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Taboo food and drink
Taboo food and drinks are food and drink which people abstain from consuming for religious or cultural reasons.
Certain foods may be considered taboo by the rules promulgated by a religion concerning what is and what is not allowed to be eaten. The term is especially used in relation to Judaism and Islam, as well as the widespread Hindu prohibition on slaughtering Sacred cows. Many religions include such rules, although they rarely reach the level of breadth and detail which is observed in Judaism.
These rules can cover such matters as permissible and impermissible foodstuffs, rules regarding how food is to be slaughtered, and prohibited combinations of food (some foods, even though permissible in themselves, are not allowed in combination). Some foods may also be prohibited during certain festivals, even though normally allowed; and some foods may be prohibited only to particular classes of people (e.g. priests), but allowed for others.
Various religions forbid the consumption of certain types of food. For example, Judaism prescribes a strict set of rules, called Kashrut, regarding what can and cannot be eaten. Certain denominations of Christianity also hold to these or similar rules. In Islamic practice, the laws of Haram and Halal dictate, among other things, certain foods which may not be eaten. Hindus, and Jains often follow religious directives to observe vegetarianism and avoid eating meat. Hinduism has no specific proscriptions against eating meat, so some Hindus do eat meat. However, many other Hindus apply the concept of "ahimsa" (non-violence) to their diet, so they advocate and practice forms of vegetarianism. Due to philosophical differences and dietary needs among many modern Indian Hindus, all meat is considered a taboo except mutton (usually in India the goat's flesh, or sometimes sheep's flesh), chicken and fish.
Australian Aborigines traditionally had personal totems. While religious practices varied from group to group, it was common that the eating of the totemic animal was considered taboo, either by the entire clan, or the individual with the personal totem.
Also comparable is the strong prohibition among Manchus against the eating of dog meat, which is a common part of the cuisine among the Manchus' neighboring Northeastern Asian peoples - though in this case the prohibition is not grounded in a specific religious tradition. (The Manchus also avoid the wearing of hats made of dog's fur, common among their neighbors).
Aside from conscious taboos there are unconscious cultural taboos against the consumption of some animals. For example, even though there is no law against eating dog meat in the United States and Europe, it is widely considered unacceptable. In Southeast Asia, most countries excluding Vietnam rarely consume dog meat either because of Islamic or Buddhist values or animal rights as in the Philippines. Similarly, horse meat is rarely eaten in the US and UK, but is common in some parts of continental Europe and is considered a delicacy in Japan (basashi). Within a given society, some meats will be considered taboo simply because they are outside the range of the generally accepted definition of a foodstuff, not necessarily because the meat is considered repulsive in flavor, aroma, texture or appearance.
Some authorities impose cultural food taboos in the form of law. This is alleged to be dietary persecution and possibly human rights abuse. For example, even after resumption to Chinese rule, Hong Kong has not lifted its ban on supplying meat from dogs and cats, imposed in colonial times. A fairly recent addition to cultural food taboos is that of eating the meat and/or eggs of endangered species or animals that are otherwise protected by law or international treaty. Examples of such protected species include whales, sea turtles, and migratory birds.
The origin of food taboos is still being debated. Some claim they are a result of health considerations or other practical considerations,other say it's a result of human symbolic systems.
Amphibians and reptiles
Both Judaism and Islam strictly forbid the consumption of amphibians such as frogs and reptiles such as crocodiles and snakes. Nevertheless, frogs are raised commercially in certain countries and frog legs are considered a delicacy in France, Portugal, Italy, China, Caribbean and in parts of the USA.
Consumption of snakes has a long history in China and Vietnam where it is seen as a special culinary dish. The snake's blood and bile is considered a male aphrodisiac and is often drunk along with the combination of rice wine.Rattlesnake is eaten to a certain degree in southwestern USA and is available in specialty meat shops.
Certain tribes living around Lake Turkana in Ethiopia regularly hunt crocodiles and the consumption of crocodile meat and alligator meat can also be observed in countries such as Australia, Thailand, South Africa and the United States.
In Australia the meat is typically available in some restaurants and specialty meat outlets.
Large domesticated fowl such as chickens, turkeys, and ducks are commonly eaten in many cultures, along with their wild game counterparts.
Pigeons are raised and eaten in parts of the Middle East, Asia and Europe, where the young birds are known as "squab". Special towers are visible all over Egyptian villages, where these pigeons are raised. They are considered a delicacy served as a main course with rice. In North America, however, pigeons are more typically regarded as unfit for consumption,although hunted as a game bird in many states.
Many people also find the thought of eating the meat of crows and other scavengers repulsive, as evidenced by the expression "eating crow".
Eating swans is generally considered unacceptable Europe and the Americas,and the swan is a protected bird in England. All mute swans in Britain belong to the sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II, an historical quirk dating from the twelfth century.Nevertheless, reports about the eating of swans are seen from time to time.
Small birds such as songbirds have also traditionally been eaten in the Middle East, Asia and some European cultures; one such dish is the Ambelopoulia of Cyprus. In Western cultures today, most people regard songbirds as backyard wildlife rather than as food. In addition, migratory birds are protected by international treaty.
Certain foods may be considered taboo by the rules promulgated by a religion concerning what is and what is not allowed to be eaten. The term is especially used in relation to Judaism and Islam, as well as the widespread Hindu prohibition on slaughtering Sacred cows. Many religions include such rules, although they rarely reach the level of breadth and detail which is observed in Judaism.
These rules can cover such matters as permissible and impermissible foodstuffs, rules regarding how food is to be slaughtered, and prohibited combinations of food (some foods, even though permissible in themselves, are not allowed in combination). Some foods may also be prohibited during certain festivals, even though normally allowed; and some foods may be prohibited only to particular classes of people (e.g. priests), but allowed for others.
Various religions forbid the consumption of certain types of food. For example, Judaism prescribes a strict set of rules, called Kashrut, regarding what can and cannot be eaten. Certain denominations of Christianity also hold to these or similar rules. In Islamic practice, the laws of Haram and Halal dictate, among other things, certain foods which may not be eaten. Hindus, and Jains often follow religious directives to observe vegetarianism and avoid eating meat. Hinduism has no specific proscriptions against eating meat, so some Hindus do eat meat. However, many other Hindus apply the concept of "ahimsa" (non-violence) to their diet, so they advocate and practice forms of vegetarianism. Due to philosophical differences and dietary needs among many modern Indian Hindus, all meat is considered a taboo except mutton (usually in India the goat's flesh, or sometimes sheep's flesh), chicken and fish.
Australian Aborigines traditionally had personal totems. While religious practices varied from group to group, it was common that the eating of the totemic animal was considered taboo, either by the entire clan, or the individual with the personal totem.
Also comparable is the strong prohibition among Manchus against the eating of dog meat, which is a common part of the cuisine among the Manchus' neighboring Northeastern Asian peoples - though in this case the prohibition is not grounded in a specific religious tradition. (The Manchus also avoid the wearing of hats made of dog's fur, common among their neighbors).
Aside from conscious taboos there are unconscious cultural taboos against the consumption of some animals. For example, even though there is no law against eating dog meat in the United States and Europe, it is widely considered unacceptable. In Southeast Asia, most countries excluding Vietnam rarely consume dog meat either because of Islamic or Buddhist values or animal rights as in the Philippines. Similarly, horse meat is rarely eaten in the US and UK, but is common in some parts of continental Europe and is considered a delicacy in Japan (basashi). Within a given society, some meats will be considered taboo simply because they are outside the range of the generally accepted definition of a foodstuff, not necessarily because the meat is considered repulsive in flavor, aroma, texture or appearance.
Some authorities impose cultural food taboos in the form of law. This is alleged to be dietary persecution and possibly human rights abuse. For example, even after resumption to Chinese rule, Hong Kong has not lifted its ban on supplying meat from dogs and cats, imposed in colonial times. A fairly recent addition to cultural food taboos is that of eating the meat and/or eggs of endangered species or animals that are otherwise protected by law or international treaty. Examples of such protected species include whales, sea turtles, and migratory birds.
The origin of food taboos is still being debated. Some claim they are a result of health considerations or other practical considerations,other say it's a result of human symbolic systems.
Amphibians and reptiles
Both Judaism and Islam strictly forbid the consumption of amphibians such as frogs and reptiles such as crocodiles and snakes. Nevertheless, frogs are raised commercially in certain countries and frog legs are considered a delicacy in France, Portugal, Italy, China, Caribbean and in parts of the USA.
Consumption of snakes has a long history in China and Vietnam where it is seen as a special culinary dish. The snake's blood and bile is considered a male aphrodisiac and is often drunk along with the combination of rice wine.Rattlesnake is eaten to a certain degree in southwestern USA and is available in specialty meat shops.
Certain tribes living around Lake Turkana in Ethiopia regularly hunt crocodiles and the consumption of crocodile meat and alligator meat can also be observed in countries such as Australia, Thailand, South Africa and the United States.
In Australia the meat is typically available in some restaurants and specialty meat outlets.
Large domesticated fowl such as chickens, turkeys, and ducks are commonly eaten in many cultures, along with their wild game counterparts.
Pigeons are raised and eaten in parts of the Middle East, Asia and Europe, where the young birds are known as "squab". Special towers are visible all over Egyptian villages, where these pigeons are raised. They are considered a delicacy served as a main course with rice. In North America, however, pigeons are more typically regarded as unfit for consumption,although hunted as a game bird in many states.
Many people also find the thought of eating the meat of crows and other scavengers repulsive, as evidenced by the expression "eating crow".
Eating swans is generally considered unacceptable Europe and the Americas,and the swan is a protected bird in England. All mute swans in Britain belong to the sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II, an historical quirk dating from the twelfth century.Nevertheless, reports about the eating of swans are seen from time to time.
Small birds such as songbirds have also traditionally been eaten in the Middle East, Asia and some European cultures; one such dish is the Ambelopoulia of Cyprus. In Western cultures today, most people regard songbirds as backyard wildlife rather than as food. In addition, migratory birds are protected by international treaty.
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