Kosher Food:  The Top Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The consumption of kosher foods is regulated under a set of Jewish laws.  The Jewish laws are known as Kashrut.  With the different rules and regulations imposed on the consumption of kosher foods there are many individuals who have kosher food questions.

The questions being asked about kosher food will all depend on who is asking them and their previous knowledge, if any, of kosher foods.  Even though different individuals are likely to ask different questions there are a number of common questions that are always asked.  Below are a few of the most frequently asked questions surrounding kosher foods and their answers.

What is kosher food?

Answer:  Kosher food is food that meets specific Jewish laws guidelines.  Those laws are often devised to help keep a kosher food eater clean and healthy.  Kosher food is divided into three different categories.  Those categories are dairy, meat, and pareve.

What is pareve?

Answer:  Pareve is defined as a group of kosher foods that do not fall into the categories of meat or dairy.  A few examples of kosher pareve products include cereals, grains, vegetables, fruit, wine, grapes, and fish.  As with all other kosher food products, kosher foods listed as pareve do have set restrictions on how they can be prepared and consumed.

What type of meat is considered kosher?

Answer:  When it comes to meat, the slaughtering style used to kill animals will determine whether or not meat can be considered kosher.  Improper slaughters are deemed unclean and bad for the body.  Acceptable kosher meat includes deer, sheep, goats, cows, antelopes, giraffes, turkey, chicken, domestic duck, and domestic geese. 

What dairy products are considered kosher?

Answer:  Milk, cheese, and other dairy products are considered kosher as long as they come from a kosher animal.  This means that milk can come from animals that are acceptable to use for kosher meat products.

Where can kosher food be purchased from?

Answer:  Kosher food can be purchased from a wide variety of different locations.  The purchase of kosher food will all depend on where you live.  Most grocery stores have a kosher food section; however, for a larger product selection it is possible to shop at a specialty kosher food store or order the food online.

How can you tell if food is kosher?

Answer:  All packages of kosher food will come with a number of distinct symbols that are visibly marked on the package.  The symbols vary from country to country, but once you know what they are it is easy to tell whether or not a food is a kosher product.

Is all kosher food allowed during Passover?

Answer:  No.  In addition to the traditional kosher restrictions, there are additional restrictions that are in place just for Passover.  Barley, oats, corn, soy, peanuts, rice, mustard, rye, and beer are clearly prohibited in the Passover guidelines.

The above mentioned frequently asked questions are the most commonly asked questions surrounding kosher foods.  The preparation, cooking, and consumption of kosher foods entails a large number of guidelines and restrictions. There are a wide variety of online and offline resources available if you are interested in gaining further insight on kosher foods.