Food Taboo on Pork

Anthropology
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FOOD TABOO ON PORK
Even after entering into the modern lives, there are certain rules and taboos which are
controlling the fact that what should be eaten and what not and on which occasion. There are
certain occasions such as Christmas, Easter, New year eve etc. which is being continue from the
ancient talismans which believed to bring happiness for the bearer (3 Food Taboos and the
Reasons Behind Them, 2019). Still there remain certain taboos over food that should and
shouldn’t be part of these festive evenings.
The most common food related taboos and rules are given in Kashrut which is a Jewish
religious dietary law which has forbidden the consumption of Pork. This is so because within the
law of Kashrut the consumption of animals who do not chew the cud and have cloven hooves are
restricted to eat. The pig is seen as animal who consumes carrion, garbage and also bath in mud,
hence consider to be one of the most unclean animals, hence taboo to consume on these special
occasions. Vered, (2010), state that other then the religious believe, it also has health advisory
that pig transmit range of parasitic worm to human being if the pork is not cooked sufficiently.
Hence, it can be said the not eating of pork is a rule which consider to be more practical and at
the same time vital for the people for healthy benefits.
The Marvin Harris (Pg. 68) stated that other than Jewish culture the Islamic religion also
prohibit the consumption of pig and also hate pig eaters. They presented principle reason behind
the forbids of swine flesh is due to its habit and food which is quite filthy and loathsome. They
believe that if the law allow Egyptian and Jews to et pig then all the street and houses become
filthy as Europe as the mouth of swine is as dirty as the dung remains. With these statements the
Maimonides the philosopher of Jewish culture presented a side of story. But they do not consider
that the pig’s penchant for excrement is not actually the defect of nature rather it is a husbandry
of human masters. Pigs prefer roots, nuts and grain and for that they eat excrement. While on
other side, pig wallow for keeping themselves cool by finding a mudhole. But as per the
traditional food taboos people consider pig as a dirtiest animal and do not prefer to consumer
pork of a dung eating animal which make them ban the pork in their religion.
He further presented the fact that Maimonides’s Moslem emperor could be able to eat
every kind of meat except pork which make it more impolitic and present it within the biblical
sense of cleanliness by presenting freedom from the taint of feces. Hence, in this regard the
Maimonides presented a proper court by creating a physician theory of entire set of biblical
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