Hummus Elite
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Glatt Kosher Middle Eastern / Mediterranean Cuisine
 
Is Kosher Food Better?

In recent years, consumption of kosher food by non-Jews in the United States has risen. The reason is health consciousness and a general perception among the American public that kosher is healthier and is in some way "better" than non-kosher food. This movement is helped by the recent trends toward greener, cleaner eating among Americans. Consumption of organic, whole foods that are preservative free is also on the rise. However, kosher food is actually more commonly purchased than food touting an organic or preservative free label. Moreover, the majority of the people who are purchasing and consuming kosher foods are not doing so for religious reasons. According out one recent study, as many as 80% of those who bought kosher last year were not practicing Jews.

So, what is it that's drawing people to kosher foods?

Lack of Pests
The consumption of insects is prohibited under Jewish law. Therefore, in order for a food to be deemed kosher, it must be completely insect free. This is welcome news to most consumers who, regardless of religious beliefs would prefer not to consume bugs. It is important to note though that some bacteria that may be associated with insects in or on vegetables could remain after the bug is removed. So while it is less likely that a bug will land in one's lettuce if it is kosher, there could still be issues with the food.

Lack of Bacteria in Meat
There is a general perception that it may be less likely for E. coli or salmonella to be present in kosher beef and chicken. However, there is a lack of research around the subject, and it may not actually have any true ground in science. Although kosher meat does go through a salting process, which removes the blood of the animal from the meat, there is little evidence to support the idea that E. coli or salmonella could not survive in either.

However there is a bit of good news, here. It is true that kosher beef is less likely to be plagued by mad cow disease, which is caused by irregularly shaped proteins. The animals used for kosher meat are butchered at a younger age and therefore do not reach the age at which cows become vulnerable to mad cow disease.

Labeling
Kosher law prohibits the simultaneous consumption of dairy and meat. Because of this, any dairy or meat product that is labeled kosher is guaranteed not to contain the other. For vegetarians who do not want to consume meat products, or for those with severe dairy allergies, the strict standards with which kosher foods are labelled can be of great help.

The term "pareve" on food means that the food is kosher certified to not contain any dairy or meat. In fact, pareve foods cannot even be processed in a facility that also processes meat or dairy products. For those who need to avoid either for health or dietary reasons, the pareve label can be of great assistance.
Glatt Kosher
Kosher Food Delivery
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