Dear Kosher Spirit,

I know that peeled garlic is not supposed to be left over night, so how do jars of peeled garlic cloves have a hechsher?

 

Rabbi Elisha Rubin responds:

Rav Moshe Feinstein ztz”l (Igros Moshe Y.D. 3:20) maintains that this prohibition is only for items that were inadvertently left over night.  Items that are commercially produced with the specific intention of being held for an extended period of time were never included in the concern of ruach ra’ah.  The OK policy, and the generally accepted policy of major kashrus organizations, is based on this ruling.