Pre-washed vegetables have become the commonly-accepted "way to go" for many of us. Families on the go, both parents working, the high cost of vegetable inspection for restaurants and caterers, the easy availability of a wide variety of pre-washed vegetables, the increased shelf-life, etc. -- there are many reasons why pre-washed vegetables have taken off across the country.

But with the increased interest by the kosher consumer comes along the kosher issues needed to be addressed.

A. Are all hashgachos doing the same to guarantee insect-free vegetables?

B. Is inspection before or after the washing of the vegetables the way to guarantee that the product is bug-free?

C. Can all vegetables be acceptably prepared with an insect-free guarantee?

I recently wrote a series of articles published in the YOB Observer, a Brooklyn publication, on vegetable inspection. The phone calls which followed raised a number of issues. My study of the field leads me to make the following statements. Readers are advised to discuss this article and the entire issue of pre-washed vegetables with their rabbi.

1. Since infestation varies greatly in the same species of vegetables from season to season, and from one supplier to another, a brand of pre-washed vegetables might be immaculate in the fall and winter, but face serious infestation in the spring and summer. Likewise, if the company switches suppliers in mid-season, the quality and level of infestation will be affected. Therefore, consumers should be sure to choose reliable certifications on pre-washed products and not rely just on the washing methods which the company itself uses.

2. Not every kashrus agency has a mashgiach in the plant. Even when there are mashgichim in the plant, they would be able to do much more to remove infested produce, if the company workers would let them. However, for reasons of economy, some companies let sub-standard vegetables through, with the hope that the washing system will remove the problem.

3. During the period of heavy infestation, there is no doubt that checking the pre-washed vegetables on your own is advisable, especially green cabbage and romaine.

4. Most consumers feel that the wording companies use on their packaging is confusing and ambiguous. For example: "Naki Mechshash Tolaim" ("Free of the concern of insects"). The word naki, literally "clean," conjures up an image of complete cleanliness, leads one to think that the product is completely clean, no insects are present at all, whereas all it really means to say is that it is a miut sheeino matzui -- it has insects less than 10% of the time. This leads us to the last point.