CHK Issues Tu BiShvat Kashrus Guidelines for Dried Fruits and Nuts

For Tu BiShvat, the Vaad Hakashrus of Crown Heights (CHK) has released an advisory outlining which dried fruits and nuts may be consumed with or without hashgacha, and which items should be avoided altogether.
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For Tu BiShvat, the Vaad Hakashrus of Crown Heights (CHK) has released a detailed advisory outlining which dried fruits and nuts may be consumed with or without hashgacha, and which items should be avoided altogether.

The guidelines are intended to help community members prepare for the Yom Tov while ensuring kashrus standards are properly observed.

CHK emphasized that this advisory does not apply to products originating from Israel or China, to freeze-dried fruits, or to products intended for Pesach use. All of those categories require reliable hashgacha regardless of ingredients or processing.

General Kashrus Guidelines

According to CHK, common preservatives such as potassium sorbate and sulfur dioxide do not pose kashrus concerns. However, some dried fruits require supervision due to processing aids that may be non-kosher and are often not listed on ingredient labels. In addition, certain fruits present infestation concerns and are therefore unacceptable.

Dried Fruits That Require Reliable Hashgacha

The following items should only be purchased with dependable kosher supervision:
Apples, bananas, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, currants, ginger, papaya, strawberries, watermelon, and imported raisins.

Acceptable Without Hashgacha (Inspection Required)

The following dried fruits may be used without hashgacha, provided they contain no additives and are carefully inspected:
Apricots, dates, figs, lemon peel, mandarines, mango, nectarines, peaches, pears, pineapple, prunes, persimmons (not from Israel), domestic raisins (with no oil), and tamarinds.

Not Acceptable Even With Hashgacha

Due to infestation issues, the following fruits are not acceptable for use, even if labeled kosher:
Barberries, blackberries, goji berries, mulberries, and raspberries.

Nuts

CHK advised that raw, unflavored, and unsalted nuts are acceptable without hashgacha. However, roasted, flavored, cooked, canned, or oil-processed nuts require reliable kosher supervision.

Community members with questions or who need clarification are encouraged to contact the CHK office directly at 718-774-7000 or by email at [email protected]