3/20/2017 Kosher Kosher Dietary Laws Dietary Laws Prohibition of Blood Prohibition of Blood Ruminants and fowl are slaughtered Neck is cut in a specific region according to Jewish law by specially trained Cut arteries,veins,wind pipe and esophagus slaughterman (shochet)using a special knife (chalef) When done right,leads to strong bleeding and a rapid unconsciousness of the animal ·Knife must be For most foods,it is the process itself and -razor sharp the strict following of the law that makes it free of nicks kosher and not a blessing over the food -straight blade Even so,shochet does make a blessing prior twice as long as the neck of the animal to slaughtering Kosher Kosher Dietary Laws Dietary Laws Prohibition of Blood Prohibition of Blood 1958,US Congress declared kosher and halal A blessing is said before slaughter asking slaughter to be humane forgiveness for taking a life But Congress also included an exemption for Blessing is not said over each animal pre-slaughter handling of the animals and for the actual slaughter Slaughtered animals are inspected for organ defects The ambiguity was intentional If a defect is found,the entire animal is American Meat Institute developed a set of considered non-kosher animal welfare-based kosher/halal standards for upright slaughter to deal with ethical issues of A large number of animals are rejected at religious slaughter this point
3/20/2017 11 Kosher Dietary Laws Prohibition of Blood • Ruminants and fowl are slaughtered according to Jewish law by specially trained slaughterman (shochet) using a special knife (chalef) • Knife must be - razor sharp - free of nicks - straight blade - twice as long as the neck of the animal Kosher Dietary Laws Prohibition of Blood • Neck is cut in a specific region • Cut arteries, veins, wind pipe and esophagus • When done right, leads to strong bleeding and a rapid unconsciousness of the animal • For most foods, it is the process itself and the strict following of the law that makes it kosher and not a blessing over the food • Even so, shochet does make a blessing prior to slaughtering Kosher Dietary Laws Prohibition of Blood • 1958, US Congress declared kosher and halal slaughter to be humane • But Congress also included an exemption for pre-slaughter handling of the animals and for the actual slaughter • The ambiguity was intentional • American Meat Institute developed a set of animal welfare-based kosher/halal standards for upright slaughter to deal with ethical issues of religious slaughter Kosher Dietary Laws Prohibition of Blood • A blessing is said before slaughter asking forgiveness for taking a life • Blessing is not said over each animal • Slaughtered animals are inspected for organ defects • If a defect is found, the entire animal is considered non-kosher • A large number of animals are rejected at this point
3/20/2017 Kosher Kosher Dietary Laws Dietary Laws Prohibition of Blood Prohibition of Blood Consumers demand more strict kosher To test a lung for defects,the bodek or inspection requirements in the US inspector of internal organs In particular,the condition of the lungs are a looks for lung adhesions before and after major site of Jewish law defects and always slaughter inspected lung adhesions are scarring due to disease glatt kosher is meat from animals with lung is blown up using air smooth or defect-free lungs lung is placed in water Other organs are spot checked inspector looks for bubbles adhesions betwee the lobes Kosher Kosher Dietary Laws Dietary Laws Prohibition of Blood Prohibition of Blood If a lung is in tact,it is kosher Meat and poultry must be further prepared In US,glatt kosher is fewer than two certain veins,arteries,prohibited fats, adhesions for cattle blood,and sciatic nerve must be removed Some groups require total absence of process is called "nikkur"in Hebrew adhesions-beit yosef meat -person trained to do this is a "menacker" Use of glatt for any other kosher product only the front guarter cuts of kosher red means that a higher standard was used meat are used in US as it is too difficult and costly to remove the sciatic nerve removal results in small pieces of meat
3/20/2017 12 Kosher Dietary Laws Prohibition of Blood • Consumers demand more strict kosher inspection requirements in the US • In particular, the condition of the lungs are a major site of Jewish law defects and always inspected • glatt kosher is meat from animals with smooth or defect-free lungs • Other organs are spot checked Kosher Dietary Laws Prohibition of Blood • To test a lung for defects, the bodek or inspector of internal organs - looks for lung adhesions before and after slaughter - lung adhesions are scarring due to disease - lung is blown up using air - lung is placed in water - inspector looks for bubbles adhesions between the lobes Kosher Dietary Laws Prohibition of Blood • If a lung is in tact, it is kosher • In US, glatt kosher is fewer than two adhesions for cattle • Some groups require total absence of adhesions – beit yosef meat • Use of glatt for any other kosher product means that a higher standard was used Kosher Dietary Laws Prohibition of Blood • Meat and poultry must be further prepared - certain veins, arteries, prohibited fats, blood, and sciatic nerve must be removed - process is called “nikkur” in Hebrew - person trained to do this is a “menacker” - only the front quarter cuts of kosher red meat are used in US as it is too difficult and costly to remove the sciatic nerve - removal results in small pieces of meat