Modern Pure Food Theories and Jewish Dietary Laws

Pure food as a topic has always received undivided attention. Modern food experts and authoritative dieticians emphasize the importance of foods that are manufactured in accordance with the Pure Food Laws.

In olden times, food habits were chiefly determined by what a country was able to produce in the way of animal or vegetable foods. The question of health in relationship to food had to be taken into serious consideration, since the climate and organism of the various foods had a great bearing on the element and process of health.

MOSES ANTICIPATED MODERNISTS

Theories advanced by modern experts can easily be traced back to the Jewish dietary Laws. The mosaic Law is considered as a religious institution and the basis of it was to be found in the fact that in certain foods there is a natural uncleanliness from which the Lord’s consecrated people had to be kept. The great teacher, Moses, far ahead of time, visualized the necessity of instituting sanitary measures with regard to food and habits.

The term Kashruth (Dietary Laws), more frequently expressed as “Kosher,” stands in its particular sense for cleanliness, purity, and wholesomeness. Food described as “Trefa” (unclean) and unfit for Jewish consumption, mentioned in the Bible, is from animals which do not chew their cud and which have no split hoofs, fish without fins or scales and birds, chiefly those called “birds of prey” and “marsh birds.”

MEDICAL BASIS FOR BAN

An analysis of these prohibitions shows that the underlying reason for the restriction of such food was that it was detrimental to the health of the human body.

The United states Pure Food Law demands that only the purest ingredients be used and that the place of manufacture be kept sanitary. The Jewish Dietary Laws not only advocate these principles but add certain restrictions as to the use of ingredients of animal origin.