Kosher ("Suitable, Apt," in Hebrew)

views updated

KOSHER ("suitable, apt," in Hebrew)

Term describing food that is authorized by Jewish religious law. In general, only the meat of herbivorous animals slaughtered by cutting their throats and drained of their blood is considered suitable for consumption. Scaly fish and ruminants with cleft hoofs are also permitted, although pork, an omnivorous animal, is thought of as a carnivore and, therefore, forbidden. It is forbidden to mix meat and milk or meat and milk products. Equivalent to the Muslim halal.

SEE ALSO Halal.