What is kosher food?

Answer 1

Kosher food is food prepared in accordance with Jewish Dietary Laws.

In their most "biblical" form, Jewish Dietary Laws state:
Pork, rabbit, eagle, owl, catfish, sturgeon, and any shellfish, insect or reptile are non-kosher.
Other species of meat and fowl must be slaughtered in a prescribed manner to be kosher.
Meat and dairy products may not be made or consumed together.
A kosher food that is processed or cooked together with a non-kosher food, or any derivative of a non-kosher food, becomes non-kosher. For example, food coloring derived from a shellfish and used in a cake makes the cake non-kosher.

While Jewish Dietary Laws originated in the Bible (Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 17), they have been codified and interpreted over the centuries by rabbinical authorities.

Likewise, definitions of kosher have evolved in response to changes in the food industry, the Jewish People, and world culture.

Due to the growing complexity of foodstuffs, the need arose for kosher certifying agencies to determine the kosher status of prepared food.

kosher certification labels are printed on the packages of kosher food.

As Jews lived in and adopted food traditions from different countries around the world and as different denominations of Judaism developed, Jewish definitions of kosher have become more varied over time. There are different Jewish ethnic cultures, different branches within Judaism, and various Jewish kosher certifying authorities in the United States that certify "kosher" based on rules that vary from liberal to conservative.

Furthermore, in recent times gentiles have become more interested in kosher food. Muslims, today's number one consumers of kosher food items in the United States, may define "kosher" as food that fits the Quran's dietary laws of Halal. And people who are health-conscious may define "kosher" as food that is under special supervision. Various religious, cultural, health and quality reasons spark their interest in and color their definitions of kosher.

Answer 2

Kosher food is food prepared in accordance with Jewish dietary laws in the Torah. Any other answer is stupid. The rabbi does not "bless" the machinery or food. Read up on it.

By the way, I'll have two with and a Celray and a schnitzel of Matzoh ball soup. Don't forget a smear of chopped liver, and just a nosh of a kasha knish.

Hey Poohbear, you don't have to be Jewish to love Levi's. Such a meshuganah!

Answer 3

I had a Jewish roommate in college and I asked about kosher food and does he eat kosher?
He said that in the Midwest there is no real kosher restaurants and that most of the food sold as "kosher" was fake
but he still ate in American dinners...off a griddle that cooked hamburgers, cheeseburgers and YES even bacon and ham...but he said that is the way of most restaurants in the U.S.A.

Answer 4

Kosher food is what is allowed for Jews to eat but halal food is what food Muslims are allowed to eat .. Both Muslims and Jews are not allowed pork for example - this makes pork not halal or kosher but some foods are only forbidden in Judaism like prawns which is halal to Muslims .. Meat from sheep or cow, etc. are slaughtered in both cases and most Muslims are allowed to eat kosher killed meat and most Jews are allowed to eat halal meat.

Answer 5

Jewish food, Blessed and prepared in such a way that caused no harm to that which is being eaten. It must be completely seperate from all over forms of food and must be blessed and handled carefully before eating, lest it be made unclean and thus inedible.

Answer 6

Red.....is correct. It's food that has been blessed. Usually a Rabi has to come to the place where the food is packaged and "bless" the tool, machines, and instruments of packaging.

Answer 7

It is food that is prepared in the Jewish tradition
For a very detailed explanation see:
http://www.answers.com/topic/kashrut

Answer 8

It is food that is prepared in the Jewish tradition

Answer 9

Food blessed by a rabbi and approved for Jews.

Answer 10

it a jewish thing, all or most jewish food is koshered