The Hebrew word kosher is one of Judaism's contributions to the international vocabulary, according to the Orthodox Union, an organization that certifies kosher foods. "People of other cultures and languages use the term in its original meaning-denoting that which is proper and meets accepted rules and standards," the Orthodox Union says. In the Jewish faith, the word has a much more complex and deeper meaning, based on the Torah and Talmud. A kosher diet requires adherence to practices and principles that involve thoughtful preparation and the avoidance of some foods.
Definition
The word kosher comes from the word kashrut, which is the body of Jewish law dealing with foods that can and cannot be eaten and how those foods must be prepared and consumed, according tot he website Judaism 101.
History
The kosher Jewish diet traces its roots to the Torah. The books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy discuss the animals that are acceptable for human consumption. Animals with cuds and cloven hooves are acceptable. Four animals--the hare, the hyrax, the camel and the pig are deemed unclean. As the centuries passed, rabbis engaged in discussions of the birds and fish that could and could not fall under kosher guidelines. As food became increasingly processed outside the home, a system of certifying kosher foods was established. Foods that are certified as kosher have a symbol on the packaging.
Interactions
A basic principle of the kosher diet is that meat and dairy products must be kept separate, according to the website Chabad.org. This means they can't be cooked or eaten together. The third kind of food, pareve, is neither meat nor dairy and can be eaten with either group.
Preparation
Any type of meat must come from an animal that was killed and drained according to kosher laws. Dairy products must come from a kosher animal and must be processed with kosher equipment. In terms of preparation, utensils, dishes and cookware used for meat must be kept separate from utensils, dishes and cookware used for dairy.
Considerations
Whether you are cooking at home or dining out, there are some issues regarding the validity of kosher food. The U.S. Department of Agriculture doesn't require products to list parts used in processing. A food may be made with kosher ingredients but not processed on kosher machinery, which makes it nonkosher.
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