By Rabbi Yair Hoffman The Nine Days are approaching and soon the menus will change.  More fish will be served because of the prohibition of eating meat during this time.  Some of the Torah shiurim will also be directed toward these areas of halacha.  So, let’s discuss salmon. What halachic discussions could one talk about regarding salmon?  Can an entire shiur (or article) be devoted to this one topic?  Believe it or not, the answer is “yes.”  Join us for a brief four part look at salmon. STAR K VERSUS THE OU The first topic of discussion can be the little-known debate between the Orthodox Union and the Star K about the kashrus of farmed salmon that are packed in fillets without any skin.  Generally speaking, kosher fish are identified by having fins and scales. As long as the scales fit the halachic definition of a scale – they can be identified as kosher solely on the basis of the presence of these scales (See SA YD 83:1). **** Please help support a pidyon shvuyim case**** CLICK HERE RAV MOSHE’S RULING Rav Moshe Feinstein zatzal had ruled that salmon’s uniquely colored pink flesh would also constitute a siman muvhak a clear and precise sign that it is kosher (as only salmon and trout have pink or reddish flesh). Based upon this, there would be no need to actually examine the skin for scales or scale marks.  The ruling was conveyed to Rav Belsky zatzal by Rav Nota Greenblatt zt”l, one of Rav Moshe’s leading talmidim. IT’S NOT PINK Subsequently, however, it was discovered that the true flesh color of salmon is not naturally pink.  Rather, it is actually white.  What then makes salmon flesh pink? Salmon consume an anti-oxidant called, “Astaxanthin” – a carotenoid pigment that occurs in microalgae, krill, plankton, and shrimp, and among other sea creatures.  For farmed salmon, the Astaxanthin is added to the feed in one of two ways: They add crushed lobsters to the feed. They add Astaxanthin artificially. There are federal guidelines as to how to go about adding it and these guidelines forbid adding more than 72 grams per ton (See FDA Title 21 Sec. 73.35 (c).) DOES RAV MOSHE’S RULING STILL APPLY? The question arises as to whether the ruling of Rav Moshe zatzal would still apply to the farmed salmon with the added-in artificial astaxanthin.  Rav Belsky zatzal ruled that the finances involved in creating such an infrastructure would also create a “siman muvhak.”  Rav Heinemann, lehavdil bain chaim l’chaim, however, ruled stringently.  On account of this, the Star K does not allow Costco fillet salmon at their catered events. This author asked Rav Heinemann to what extent he was machmir.  Was there a requirement, say, to kasher the oven as well – as would be the case with a non-kosher fish?  Rav Heinemann ruled that there was no need to kasher the oven. **** Please help support a pidyon shvuyim case**** CLICK HERE MISSING ITS TEEN AGE YEARS The second topic under discussion deals with something that is about to come to market.  It was supposed to come to market two years ago, but the pandemic derailed it.  Generally speaking, farmed salmon is sold when it reaches 12 to 18 pounds in size.  It takes 36 months for the salmon […]

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