Kosher foods
From ArticleWorld
Kosher foods are foods that are approved by Jewish law, which is known as kashrut.
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Meat and dairy
Non-kosher practices include:
- The presence of a mixture of meat and milk. They may not be either prepared together (or using the same utensils) or consumed within the same meal.
- The use of produce from the Land of Israel that hasn’t been tithed properly
- Use of cookware that has been used to prepare non-kosher foods.
- Fish and meat must be consumed separately.
Meat and dairy guidelines:
- Cattle, goats, sheep and antelope are kosher.
- Musk deer are kosher.
- Giraffes and okapis are kosher.
- Pronghorns are kosher.
- Seafood must have translucent fins and easily detachable scales. (Unkosher water creatures involve shellfish, sea mammals, shark, octopus and more.)
- Seaweed and sea plant life are kosher, although many are infected with non-kosher animals.
- Scavenging birds like vultures and birds of prey are not kosher, but most others are.
- If the source of gelatin is an animal that was slaughtered according to Jewish law, then it is considered kosher.
- Milk and milk products from kosher animals are kosher. As is breast milk.
- Unprocessed grains and cereal are kosher, but processed items may contain some non-kosher products.
Pareve
Any foods consumed that don’t qualify as meat or dairy are pareve and free to be consumed with either product. Fruits, vegetables and foods derived from them fall into this category as does salt and non-organic foods. Fish are also considered pareve (see guidelines, above).
Preparation
The slaughter of mammals and birds must follow strict guidelines, designed for minimal infliction of pain. Therefore, this rules out the process of hunting for game. A slaughterer uses a large sharp knife that is free of any irregularities to make a single cut across the throat. This results in death within seconds. The animal is then examined to determine if there are any irregularities. All blood, and large blood vessels, must be removed, since law prohibits the consumption of any animal blood.
Kosher for Passover
Additional restrictions apply during the eight days of Passover. During this period, Jews may not eat any leavened product or food made from the “five species” (wheat, rye, barley, spelt or oats). Observant Jews keep an entirely separate set of dishes and cookwear for Passover and the house is cleaned to eliminate any illegal foods.