Kosher meals follow Jewish dietary laws, which include specific rules about which foods can be consumed and how they can be combined. Kosher restaurants typically specialize in meat or dairy dishes, and there are strict rules for the proper way to slaughter animals. Many food manufacturers now undergo a kosher certification process to assure observant Jews that their products are suitable for kosher meals.
Kosher meals comply with Jewish dietary laws. While there are varying degrees of strictness in Jewish observance, kosher meals include only those foods that are permitted for consumption and only in the various combinations permitted by Jewish law. One of the best-known kosher dietary laws is the requirement that Jews consume dairy and meat products at different times, never combining the two in one meal. As a result, kosher restaurants, unlike restaurants offering non-kosher ethnic Jewish food, typically specialize in meat or dairy dishes.
Judaism’s religious dietary laws are very specific, and there are occasionally disagreements among rabbis about which foods and dietary practices are permitted. There are several types of foods that are not allowed under kosher rules. For example, the meat of pigs, rabbits and reptiles is not kosher in any form. Meat from other animals, such as cows, is permitted, however, and not all parts of permitted animals are kosher for consumption. Additionally, there are rules for the proper way to slaughter these animals that must be followed in order for their meat to be considered suitable for kosher meals.
In very careful households, the content of kosher meals is strictly enforced so as to prevent milk and meat from being served together in the same meal. Some households will also refuse to serve fish and meat at the same meal. In such households, menus are planned so that some meals include dairy products while others contain meat and poultry. Other foods such as fruits and vegetables can be served with milk or meat. In these households, separate sets of dishes are used to serve each type of meal.
The suitability of many modern and processed foods for kosher meals is of great concern to observant Jews as many food stabilizers, additives and flavors may have their origins in non-kosher meats or dairy products, which could compromise the integrity of the kosher meals in which they are used. For this reason, many food manufacturers now voluntarily undergo a kosher certification process so they can market their products to those who observe kosher laws. This process allows a rabbi to supervise the manufacturing process of these foods so he can assure observant Jews that the food is kosher, and can also direct buyers of the food as to whether the product is suitable for meat-based meals, dairy or both.
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