Torah List of Biblically Clean and Unclean Foods

Based on Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 (Masoretic Text)

https://youtu.be/8v8nmgGD1ik

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdyOu6Bdku8

1. Land Animals

Clean: Must have BOTH:

• Split hooves

• Chew the cud (ruminate)

Here’s a health-focused summary on common food risks associated with non‑kosher items—particularly shellfish and pork:

1. DO NOT EAT Shellfish (e.g. crab, lobster, shrimp)

• Prevalence: Up to 2 % of U.S. adults suffer from shellfish allergies; among adults, it’s one of the most common food allergies pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+10thesun.co.uk+10pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+10.

• Types & Severity: Includes allergies to crustaceans (crab, shrimp, lobster) and mollusks (oysters, clams). Reactions range from hives and nausea to fatal anaphylaxis, with crustaceans causing the majority of severe cases verywellhealth.com+3foodallergy.org+3mayoclinic.org+3.

• Symptoms: Hives, itching, swelling, wheezing, stomach issues, dizziness, and potentially airway constriction requiring emergency epinephrine mayoclinic.org.

• Cross‑contamination: Shellfish proteins can contaminate surfaces and shared cooking utensils, so strict kitchen hygiene is essential webmd.com+15acaai.org+15verywellhealth.com+15.

• Selfish are bottom feeders and filters in the ocean. They are cannibalistic. Shellfish contain the toxins from the trash they eat on the bottom of the ocean, and from eating each other. Do not eat shellfish. Shellfish are not food, they are unclean things. 

2. DO NOT EAT Pork (Non-Kosher Meat Concerns)

A. Parasite: Trichinella

• Cause: Eating raw or undercooked pork (or wild game) can lead to trichinosis, from the Trichinella roundworm verywellhealth.com+12cdc.gov+12mayoclinic.org+12.

• Prevalence:

  • ~16 U.S. cases per year (currently rare, ≈10,000 cases worldwide annually) webmd.com.

• Symptoms:

  • Early: Diarrhea, stomach pain, fatigue, fever.

  • Later: Facial swelling, muscle pain, heart/lung inflammation, neurological issues en.wikipedia.org+6mayoclinic.org+6webmd.com+6en.wikipedia.org.

• Prevention:

  • Do not eat pork or touch a pork carcass. 

In Addition there are:

-A. “Passover Kosher” or “Kosher for Passover”

While in addition there are rabbinical restrictions, here is biblical “Passover Kosher”

See: https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/3971428/jewish/What-Is-Kosher-for-Passover.htm

✅ What Is Biblically Kosher for Passover

1. Unleavened Bread (Matzah)

“Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread… no leavened bread shall be seen with you.”
— Exodus 13:6–7, Deut. 16:3

• You may eat bread made of wheat, barley, spelt, oats, or rye if it is unleavened (i.e., not risen).

• Matzah can be made at home — no need for a rabbinic stamp — just avoid fermentation.

• Prepare and bake within 18 minutes of water touching flour to avoid natural leavening.

2. Meat (Especially Lamb)

“They shall eat the flesh that same night, roasted with fire… and unleavened bread and bitter herbs.”
— Exodus 12:8

• Biblically, the Passover meal involved lamb, roasted whole.

• Today, with no Temple, you may eat lamb, but Torah doesn’t require it unless there is a functioning altar (Deut. 16:2–7).

• All meat should be clean (Leviticus 11) and ideally slaughtered according to Torah principles.

3. Bitter Herbs (Maror)

“And with bitter herbs they shall eat it.”
— Exodus 12:8

• Any edible bitter herb is valid: horseradish, dandelion, endive, romaine lettuce, etc.

4. Clean Foods (Leviticus 11)

• All other food during Passover must be biblically clean:

  • Clean meats (beef, lamb, goat, fish with fins and scales)

  • Eggs, vegetables, fruits, oils, herbs, nuts, etc.

  • Avoid pork, shellfish, scavengers, blood, or unclean animals.

5. Beverages

• Wine is permitted if it contains no yeast or fermentation agents.

• Grape juice or other unfermented juices are acceptable.

• Water, herbal tea, or fruit-based drinks are fine.

❌ What Is Not Kosher for Passover (Biblically)

1. Chametz (Leavened Bread)

“You shall remove leaven from your houses.”
— Exodus 12:15, 13:7

• Chametz means any food made with leavened grain.

• This includes anything made of wheat, barley, oats, rye, or spelt that has been allowed to rise or ferment.

Examples:

• Bread, bagels, muffins, pancakes, pizza crust, pasta, cereal made from wheat or oats

• Anything with baker’s yeast, sourdough, or beer yeast

2. Fermented Grain Beverages

• Beer, ale, whiskey, grain vodka — all contain fermented barley or wheat

• These are considered leavened by liquid fermentation and must be avoided

3. Molded or naturally leavened food

• Fermented soy (like miso or soy sauce)

• Vinegar made from grain (unless removed or verified non-leavened)

What Is Not Required in the Bible (But Often Taught Rabbinically)

-B. and Genesis Berisheet tells us not to eat the sinew in the rear of a cow.

Biblical Source: Genesis 32:25–33 (Masoretic Hebrew + Context)

Genesis 32:32 (Hebrew 32:33)
“Therefore the children of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh (גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה / gid hanasheh) which is on the socket of the hip, to this day, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew of the hip.”
— Genesis 32:32 Hip is in the rear of the cow, and not the front.

It is very difficult if not impossible to remove the sinew from the meat in the rear of the cow, and this is why Torah Observant people avoid eating the entire rear end of the Cow. 

• Number of appearances of יהוה (YHWH) in Genesis 32: 2

• Verses: Genesis 32:9 and 32:10

-C. Do Not Mix Dairy And Meat

Exodus Chapter 23 שְׁמוֹת

The Jewish interpretation of this is that no dairy and meat should be eaten together or combined. 

People have tried to use Genesis 18:8 to try to invalidate the Jewish interpretation of Exodus 23:19, however Genesis 18:8 does not nullify, change, or cancel Exodus 23:19. 

It is important to see that the torah does NOT say Abraham boiled a kid in it’s mother’s milk,
Torah does NOT say that Abraham mixed dairy and meat together,
Torah does NOT say that Abraham cooked meat in dairy.
It does appear that Abraham served dairy and meat at the same time.

Therefore there is no text in Genesis 18:8 that says Abraham violated Exodus 23:19

However some Jews do not eat dairy or meat at the same time, and
will put an hour or more in-between eating dairy and meat.
Some Jews will put dairy and meat on separate dishes with separate colors, (Written Torah does not say if Abraham did this)
have separate refrigerators for dairy and meat, (Abraham did not have a refrigerator)
and have separate sinks to wash dishes with dairy and meat in separate sinks. (I don’t think Abraham had sinks. He could have used two different wells, or two different streams of water, if he washed dairy dishes and meat dishes separately.)
There is no harm in these traditions, to enure that the commandment in Exodus 23:19 is not being violated. 
In addition some Jews say that fish is not meat, and some say chicken is not meat, and that fish and or chicken can be combined with dairy. Chickens do not produce milk, and this may be a reason for this thought process. In my opinion meat is meat, and that includes chicken and fish. Some may even decide that eggs are also meat, and not mix them with dairy. One could say that adding dairy to an egg yoke is deviling an egg. The devil tempted David to number the people, and was sent to torment Job, so some may say that deviling an egg is not a good thing. 

There are non-dairy mayonnaise spreads, non-dairy cheese, vegan non-meat meat(made of beans), and all kinds of alternatives. The ingredients of these things may not be kosher, and they usually have lots of salt to get the same flavor. Lots of salt is not healthy. Hummus, avocado dip, and artichoke dip, are good non-dairy alternatives for sandwiches, chips, fish…

Benefit:

• Reinforces mindful eating and spiritual discipline.

• Builds a habit of sanctifying daily life, even meals.

• Avoids assimilating with surrounding pagan practices that celebrated fertility with milk-meat rituals.

• New scientific data suggests that when gut microbes (may be increased by the presence of dairy) and lecithin (in meat) combine, they result in producing blood clots, that may cause stroke, heart attack, and other causes of death. The consequence of violating torah is death, and obeying torah is life to those who follow it. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5460631/  There are other potential health concerns when eating meat and dairy together. 

### Key Points
– Research suggests that eating meat and dairy together may reduce iron absorption due to calcium in dairy inhibiting iron from meat, which could be a concern for those with low iron levels, though long-term effects are likely minimal for most people.
– It seems likely that combining high-fat meat and dairy increases saturated fat intake, potentially raising risks of heart disease and related conditions, but choosing lean options can help mitigate this.

### Potential Health Concerns
Eating meat and dairy together may pose a few health concerns, primarily related to nutrient interactions and dietary balance. Here’s a breakdown for clarity:

– **Iron Absorption:** Calcium in dairy can inhibit iron absorption from meat, especially in short-term consumption. This might affect individuals at risk of iron deficiency, such as children or women. [Calcium and iron absorption–mechanisms and public health relevance](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21462112/)
– **Saturated Fat Intake:** Both meat and dairy can be high in saturated fats, and consuming them together may increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers if not balanced with leaner choices. [Is Eating Meat and Cheese Together Healthy?](https://www.livestrong.com/article/379714-is-eating-meat-and-cheese-together-healthy/)
– **Digestive Issues:** Some traditional beliefs, like those from Ayurveda, suggest combining meat and dairy can cause digestive problems like bloating or acid reflux.

### Online Sources
For more details, check these reputable sources:
– [Calcium Intake and Iron Status in Human Studies: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316622001420)
– [How to Increase the Absorption of Iron from Foods](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/increase-iron-absorption)
– [Milk and meat in our diet: good or bad for health?](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22445367/)

#### Identified Health Concerns
Based on the analysis, two primary health concerns emerge when consuming meat and dairy together: the interaction between calcium and iron absorption, and the cumulative effect of saturated fat intake. A third concern involves potential digestive issues.

##### 1. Calcium-Iron Absorption Interaction
One of the most discussed scientific concerns is the interaction between calcium (found in dairy) and iron (found in meat), particularly heme iron, which is more bioavailable than non-heme iron from plant sources. Research consistently shows that calcium can inhibit iron absorption, a phenomenon observed in both short-term and long-term studies, though the practical impact varies.

– **Short-Term Effects:** Studies, such as those reviewed in a systematic analysis published on medrxiv.org in 2020, indicate a statistically significant but modest reduction in iron absorption when calcium is consumed concurrently, with a weighted mean difference of -5.57% (95% CI: -7.09, -4.04). This effect is more pronounced in single-meal studies, where calcium doses of 300-600 mg can inhibit both heme and non-heme iron absorption, as noted in a PubMed article from 2010 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21462112/).
– **Population-Specific Risks:** This interaction is particularly relevant for populations at risk of iron deficiency, such as children, pregnant women, and women of reproductive age, as highlighted in a Canadian Digestive Health Foundation article from 2025 (https://cdhf.ca/en/iron-absorption-understanding-factors-that-enhance-or-inhibit-uptake/). For these groups, consuming calcium-rich foods with iron-rich meals might exacerbate deficiency risks, though the evidence suggests separating intake by one to two hours can mitigate this.

To illustrate the potential impact, consider the following table summarizing key findings from studies on calcium’s effect on iron absorption:

| **Study Source** | **Calcium Dose** | **Iron Type** | **Effect on Absorption** | **Long-Term Impact** |
|——————————————-|——————|—————|————————–|———————-|
| PubMed (2010, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21462112/) | 300-600 mg | Heme & Non-heme | Inhibits, significant | Mixed, adaptive mechanisms |
| ScienceDirect (2021, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316622001420) | Variable | Both | Modest reduction | Minimal on iron status |
| Healthline (2023, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/increase-iron-absorption) | Not specified | Non-heme | Inhibits, recommend separation | Not detailed |

Recommendations often include spacing calcium-rich foods from iron-rich meals, though for most, the impact is likely negligible unless dietary iron is already low.

##### 2. Saturated Fat and Chronic Disease Risk
Another concern is the cumulative saturated fat content when consuming meat and dairy together, especially if both are high-fat varieties. Both food groups can contribute significantly to saturated fat intake, which is linked to increased risks of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and certain cancers.

– **Evidence from Livestrong.com:** An article from 2011 (https://www.livestrong.com/article/379714-is-eating-meat-and-cheese-together-healthy/) notes that high consumption of red meat and processed meat, combined with dairy like cheese, increases risks of heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, and fatal prostate and ovarian cancers, attributing this to high saturated fat levels. The American Heart Association recommends that saturated fats constitute no more than 7% of total daily calories (approximately 16g in a 2,000-calorie diet), a threshold easily exceeded with fatty meats and full-fat dairy.
– **Specific Examples:** The same article provides saturated fat content for various meats and cheeses, such as 3g in 2 oz of beef (Sunday roast, trimmed) and 9.4g in 1 oz of cheddar, highlighting the potential for high combined intake. Healthier combinations, like using extra-lean ham (1g saturated fat per 3 slices) with low-fat Swiss cheese (0.5g per oz), are suggested to reduce risk.

The following table details saturated fat content for common meats and cheeses, aiding in dietary planning:

| **Food Item** | **Serving Size** | **Saturated Fat (g)** |
|—————————–|——————|———————–|
| Packaged sliced roast beef | 2 oz | 1g |
| Beef (Sunday roast, trimmed)| 2 oz | 3g |
| Grilled chicken | 2 oz | 0.5g |
| Deli ham | 1 slice | 1g |
| Extra-lean ham | 3 slices | 1g |
| Cheddar cheese | 1 oz | 9.4g |
| Swiss cheese | 1 oz | 7g |
| Low-fat cheddar/Colby | 1 oz | 1.2g |
| Low-fat Swiss | 1 oz | 0.5g |

For those concerned, choosing lean meats and low-fat dairy can significantly reduce saturated fat intake, mitigating potential health risks.

##### 3. Digestive Issues and Traditional Beliefs
Some traditional and cultural perspectives, particularly from Ayurveda, suggest that combining meat and dairy can lead to digestive issues such as gas, bloating, discomfort, stomach ache, nausea, acid reflux, heartburn, and even ulcers. An article from the Times of India in 2022 (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/should-you-drink-milk-after-eating-chicken-or-mutton/photostory/92751828.cms) cites Ayurvedic texts, noting that both are protein sources with different energies, potentially leading to dosha imbalances (Vatta, Pitha, Kapha) and triggering ailments.

#### Cultural and Religious Perspectives
It’s worth noting that religious and cultural practices, such as kosher laws in Judaism (detailed in sources like Aish.com, https://aish.com/why-not-milk-meat/, and Chabad.org, https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2995144/jewish/Why-Wait-Between-Eating-Meat-and-Milk.htm), prohibit mixing meat and dairy, often citing spiritual reasons rather than health. These practices, such as waiting six hours after meat before consuming dairy, are not primarily health-driven but align with some nutritional concerns discussed.

#### Online Sources for Further Reading
The following online sources provide comprehensive information on the topic, ensuring users can explore further:
– [Calcium and iron absorption–mechanisms and public health relevance](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21462112/)
– [Calcium Intake and Iron Status in Human Studies: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316622001420)
– [How to Increase the Absorption of Iron from Foods](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/increase-iron-absorption)
– [Is Eating Meat and Cheese Together Healthy?](https://www.livestrong.com/article/379714-is-eating-meat-and-cheese-together-healthy/)
– [Milk and meat in our diet: good or bad for health?](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22445367/)
– [Should you drink milk after eating chicken or mutton?](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/should-you-drink-milk-after-eating-chicken-or-mutton/photostory/92751828.cms)
– [What is the problem with red meat and dairy in the same meal?](https://www.reddit.com/r/nutrition/comments/1gbpp4q/what_is_the_problem_with_red_meat_and_dairy_in/)

These sources encompass scientific studies, health advice, and community discussions, offering a balanced view for further exploration as of August 5, 2025.

❓ Why Kosher Observance Helps

• Avoids common allergens and parasites—shellfish allergies are widespread, and raw pork meats carry infection risk.

• Even when cooked, pork contains parasites that can survive until heated to 600F or higher. 

• Encourages mindful cooking practices, food hygiene, and care in diet.

• Aligns with verse like Leviticus 11, maintaining health boundaries inherently understood in biblical law.

✅ Health Summary Table