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Ahead of 15 Shvat 5786, the Vaad Hakashrus of Crown Heights (CHK) has released an official advisory outlining kashrus guidelines for dried fruits and nuts commonly consumed.

The Vaad emphasized that the guidelines apply specifically to standard dried fruits and nuts and do not apply to products originating from Eretz Yisrael or China, freeze-dried fruits, or items intended for Pesach, all of which require reliable hashgacha without exception.

According to the advisory, while ingredients such as potassium sorbate and sulfur dioxide do not pose kashrus concerns, certain dried fruits require supervision due to possible non-kosher processing aids that are not listed on ingredient labels. In addition, several fruits were flagged as unacceptable due to serious infestation concerns.

The CHK listed the following dried fruits as requiring reliable hashgacha: apples, bananas, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, currants, ginger, papaya, strawberries, watermelon, and imported raisins.

Fruits deemed acceptable without hashgacha, provided they contain no additives and are properly inspected, include apricots, dates, figs, lemon peel, mandarins, mango, nectarines, peaches, pears, pineapple, prunes, persimmons (not from Israel), domestic raisins with no oil, and tamarinds.

The advisory further states that the following fruits are not acceptable even with hashgacha due to infestation issues: barberries, blackberries, goji berries, mulberries, and raspberries.

Regarding nuts, the Vaad clarified that raw, unflavored, and unsalted nuts may be used without hashgacha, while roasted, flavored, cooked, canned, or oil-processed nuts require reliable kosher supervision.

The Vaad Hakashrus encourages the public to review these guidelines carefully in preparation for 15 Shevat, ensuring that the minhagim of the day are observed in accordance with proper halachic standards.

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