ARTICHOKE Aphidsandthrips Deepbetweentheleaves Artichoke leaves:Examineonebyone. Heart of the artichoke: Spreadaparttheartichokeleaves;carefully
examinearoundandbetweentheleaves.Ifnosignofinsectinfestation,washthoroughly.Duetothedifficultyinvolvedinchecking,theyarenotallowedinOUrestaurants.
Solid artichoke bottom:Noinspection.Rinsepriortousing.
ASPARAGUS Thrips Undertriangleparts Green asparagus:Shavedownthetips;remove alongthestemandin thetrianglepartsalongthestemandinthetips. thetips White asparagus:Washthoroughlybeforeusing.
BEANS Worms,whenstored Canbeinthemiddle Soakforapproximately1/2hour; prolongedorimproperly ofthebean removewormybeansthatfloattotopofwater.
BROCCOLI Aphids,thripsor Lodgedintheflorethead, Fresh broccoli, stems:Washthoroughly. broccoliworm; oratthebaseofarea Fresh broccoli, whole:Parboilfornomorethan1minute.Segregate mayappearbrownish connectingthefloret eachheadindividually.Lookcarefullyatthebranchedareaofeach afterparboiling tothestem floret,inthecreviceformedbytwobranchesforkingoutfromasingle
trunklikeaY;spreadaparteachfloretheadandlookthroughtheflorets,intothebrancharea;if1or2insectsarefound,continueexam-iningtheremainingsectionsofhead;if3insectsarefound,theentireheadshouldbediscarded.
CABBAGE Thripsorcabbageworms Mostofteninthe Green cabbage:Detachlooseleaves;discard;corethecabbageand outermostsixleaves splitheadinhalf.Peel3layers;carefullycheckthese6leavesunder
directlight;checkbothsides.If1-2insectsarefound,checkanadditionallayer.Iflastthreeconsecutivelayerswerecleanandtheremainingleavesaretightlypackedtogether,theremainingleavesoftheheadmaybeusedwithoutfurtherchecking,butshouldbewashedwellbeforeuse.
Fruit and Vegetable Inspection ChartThisisonlyabriefsummarytoserveasaquickreferenceguide.Pleasedonotrelyonthissummaryalone.
* Aphids – size of a pin head, light-green, round insects; Thrips – size of a “1” in a dollar bill serial number; linear, black or grayish insects.** When checking leafy vegetables or herbs, both sides of each leaf must be checked.
Fresh Vegetables Type of Insect* Location of Insect Method of Inspection**
Fresh Vegetables Type of Insect* Location of Insect Method of Inspection**
If3ormoreinsectsarefound,theremainingleavesmustbewashedandcheckedbeforeuse.
Thripsorcabbageworms Mostofteninthe Red cabbage: Sameasgreencabbage. outermostsixleaves
CAULIFLOWER Thripsorsmallorange Insideorbetweensmall Separateandremovefloretsfromstem. insects thinwhitebranches Examinetheunderpartofthefloret;washthoroughly.
CELERY Thrips,fliesorworms Oninsideandoutsideof Removeallleaves;holdceleryfirmlyunderstrongstreamofwater;brush stalk,especiallyclosetobase downbothinsideandoutsideofstalkwithfingeroravegetablebrush; oronleaves ifawormburrowisspotted,slitopencelerystalk,removeworm,andwash
thoroughly.Leavesmustbewashedwithsoapysolution.
ENDIVES Thrips Onleaf Removeleavesandwash,novisualinspectionneeded.
HERBS Aphidsorthrips Onsurfaceofleavesorstem Soakincoldwater;addseveraldropsofconcentrated,non-scentedliquiddetergentorvegetablewash;agitateherbsinthewater,removingallforeignmatterandsoapfromleafsurface;alternatively,avegetablebrushmaybeusedonbothsidesofleaf.Checkeachleafonbothsidesunderdirectlight.Ifoneortwoinsectsarefound,rewashtheherbs.
ICEBERGLETTUCE Aphidsorthrips Inthefoldsandcrevices Detachlooseleaves;discard;corelettuce;splitheadinhalf;peel4layersoff ofthefirstfourlayers thehead;carefullychecktheseleavesbyholdingtheleafunderdirectlight;
checkbothsidesofeachleaf.If1-2insectsarefoundcheckanadditionallayer.Iflastthreeconsecutivelayerswerecleanandtheremainingleavesaretightlypackedtogether,theremainingleavesoftheheadmaybeusedwithoutfurtherchecking,butshouldbewashedwellbeforeuse.If3ormoreinsectsarefound,theremainingleavesmustbewashedandcheckedbeforeuse.
MUSHROOMS Smallwhiteorredworms Imbeddedinunderpart Shiitake and Button:washthoroughly. orininnersectionsof Oyster:Breakapartinseveralplaces,especiallythebase,examineinner mushroom sections.Ifinsectsarefound,discardmushroom. Portobello:removestem,examinedetachedcap.Removeentirebrown
fan-likeunder-part.Washthoroughly.
ASPARAGUS Thrips See“Fresh” Notrecommended.
BROCCOLI Aphids,thrips, Lodgedintheflorethead, Allowtothawcompletely;lookcarefullyatbranchedareaofeachfloret,in(spearsorfloretsonly) orworms oratthebaseofarea thecreviceformedbytwobranchesforkingoutfromasingletrunklikeaY; connectingthefloret inspectinsidethefloretfromthetopintothebrancharea.If3insectsare found,theentirepackageshouldbediscarded.Frozenbroccoliisdifficult tocheck;itisthereforebesttoavoiduncertifiedproduct.
CAULIFLOWER Thrips See“Fresh” Sameasfresh.
Fresh Vegetables Type of Insect* Location of Insect Method of Inspection**
Frozen Vegetables Type of Insect* Location of Insect Method of Inspection**
* Aphids – size of a pin head, light-green, round insects; Thrips – size of a “1” in a dollar bill serial number; linear, black or grayish insects.** When checking leafy vegetables or herbs, both sides of each leaf must be checked.
OPENLEAFLETTUCE Aphids Foundevenintheinner Cutofflettucebase;soaklettuceincoldwaterwithseveraldropsof(e.g.,green/red orthrips leavesduetoitsopen concentrated,non-scentedliquiddetergentorvegetablewash;agitateleaf,Boston, growth leavesusingastrongstreamofwatertoremoveallforeignmatterandsoapchicory,bokchoy, fromleafsurfaceoruseavegetablebrushonbothsidesoftheleaf;checkromaine,etc. leavesunderdirectlight.
ONION Thrips Tipsorouterlayers Cutoffoniontips;peeloffinedibleandlooselayersofskin;washthoroughly
SCALLIONS Light-green Mostlyinupperareaofbulb, Cutscallionrootfromtoptothebottomofbulb;examinebetween orbrownthrips alsobetweenbranchesand thinlayerswheretheymergefromthebulb.Ifnoinsectsarefound, occasionallyonoutside theremainingscallionsmaybeconsumedafterthoroughwashing. andinsideofshoots Ifinsectsarefound,theentireheadmustbecheckedcarefully.
SPINACH&ARUGULA Thripsorworms Incurlsandinsideofleaf Soakincoldwater;addseveraldropsofconcentratednon-scentedliquiddetergentorvegetablewash;agitateleavesinwatertowashtheirsurface;useastrongstreamofwatertoremoveallforeignmatterandsoapfromsurfaceoftheleaf;checkleavesunderdirectlight.
ARTICHOKEHEARTS Aphidsorthrips Deepbetweenleaves Avoidcompletely. ASPARAGUS Thrips Seeunder“FreshVegetable” Avoidcompletely.
BLACKBERRIES Thripsormites Onsurfaceofberry, Droppintofberriesontowhiteclothorlightbox,theninspect nestledincrevices onebyone.Ifinsectsarefound,donotusepintofberries.
Duetothedifficultyinvolvedinchecking,theyarenotallowedinOUrestaurants.
BLUEBERRIES Whitemaggots Cultivated: Cultivated:placeinastrainerorcolanderandwashthoroughly Generallyinsect-free underrunningwater. Wild:Onsurfaceor Wild:Cutopenandcarefullyexamineonwhiteclothafterwashing. incenterofberry
RASPBERRIES Thripsormites Onsurfaceofberry Gentlydropraspberriesontoawhiteclothorlightboxtodislodge andinopencavity theinsects,theninspectonebyone.Ifinsectsarefound,donotuse
pintofberries.Duetothedifficultyinvolvedinchecking,theyarenot allowedinOUrestaurants.
STRAWBERRIES Aphids,thrips, Undergreenleafor Removetops.Carefullyrotateandinspecteachberry.Placeinsoapy onsurface solution.Agitateeachberryandsoakforseveralminutes.Washeach
berryunderpowerfulsprayofrunningwater.Placeberrieswithinsectsfoundpreviouslyinaglassbowloffreshwater.Checkwaterforinsects.
Dried Fruit Type of Insect* Location of Insect Method of Inspection**
Fresh Berries Type of Insect* Location of Insect Method of Inspection**
* Aphids – size of a pin head, light-green, round insects; Thrips – size of a “1” in a dollar bill serial number; linear, black or grayish insects.** When checking leafy vegetables or herbs, both sides of each leaf must be checked.
Canned Vegetables Type of Insect* Location of Insect Method of Inspection**
Dehydrated Herbs All dehydrated herbs may be used without checking.
DATES Worms Insideofdate Slicelengthwiseandexamine. Nocheckingnecessarywhenusingpitteddates.
FIGS Waspsorworms Insideoffig Cutfighorizontallyandsplitinhalf;checkforobvioussigns
ofinsectdamageordarkcoloredworms.
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