Psak by Top Poskim: Eating Fish With Anisakis Worms ... - Ner Gavriel

<strong>Psak</strong> <strong>by</strong> <strong>Top</strong> <strong>Poskim</strong>: <strong>Eating</strong> <strong>Fish</strong> <strong>With</strong> <strong>Anisakis</strong> <strong>Worms</strong> Forbidden <strong>by</strong><br />

Torah Law<br />

By Yechiel Sever<br />

Gedolei Yisroel, including Maran HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv, shlita, are publicizing a halachic ruling<br />

this week regarding a type of worm known as <strong>Anisakis</strong> found in certain fish. It was originally issued over a<br />

year ago.<br />

After thoroughly investigating the matter, all of the major poskim have backed a resolute ruling<br />

that <strong>Anisakis</strong>, a species of nematode (roundworm) found in the intestines and flesh of fish, are strictly<br />

forbidden <strong>by</strong> Torah law.<br />

The psak has been published now, in response to the problem which has arisen in recent years as it<br />

became known that <strong>Anisakis</strong> are found in the abdomen of fish and not just in the flesh. <strong>Worms</strong> that form<br />

in the flesh of fish do not pose a problem, unlike worms that came from outside sources. (This matter was<br />

clarified <strong>by</strong> the leading poskim of the previous generation, and is not the subject of this report.)<br />

As a result, it became apparent that the worms in the intestines of the fish might be prohibited because<br />

they come from outside the fish. In the meantime, other evidence came to light indicating that the worms<br />

found in the flesh of the fish also come from the intestines and from outside the fish. Following extensive<br />

discussion and clarification, top poskim, including HaRav Eliashiv, ruled that consuming these worms is<br />

prohibited <strong>by</strong> the Torah.<br />

The problem occurs in the case of saltwater fish which grew in polluted waters where biological conditions<br />

can sustain the <strong>Anisakis</strong> nematode. In fish ponds the problem does not exist. Likewise, salmon from<br />

Norway and Chile do not pose a problem since they are raised in caged areas at sea where the marine<br />

species that normally transmit the worm are not present. Sole from Holland are also generally free of this<br />

problem due to the manner in which the fish are raised and collected. Nile perch are completely free of<br />

worms.<br />

<strong>Anisakis</strong> infestation is not a problem in fish raised in Eretz Yisroel, such as carp (karpion), silver carp<br />

(kassif) and mullet (buri), since they are grown in fish ponds, but proper kashrus supervision is required to<br />

ensure that other external parasites are not present. Likewise canned tuna does not contain these worms.<br />

Prepared herring fillets imported from Norway with good kashrus supervision are considered worm-free<br />

and are subjected to a number of inspections. Whole herring that has not been gutted is considered<br />

infested.<br />

Some of the problematic fish, such as sole, can be cleaned to remove the worms, but this requires great<br />

expertise and care. Others, such as salmon, cannot be cleaned of these worms because of the color of<br />

the flesh and the large number of worms.<br />

Some young codfish (bakala), even sold under kashrus lemehadrin, are full of intestinal worms, which are<br />

forbidden <strong>by</strong> Torah law for consumption.<br />

A psak halacha on <strong>Anisakis</strong> in fish originally written <strong>by</strong> HaRav Moshe Shoul Klein, was also signed <strong>by</strong><br />

HaRav Eliashiv, HaRav Shmuel Halevi Wosner, HaRav Nissim Karelitz, HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, HaRav<br />

Shmuel Auerbach, HaRav Moshe Shternbuch and HaRav Nosson Gestetner. Several rabbonim added<br />

comments along with their signatures. For example, HaRav Auerbach noted that some people are<br />

circulating inaccurate rumors that his late father zt"l would have permitted these worms.<br />

Due to various inaccurate rumors circulating recently regarding the opinion of gedolei Yisroel, they made<br />

a special effort to issue a clear halachic ruling.

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The rabbonim also note that although these fish have been forbidden <strong>by</strong> gedolei Yisroel, certain kashrus<br />

organizations label them kosher lemehadrin and even write that they have been checked for worms. Just<br />

last week dozens of worms were found in salmon certified <strong>by</strong> one of these kashrus organizations.<br />

Click here for a Hebrew Chart of fish commonly sold in Israel.<br />

Click here for a copy of the original letter.