The strict rules of a religious diet

JEWISH law prescribes strict dietary rules and religious regulations around the preparation of food.

According to the Torah holy book, animals used for meat must be slaughtered by a shochet or ritual slaughterer, who is not allowed to cause the animal any pain.

Only animals that have cloven hooves and chew the cud may be eaten. It is prohibited to eat animals with only one such attribute, eg, pigs, which have cloven hooves but don’t chew the cud.

Only fish with fins and scales may be eaten. Shellfish is forbidden.

Meat and milk cannot be cooked or served together and separate utensils must be used for cooking.

As insects are not kosher, all fruit and vegetables must be carefully inspected before being served.