Jewish Kosher Dietary Law

Understanding the rules Jews follow to keep Kosher.

The laws of kashrut, also known as the Jewish Kosher dietary laws, are foundational to Jewish observance. These rules are set out in the Torah and further clarified in the Talmud. The Hebrew word "kasher" literally means "fit," and the Jewish Kosher laws concern which foods are considered fit to eat.

Kosher Food 101: the basics of whether food is Kosher

Although the basic Talmudic rules of Jewish Kosher food law are unchanging, rabbinic experts continue to consider and interpret the meaning and practical application of the Jewish Kosher dietary laws in response to new developments in industrialized food processing.

The complexity and international scope of the modern food supply have paved the way for a robust Jewish Kosher certification industry, which provides production oversight for food manufacturers, food-service establishments and caterers, and helps Kosher consumers identify which foods are Kosher by means of trademark symbols indicating the Kosher status of certified food.

The Jewish Kosher dietary laws explain the rules for choosing Kosher animal products, including the prohibition of animals called "unclean" and of "mixtures of meat and dairy." The laws also outline the rules for "neutral" food (pareve).

Animal Products

To be considered Kosher, an animal must belong to one of the following categories and meet certain requirements.

- Some animals cannot be eaten at all, including pigs, shellfish, rabbits and reptiles.

- Mammals with cloven hooves that chew the cud (including cattle, sheep, goats, bison and deer) are Kosher.

- Fish must have fins and removable large scales to be considered Kosher.

- The Torah lists specific Kosher bird species, but the requirements a bird must meet to be considered Jewish Kosher are more ambiguous. Generally, birds of prey are not Jewish Kosher.

- Milk and eggs from Kosher animals are Jewish Kosher. Each egg usually must be inspected to ensure it contains no blood; an egg containing blood is not Jewish Kosher.

Among the meats of animals that may be eaten, birds and mammals must be slaughtered according to Jewish law, a process called shechita. Certain parts of the body of a permitted animal may not be eaten. In addition, all blood must be drained from the meat.

Meat and Dairy

No meat (the flesh of birds and mammals) may be eaten together with dairy products at the same meal. Utensils that have come into contact with meat (when hot) may not be used with dairy products, and vice versa. In addition, utensils that have come into contact with non-Kosher food (hot food) may not be used with Kosher food.

Pareve Foods (food with neither meat nor dairy)

Jewish Kosher food is divided into three categories: meat, dairy and pareve. Pareve food is considered neutral and can be eaten together with either milk or meat.

- All fruits, vegetables, grains, pasta, nuts, legumes and beans are Jewish Kosher. But note that, except for a few locust species, bugs are not Jewish Kosher. Therefore, the use of certain fruits and vegetables requires attention to insect infestation.

- Eggs, fruits, vegetables and grains are considered pareve or neutral and can be eaten together with either meat or dairy. Fish is also considered pareve, but some Jews who are more demanding about Kosher details will not eat meat and fish together at the same meal.

- Grape products (including juice and wine) must be produced entirely by Jews (the farm-to-table process) strictly according to the requirements of a Kosher certification regulatory body to be considered Jewish Kosher.