Currently, many people who are not Jewish by nationality, but care about their health, have become interested in a food system that uses only kosher food. The main reason for this for many of them is not religious beliefs at all, but the fact that such products are environmentally friendly and more useful.
Such food is based on the laws of kosher, or kashrut, which comply with the rules and norms of Judaism. Of course, people who strive for a healthy diet are not particularly interested in these rules, because for them the main thing is the quality of products subject to mandatory certification. After all, the word "kosher" means, in translation from Hebrew, "suitable." A special sign on all products is placed as a confirmation of high environmental friendliness and usefulness. Naturally, the cost of the products from which kosher food is prepared is much higher.
The main principles of kashrut
- The meat eaten should be only certain types of artiodactyl ruminants. Lamb, beef, goat, venison, elk are allowed. The most famous of the banned (unclean) animals is a pig. According to these rules, the rabbit is also a non-kosher animal.
- “Pure” are all poultry - turkey, chicken, duck, goose. The list of forbidden birds is listed in the Torah in the book "Vaikra", among which are all predatory species.
- The animals are slaughtered using special technology, and then the meat used for cooking kosher food is pre-processed in compliance with certain rules.
- Allowed fish should be non-predatory, with scales and fins. Clams and crustaceans are prohibited. Unlike meat, in cooking, fish does not go through special pre-treatment.
- Products of unclean animals are also prohibited, for example, camel milk, since a camel is a non-kosher animal. The only exception is honey, although it is the result of the vital activity of bees, which are insects.
- Do not mix meat and dairy foods during cooking. For this reason, even utensils should be separately designed for these categories of products. There is no ban on fish and dairy dishes.
- According to Jewish tradition, insects, reptiles and amphibians should not be consumed.
- All fruits, vegetables, berries, mushrooms are kosher products.
- You can eat milk no earlier than three to five hours after meat, so it takes a certain time to digest. At the same time, meat dishes can be eaten immediately after dairy, just rinse your mouth. Kosher food should not consist of both fish and meat.
Features of slaughter of animals, birds and meat pre-processing
Not all kosher meat is allowed. Prohibited:
- meat of those who died by natural death or who were sick before slaughter;
- animals killed by hunting or other animals;
- parts of the carcass where there is a sciatic nerve and greasy fat;
- meat in which there is blood.
Slaughter of animals, carcass processing, testing is carried out by specialists, which guarantees the "purity" of meat.
Summing up, we can say that kosher food is the mandatory observance of certain rules and the order of cooking. Jewish culinary traditions are the strictest of all, which is why kosher products are mainly sold in Israeli markets. But, strangely enough, residents of other nationalities and faiths also eat dishes prepared from "pure" goods. After all, proper nutrition is the key to the health of all people.