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Updated Information on DRIED FRUIT & NUTS on Kashrut.com is here.

February 5, 2020 from Hakhel:

REMINDERS FOR TU B’SHVAT SHOPPERS: The following question and answer is excerpted from the English Sefer Shulchan HaLevi; Halachic Responsa of HaRav Yisroel Belsky, Z’tl:

Q: Many stores sell nuts and dried fruits from large sacks and bins, or repackage them without supervision. May the consumer assume these items are kosher, or should one insist on buying only sealed containers that carry kosher certification?

A: Nuts and dried fruit have always been sold from large sacks. To say that one should never buy these items when sold this way would be an unnecessary restriction, and for many of these products there are no issues at all. On the other hand, any processing or cooking raises potential kashrus issues.

Hakhel Note: Among the items that Rabbi Belsky writes require a reliable Hechsher are dried apples, dried pineapples and other dried tropical fruits, banana chips and of course, any nuts roasted in oil. One should certainly consult with his Rav before Tu B’Shvat on the items he intends to purchase, as well as any necessary Bedikas Tolaim that must be done on these items or fruits of the Shivas Minim. We additionally note that supermarkets and fruit/nut/candy stores without a hashgacha may themselves re-package these items and claim that they come from a larger container with a reliable hashgacha. Let the buyer beware!

Information on DRIED FRUIT & NUTS on Kashrut.com is here.