Dietary laws

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dietary laws refers to the rules promulgated by a religion concerning what is and what is not allowed to be eaten. The term is especially used in relation to Judaism and Islam, as well as the widespread Hindu prohibition on slaughtering Sacred cows. Many religions include such rules, although they rarely reach the level of breadth and detail which is observed in Judaism.

Also comparable is the strong prohibition among Manchus against the eating of dog meat, which is a common part of the cuisine among the Manchus' neighboring Northeastern Asian peoples - though in this case the prohibition is not grounded in a specific religious tradition. (The Manchus also avoid the wearing of hats made of dog's fur, common among their neighbors).

These rules can cover such matters as permissible and impermissible foodstuffs, rules regarding how food is to be slaughtered, and prohibited combinations of food (some foods, even though permissible in themselves, are not allowed in combination). Some foods may also be prohibited during certain festivals, even though normally allowed; and some foods may be prohibited only to particular classes of people (e.g. priests), but allowed for others.