, if there is no infestation even at the level of a common minority, it need not be checked.
The Shulchan Aruch likewise rules in practice, Yoreh De’ah 84:8, as follows:
All types of fruit that commonly become infested while attached [to the ground] may not be eaten until one checks inside the fruit lest it contain a worm.
CRESPO Black Olives Do Not Have a Common Minority of Worm Infestation and Do Not Require Checking
In light of the above, any fruit or vegetable established as not having a common minority of infestation by worms or insects need not be checked before eating and may be eaten without concern.
Therefore, since black olives have been checked and found to be overwhelmingly free of insects and worms, and do not have a common minority of insect or worm infestation, they may be eaten without concern.
On the website of the Institute for Mitzvot Dependent on the Land, I saw that they noted that this variety of black olives from crespo is presumed clean and kosher for consumption.
There Is No Concern Regarding Terumot and Ma’asrot or Orlah
Likewise, in the case under discussion, there is no concern of terumot and ma’asrot regarding these olives, which are grown outside Eretz Yisrael and are not produce of Eretz Yisrael.
Regarding the concern of the prohibition of orlah: since the prohibition of orlah outside Eretz Yisrael is not מן התורה but rather a halachah leMoshe miSinai, its doubt is permitted. Especially since the overwhelming majority of fruits and vegetables are not orlah, the principle of kol deparish me-ruba parish applies, and we follow the majority.
Yalkut Yosef likewise writes in Yoreh De’ah, chapter 10, סעיף 3, that grapes or other fruits in which orlah is common and which are sold in the marketplace, where there is a concern that they may be fruits of orlah, may fundamentally be purchased and eaten without verifying their kashrut through a certificate from a qualified rabbi.
This response was translated automatically from Hebrew and has not yet been reviewed by a person. Therefore, it may contain inaccuracies and should not be considered a definitive reference.
