Kosher Food And Kashrut Law

In every religion there are laws or advice regarding the way food is consumed. Among the Hindus eating meat and animals products except milk is not advised for the Brahmin class. The Muslims eat Halal food which is slaughtered in a particular way. Those who stick closely to dietary laws are very particular about what they eat and what they do not.

Kosher foods are limited to Jews who consume them as per their religious beliefs Kashrut or dietary rules and regulations. Food is declared as non kosher if it includes portions from non kosher animals not slaughtered as per Kashrut laws.

Even a mix of meat and milk and grape juice is termed as non kosher if not supervised and tithed. If utensils used earlier for cooking non kosher food are used to cook kosher food then the result is not accepted as kosher food.

In Jewish religion Torah states which animals are permitted for banned as food. In case of birds the Deuteronomic Code and Priestly Code lists prohibited birds mainly water birds and birds of prey. But anything living thing in water with scales and fins is accepted as kosher food. In case of animals ruminating animals with cloven hoofs are clean to be accepted as kosher foods. Four animals are denied this status they are the pig, hare, camel and hyrax. Jews who adhere to Kashrut eat only kosher food but non dietary consumption of non kosher animals is not prohibited. Hence medicinal derivative as insulin which originates from porcine is acceptable.

Fat consumption is also banned as per the Priestly Code if it originates from sacrificial animal goat, sheep and cattle. Hence to comply with these regulations preparation methods emerged which in order to comply with the norms. Melihah requires meat to be soaked for half and hour in water and then treated with salt for about one hour. The salt covering draws blood from the meat which is subsequently washed to get rid of blood laden salt. Roasting is applied to internal organs if consumed which discharge the blood and hence make them consumable.

As per rabbinical writings milk from kosher animal is also accepted. Diseased animals or those found to carry disease after slaughter are banned as non kosher food. Many of the Kashrut laws not clearly defined are subject to interpretation by the priestly class. Some variation is present in actual practice across different countries.

Many noted Rabbi have different interpretation of Kashrut laws governing kosher food.