Halachic Guidelines

STAR-K Anisakis Fish Policy

Updated July 16, 2025

The purpose of the lists below is ONLY to clarify STAR-K policy with regard to fish possibly infested with Anisakis worms. It is not intended to address any other STAR-K policies regarding kosher fish (e.g., the requirement for Bishul Yisroel, hashgacha temidis, buying fish from a non-certified source).

Please REVIEW CAREFULLY since there are some species of fish which appear on BOTH lists. Their acceptability or non-acceptability could depend on where they originate or the type of fish (i.e., whole or fillet).

Please call STAR-K before using any fish not included on this list.

For answers to frequently asked questions about purchasing fresh fish from non-kosher stores or sources, review the STAR-K Fresh Fish Policy page.

APPROVED

Until further notice, only the varieties of fish found on the list below may be used without any need for inspection:

Baby Salmon Bangus BarramundiBranzini […]

STAR-K Fresh Fish Policy

Download PDF of STAR-K Anisakis Fish Policy

Updated August 19, 2022

STAR-K
receives many questions about purchasing fresh fish from non-kosher stores or
sources. We hope this brief article will help clarify some of the confusion regarding
this topic.

For a fish to be kosher, the Halacha is that it needs to have fins and scales.[1] Furthermore, there is a rabbinic prohibition[2] to consume fish that has had the simanei kashrus (scales)[3] removed (e.g., a skinless fish fillet) without a Yehudi having confirmed that it was a kosher fish.

Stores with Kosher Supervision

In
stores or companies that are under STAR-K supervision, the fish are filleted
with a mashgiach present, and therefore one may buy any fish fillet without any
further concerns.

Skinless Fillet from a Non-Kosher Store or Source

Purchasing
skinless fish either from a store that is not kosher supervised, or that was
not sealed in a package bearing a reliable […]