What foods are forbidden by religions?

ISLAM

Alcoholic beverages are prohibited for worshipers and by civil laws in many Islamic territories. Also on the vetoed list are: pigs, dogs, seafood (except fish with scales and shrimp), monkeys, wild animals, birds of prey, reptiles, amphibians and insects. In addition, there are detailed rules on how meat and other foods should be slaughtered and prepared.

BUDDHISM

There are no laws forbidding or permitting food, as in Judaism or Islam. But there is, yes, an eating behavior, which varies between the Buddhist aspects, according to the practical and philosophical principles of the religion. Some groups eat meat, fish and eggs – other Buddhists are vegan, and do not consume animal products. This is a consequence of a principle present in both Buddhism and Hinduism, called Ahimsa. Ahimsa advocates a “non-violent” existence, in which no harm is done to any other living being.

JUDAISM

A set of laws (kashrut) determines what foods are appropriate (kosher) for Jews. Some prohibited ingredients are similar to those of Islam, but there are peculiarities: mixing meat and milk, like hamburgers and cheese, is forbidden. Allowed mammals must chew the cud and have cloven nails. This mainly excludes pigs (they don’t chew the cud) and camels (which don’t have nail slits). Bye bye, bacon.

CHRISTIANITY

In the Catholic Church, food restriction takes place in a specific period: Lent – ​​the 40-day period after Carnival, excluding Sundays. On Ash Wednesday and the Fridays preceding Easter, it is recommended that the faithful abstain from beef. That’s why the tradition of having fish for lunch every Good Friday.

OTHER CURIOSITIES

– Killing animals is also frowned upon in Buddhism because of the belief in the reincarnation of humans in the form of animals and vice versa

– In Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, it is forbidden to eat or drink between sunrise and sunset

– Among Protestants, the group of Seventh-day Adventists also do not consume pork, or fish without scales and seafood (and, in this case, shrimp is no exception).