Question:
It has gotten very hot and there are many bugs. Last night I was eating dinner and saw a bug on part of my food. I removed that part and about two inches to the side (a third of the plate) but should I have gotten rid of everything since I don't know if the bug touched other parts before I noticed?Was this a mistake? What to do in the future as it will likely happen again given summer and bugs.
Answer:
Hello,
It is understandable that from an esthetical aspect you removed that amount of food away from where the bug touched, however from a halachic aspect, we may not eat the bug itself, however the food that it touched is permitted to eat, (unless we are afraid that it laid an egg that is seeable to the human eye). Additionally from a halachic aspect, you don’t have to be concerned that the bug touched other parts of the food, again unless you suspect that it laid eggs on it.
The is an expert in bugs and infestation in food, called R’ Moshe Vaye shlit”a, and he says that in the summer time that there are large flies that eat from proteins, (meat, chicken, fish, etc.) and a few seconds after they land on the food, they will already have laid an egg, (which can look like a small grain of rice). Therefore, he suggests not to leave meat fish etc. uncovered to eliminate this issue. He does not say to do this with other foods, rather only with proteins in the summertime when these flies are around, and only in areas that they do exist. Otherwise, one does not have to be concerned with the fact that a fly landed on their food.
Best wishes
