30 Jun KASHRUS QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK WITH RABBI MOSHE ELEFANT

May one buy cut fruit from a store that does
not have a Hechsher?
No. We get this question frequently. People are often invited to
meetings in non-kosher establishments. They know they can’t
eat the meat served there, but they’ll
ask, “Why can’t I have the fruit salad?”
Rabbanim involved in restaurant
certifications explain that the kitchens
in such places are very busy. When a
fruit salad is ordered, staff may grab the
closest available knife—possibly the
same one just used to cut non-kosher
meat. Therefore, I cannot recommend
eating cut fruit from a non-kosher
restaurant unless you are certain that
the knife used was exclusively for fruit
and not used for anything else.
Can a store that’s open on
Shabbos be considered
kosher?
Technically, yes—if the store is owned

by non-Jews. Non-Jews are not required to observe Shabbos, so they may cook or
bake on Shabbos. However, kosher supervision is still necessary. There must be a
sense that the establishment is under supervision even on Shabbos.
At the OU, we never certify a retail establishment that is open on Shabbos unless all
money earned during that time is prepaid before Shabbos.
Cast Iron Cookware: Does It Really Need a Hechsher?
Absolutely not—if it’s pure
cast iron and doesn’t have
any coatings or additives on
the pots or pans. In that case,
it doesn’t need a hechsher.
However, this has become
a very common question.
Some cast iron cookware is
manufactured with oils or
spices baked into the surface
during production. These can
be released during cooking,
which presents a kashrus
issue. We must ensure that any oils or spices used are kosher. If they are not, there is
virtually no way to kosher those pots and pans.