One of the rules of Borer – separating foods on Shabbat – requires that one remove the Ochel (food) from the Pesolet (undesirable substance), and not the other way around. The question arises as to whether this Halacha applies to two perfectly edible foods, one of which one happens to dislike. If for example, a person has a pile of apples and oranges mixed together, and he likes apples but does not like oranges, must he ensure to remove the apples from the oranges? Must he consider the oranges "Pesolet" because he dislikes them, or are both fruits considered Ochel since they are both perfectly edible, such that he may separate them in whichever manner he chooses?
This issue is subject to a dispute among the Rishonim (Medieval Halachic scholars). Tosafot (Talmud commentaries by Medieval French and German scholars), in Masechet Shabbat (74), write that the status of Pesolet is defined in relative terms, and thus even edible food would be considered Pesolet if one dislikes it. Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki of Troyes, France, 1040-1105), however, appears to indicate that the status of Pesolet is defined by an intrinsic quality, and thus edible food cannot be considered Pesolet.
Maran, in the Shulhan Aruch (319:3; listen to audio recording for precise citation), rules that if two edible foods are mixed together, one may separate them in whichever manner he chooses. As long as one separates by hand and with the intention of eating immediately, he may either remove the food he likes or the food he dislikes. Maran thus follows the view of Rashi, that an edible food does not have the status of Pesolet even if one happens to dislike it. The Rama (Rabbi Moshe Isserles of Cracow, 1525-1572), however, in his glosses to the Shulhan Aruch, indicates that in such a case one must remove the food he likes, in accordance with Tosafot’s opinion. The Be’ur Halacha (essays on the Shulhan Aruch by Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan of Radin, 1839-1933) discusses this topic at length, noting that the Shulhan Aruch’s formulation of this Halacha is based upon the Rambam (Rabbi Moshe Maimoindes, Spain-Egypt, 1135-1204), who likewise indicates that edible food which one dislikes is not considered Pesolet. In this context the Be’ur Halacha cites numerous Halachic authorities who follow this view, and maintain that when two edible foods are mixed together, one may separate them in whichever fashion he chooses, even removing the food he does not like from the food he likes.
Nevertheless, the Be’ur Halacha concludes that since this issue involves a potential Torah violation, it is preferable to follow the stringent view and remove the food one likes from the food he does not like, and not the other way around. Even though the majority view among the Halachic authorities does not appear to require separating in this fashion, it is preferable to do so in order to avoid any possible violation of the Torah prohibition of Borer. This is the view taken by Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shelomo Amar, in his responsa Shema Shelomo (Orah Haim 10).
Summary: One should follow the laws of Borer even when separating two edible foods, one of which he dislikes. Even though both foods are edible, it is preferable to ensure to remove the food he likes from the food he does not like, and not the other way around.
