Glatt Kosher
Misconception: "Glatt Kosher" means something like "extra kosher" and all foods can be either ordinary Kosher or Glatt Kosher.
Fact: Glatt is Yiddish for smooth. It actually refers to the lungs of a Shechted animal, checked and found to be smooth, without any adhesions. Such adhesions generally prohibit the animal as a Tereifa.
Today, the word "Tereif" refers to anything that is not kosher although the true and original meaning of Tereifa is based on Exodus 22:30 ("Do not eat meat from an animal torn [Tereifa] in the field") and refers to an animal has had its throat slashed at by an attacking predator. Halacha [Jewish ritual law] expands the term to include a very broad range of physical mostly internal, injuries. They are detailed in the Talmud (most of the third chapter of Chullin; 42a-59a) and codes (RaMBaM, MaAchalot Asurot 4:6-9 and Shechitah ch. 5-11; ShuA, YD 29-60).
Examples of these "defects" include "ritual blemishes" which often go far beyond the health inspection of the various international Health Departments.
These laws are, other than those that relate to the lungs, of little practical relevance because almost all these defects, being uncommon, need not be suspected nor checked for (Shach, YD 39:1) However the lungs are unfortunately too often found to be damaged and therefore require checking for adhesions [Sirchot] This requirement, promulgated by our Sages, requires tactile checking whilst still located in the chest cavity, and a second visual inspection following removal from the thoracic cavity (YD 39:1)
Adhesions, include even tiny, spider-web-like threads which signal either the presence of a perforation that has been insufficiently sealed (Rashi) or an emerging hole about to develop (Tosafot).
The Shulchan Aruch describes many types of adhesions in intricate detail (YD 39:4-13), the overwhelming majority of which render the animal a Tereifa. The Ramah (YD 39:13) describes a method of peeling and testing many types of adhesions to determine that they are in fact not an indication of injury. Following this procedure results in many more animals being passed as Kosher. The Ramah himself expressed certain hesitations about this approach, however, since it had already gained wide acceptance and has an ancient and reliable foundation, he rules it acceptable with the caution that the peeling and testing must be performed by an exceedingly God-fearing individual.
This method of peeling and testing is omitted by the Mechaber (Rabbi Yosef Karo, the author of the Shulchan Aruch) Accordingly, Sepharadim, who follow the Mechaber, eat meat exclusively from those animals found to be Glatt (Chalak, in Hebrew) as defined by the Mechaber.
However, eating Glatt is valued even by Ashkenazim who have a further tradition that Glatt status applies when there are no more than two, small, easily removed adhesions.
Consequently, Glatt comes in two flavours, regular Glatt and Glatt Beis Yosef. [so named after the authority who disqualifies even the tiniest damage to the lungs. Rabbi Yosef Karo, known as The Beis Yosef for his tremendous scholarly publication by that name. BTW he is also known as 'The Mechaber' identifying him as the editor/creator of the digest of Halachic authorities AKA The Shulchan Aruch]
Although today, the OU and most other kashrut organisations in the U.S. will only certify meat that is Glatt, albeit not necessarily glatt Beit Yosef, it must be emphasized that the Ramah's ruling is legitimate and is 100% Kosher for Ashkenazim.
The decision to not apply the ruling of the Ramah is by far not a Halachic preference but made for reasons of economy; there is no time and it is far from cost effective in modern day, high speed, large throughput, abattoirs, to pause production whilst the lungs are peeled and tested.
Young, tender animals such as lamb, kids and calves must have truly Glatt lungs according to all opinions (Ramah,YD 39:13). Therefore, all lamb chops, veal or other meat from young animals must be glatt Beit Yosef, even for Ashkenazim.
based upon an article by Rabbi Ari Z. Zivotofsky, Ph.D. with assistance from Rabbi Yehuda Kravitz of the Orthodox Union Kashruth Department. Zivotofsky is a researcher in neurophysiology at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, and a certified Shochet and Bodek.
- - - - - - - - -
Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe YD 1:19) in a response to Rabbi Moshe Melamed dated 5715 requires that fowl be opened by a Jew who is cognizant of Tereifot, although not necessarily an expert, and the presumption [Chazakah] that the animal is healthy cannot be relied upon to permit a non-Jew to open the fowl and remove the innards.
It seems that the organs of fowl are now suspect [perhaps due to intensive high density breeding and growing practices] of being damaged and therefore require a visual and tactile inspection (Rav Moshe Sternbuch, Tshuvot VeHanhagot 2:369).