This cinnamon has not been irradiated.Submitted by AmberRosin t3_yi3mp2 in mildlyinteresting
merkaba_462 t1_iuhb8fu wrote
Reply to comment by MarsNeedsRabbits in This cinnamon has not been irradiated. by AmberRosin
Kashrut (Kosher law) says you cannot eat insects under any circumstances. You cannot mix dairy and meat either, but insects of all kinds (except locusts) are always forbidden.
Halal is conditional: if you are starving and have no food access or it falls into your food, you can eat it. You can mix dairy and meat.
*Vegans, I would think, would be appalled by eating insects, but something being vegan doesn't make it kosher or halal. Those certifications must be done under rabbinical supervision. Halal has Imams or people trained to perform such certification do supervision/inspection of products. There are also other rules and restrictions to be kosher / halal.
*I say vegans would be appalled because as a vegetarian, just knowing rennet and certain enzymes exist in cheese makes me avoid most cheeses. But insects?! Also just being vegan has nothing to do with Jews or Muslims who keep strict dietary laws for religious purposes. Unless it has a kosher certification (and sometimes only from OU / Union of Orthodox Rabbis or a rabbi they know) won't touch it. If no Halal marker is present, Muslims will look for a Kosher certification (but also read the label to make sure no alcohol was used).
Source: Jewish, kosher, and was a chef / food buyer who worked with both rabbis and imams for certification. Also have my BA in History, Judaic Studies, and a minor in Islamic Studies.
Edit: locusts
sam-says-oww t1_iuijzi0 wrote
Curious - with the perhaps urban legend that food items can have ppm or ppb of insects in them, peanut butter being a common example, how do modern Jewish people contend with that potential issue? Or say, carnuba wax? Or does that make it not kosher?
merkaba_462 t1_iuk4bxu wrote
sam-says-oww t1_iuk7110 wrote
Oh darn! Then I’m thinking of something else. Is it red food colouring? Something is made of bugs that you wouldn’t think of
merkaba_462 t1_iukasez wrote
That would factor into the certification process if it did. Red dye is all natural, but it often has additives to make it stay red (especially in the baking process) so that has to be checked for verification before certification, just like every other ingredient.
There are kosher red dyes.
fiendishrabbit t1_iuhsrq2 wrote
I was under the impression that desert locusts and migratory locusts are considered kosher.
merkaba_462 t1_iuhvvia wrote
You're right.
Locusts would kill crops, so the Torah permitted eating them in order to prevent them from doing so.
Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments