Religion and Food Choices

Religion and food
choices
© Food – a fact of life Extension

Learning objectives
• To understand that people choose different foods

due to their religion.
• To recognise the variety of food consumed by

people of different religious views.
• To know that, regardless of religious views, it is

important to eat a balanced diet for good health.
© Food – a fact of life

Foods avoids by different religions
Religion Pork Beef Lamb Chicken Fish
Islam  Halal Halal Halal 

only only only
Hinduism     
Judaism  Kosher Kosher Kosher 

only only only
Sikhism     
Buddhism (strict)     
Seventh-day     
Adventist Church
Rastafari Movement     

Religion and food choices
Around the world, people choose to eat or avoid

certain foods depending on their religious belief.
Some beliefs have been followed for centuries and

are well established as part of life.
A healthy and varied diet is important for good

health.

Roles of food in religion
These include:
• to communicate with God (e.g. saying thanks and

blessing);
• to demonstrate faith through following religious

rites concerning diets;
• to develop discipline through fasting.

Religions around the world
Religions which require particular food rules

include:
• Islam;
• Hinduism;
• Judaism;
• Sikhism;
• Buddhism (strict);
• Seventh-day Adventist Church;
• Rastafari Movement.

Islam
Prohibited animal flesh: pork.
The Koran outlines the foods which can be eaten

(halal) and those forbidden (haram).
Beef, lamb and chicken can only be eaten if the

animal has been slaughtered by the halal method.
This means that the animal must be killed by
slitting its throat. The animal will then have all the
blood drained from its body.
Muslims will only eat meat slaughtered by Muslims,

Christians or Jews.
Islam
Haram are foods which are forbidden. Examples

include pork, blood, alcohol and meat sacrificed to
idols.
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims need to

refrain from eating, drinking and smoking from
sunrise to sunset. Ramadan is the ninth month of
the Islamic calendar.

Hinduism
Prohibited animal flesh: all, except lamb, chicken

and fish.
Strict Hindus are vegetarian. The cow is held in high

regard and a symbol of abundance, therefore
Hindus do not eat beef.
Some Hindus may also avoid certain foods, such as

domestic fowl, salted pork, milk, ghee, onions,
garlic, eggs and coconut.

Hinduism
It is particularly important to check food products

like bread, biscuits, cheese and jam to ensure that
the forbidden ingredients are not present.
Some devout Hindus observe fasting on special

occasions as a mark of respect to personal Gods or
as part of their penance.

Judaism
Prohibited animal flesh: pork and non-kosher beef, lamb

and chicken.
The Torah outlines which foods are allowed for Jews to eat.
Permissible foods are called Kosher and forbidden foods
are called Trefa.
Kosher animals have a completely split hoof and chew cud,

e.g. cows, goat and sheep. Horses and pigs are not Kosher
animals.
Kosher fish must have fins and scales, therefore shellfish

and eels are excluded. All plant foods are Kosher, unless
damaged by rot or insects.

Judaism
Kosher meat is prepared by using a single knife to

cut open the throat to kill the animal, with all the
blood drained. The meat should be soaked in water
and salted to remove the last traces of blood.
Meat and dairy foods must not be prepared or

eaten together.
Jews should not prepare food on the Sabbath,

which begins at sundown on Friday and ends at
sundown on Saturday.
There are other periods of fasting in the Jewish

calendar, e.g. Feast of Pesach (Passover).
Sikhism
Prohibited animal flesh: pork, beef, halal and kosher.
Sikhs do not eat halal or kosher meat because they

are not meant to take part in religious rituals apart
from the Sikh Rehat Maryada (Code of Conduct).
They should also refrain from food and drinks which
may harm their body, e.g. alcohol.
Some older Sikhs may fast during full moon or

specific holidays, but most are discouraged from
fasting and going on pilgrimages.

Buddhism (strict)
Prohibited animal flesh: all.
Buddhists believe they should not be responsible for

the death of any other living organism. Therefore,
most Buddhists follow a strict vegetarian, if not
vegan diet.
They also avoid the consumption of alcohol.

Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Prohibited animal flesh: pork, beef and lamb.
Many Adventists are ovo-lacto vegetarians, which

means they do not consume animal flesh of any
kind, but will consume dairy and egg products.
Some Adventists avoid food and drinks which

contain caffeine, therefore they do not consume tea
and coffee. They also avoid alcohol.

Rastafari Movement
Prohibited animal flesh: all.
Most Rastafarians are vegetarians or vegans.
Foods approved for Rastafarians are called Ital,

which should be natural or pure, without the addition
of artificial colours, flavourings or preservatives.
Rastafarians avoid alcohol and some also avoid tea,

coffee and other caffeinated drinks because these
are considered to confuse the soul.

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Religion and food

© Food – a fact of life Extension

• To understand that people choose different foods

• To recognise the variety of food consumed by

• To know that, regardless of religious views, it is

© Food – a fact of life

Religion Pork Beef Lamb Chicken Fish

Islam  Halal Halal Halal 

Judaism  Kosher Kosher Kosher 

© Food – a fact of life

Around the world, people choose to eat or avoid

Some beliefs have been followed for centuries and

A healthy and varied diet is important for good

© Food – a fact of life

• to communicate with God (e.g. saying thanks and

• to demonstrate faith through following religious

• to develop discipline through fasting.

© Food – a fact of life

Religions which require particular food rules

© Food – a fact of life

Prohibited animal flesh: pork.

The Koran outlines the foods which can be eaten

Beef, lamb and chicken can only be eaten if the

Muslims will only eat meat slaughtered by Muslims,

Haram are foods which are forbidden. Examples

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims need to

© Food – a fact of life

Prohibited animal flesh: all, except lamb, chicken

Strict Hindus are vegetarian. The cow is held in high

Some Hindus may also avoid certain foods, such as

© Food – a fact of life

It is particularly important to check food products

Some devout Hindus observe fasting on special

© Food – a fact of life

Prohibited animal flesh: pork and non-kosher beef, lamb

Kosher animals have a completely split hoof and chew cud,

Kosher fish must have fins and scales, therefore shellfish

© Food – a fact of life

Kosher meat is prepared by using a single knife to

Meat and dairy foods must not be prepared or

Jews should not prepare food on the Sabbath,

There are other periods of fasting in the Jewish

Prohibited animal flesh: pork, beef, halal and kosher.

Sikhs do not eat halal or kosher meat because they

Some older Sikhs may fast during full moon or

© Food – a fact of life

Prohibited animal flesh: all.

Buddhists believe they should not be responsible for

They also avoid the consumption of alcohol.

© Food – a fact of life

Prohibited animal flesh: pork, beef and lamb.

Many Adventists are ovo-lacto vegetarians, which

Some Adventists avoid food and drinks which

© Food – a fact of life

Prohibited animal flesh: all.

Most Rastafarians are vegetarians or vegans.

Foods approved for Rastafarians are called Ital,

Rastafarians avoid alcohol and some also avoid tea,

© Food – a fact of life