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BANG FOR THE BITE
OK, so Kosher doesn't always mean healthier (think hot dogs) or greener, but it does increase the chance of a cleaner, more humanely produced meal.
COCKTAIL FACT
Fewer than 1/4 of the consumers who deliberately choose kosher products are observant Jews.
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home › tip library › Kosher Diets
Can an all-gefilte fish diet keep your body cleaner?
The Bite
You bet your bottom shekel it can. Jew- and gentile-Biters alike can benefit from a Kosher diet's sometimes cleaner, animal-friendlier bent. Starting this Passover (Apr. 20-26), look for the kosher or k parve symbol on the back of the items on your grocery list.The Benefits
- Avoiding schmutz. Kosher food, especially meat, is held to strict rules regarding cleanliness.
- Passing over animal cruelty. Jewish law says that the killing of kosher animals has to minimize the pain inflicted on the critters.
- A blessing for vegetarians. "Kosher pareve" means the product contains no dairy or meat derivatives.
Personally Speaking
Manischewitz was Toshio's favorite alcoholic beverage during his freshman year at college.Wanna Try?
- Chabad Kosher Guide - walks you through the ABCs of going kosher.
- The Kosher Blog - musings and news on kosher food.
- Heeb - Jew or non-Jew, this mag rocks.
Apr 02,2008
Sponsor
All editorial suggestions in this tip are the result of testing and a preference for the tip topic. No advertiser has paid to have its company referenced in the tip. For more information, please read our Editorial Policy.
Things I Miss About New York
There are a lot of things I really miss about living in New York.
But one that I didn't even remember until I was asked to write this blog? Kosher pickles. There was this amazing stand in the middle of a dodgy flea market somewhere around NYU. And occasionally, I'd stumble upon it, and buy the best pickles I've ever eaten, all wrapped up in soggy wax paper and dripping down my arm.
-Heather... off to another day of meetings in LA...
Biter Comments...
Thanks for the comment above--and please note, IdealBite Staff and Readers, it's not just a problem in a far-away land (South America); it's right here, everywhere--Pottsville, Iowa; live markets in New York and elsewhere; and so forth. Also from PETA is this: http://tinyurl.com/23snpe
The punch line is that while Kosher may theoretically be more humane, there is no guarantee--and many videotaped incidents can prove this.
I know the staff wrote "sometimes" cleaner/more humane--but please don't be talkin' "animal friendly" and so forth. If a murderer ensured you a relatively painless death, would you consider him victim-friendly? C'mon, now.
Major inaccuracies about 4/2/08 ideal bite: Kosher is FAR from animal friendlier, please correct. In practice usually, Kosher killed animals are nowhere near friendly or even friendlier.
With all due deference to those of any religion among us, I was appalled that a usually well-researched urban environmental e-list, "Ideal Bite", claimed that, "Kosher diet's ... animal-friendlier" and "more humanely produced meal", despite much documentation by organizations like the New York Times, PETA, etc.
Yes, I woke-up this morning and read this and couldn't believe my eyes after the numerous first-hand videos and descriptions to the contrary, showing cows having their throat slit (sometimes multiple times) fully conscious and then stumble around still conscious for ... far too long. This is 'animal friendlier"???
I guess some people are still covering their eyes hoping for truly happy meals when the vegetarian/vegan meals are a whole lot happier! :)
Andreas
Press in the last few years:
On November 30, 2004, The New York Times broke the story of what it called "grisly" animal abuse at the world's largest glatt kosher slaughterhouse, AgriProcessors Inc.
March 10, 2006, New York Times "Inquiry Finds Lax Federal Inspections at Kosher Meat Plant"
Seriously, I really do love ideal bite- its a great start to the morning. But its sad that I can't really take anything you say tooo seriously (at least, not without doing my own background checks on what you say) since aparently "good research" is a slightly foreign concept in the ideal bite world.
Just to clarify, the reason why kosher slaughter is NOT at all humane is that it forbids stunning of the animal prior to slaughter. Rendering an animal unconcious is an absolutely necessary step in a more-humane slaughter process. Of course, the most humane option is an animal-free diet. However, because the animal is conscious for the slaughter process, kosher slaughter is actually one of the least humane alternatives.
Ideal Bite: what happened? Did a Rabbi slip you a $20 to send out a daily bite with such egregious inaccuracies? Kosher more animal friendly? Really? And what part is confusing about the fact that animal farming causes more green house emission than cars? How could a "green" ideal bite encourage meat consumption? I'm glad to see other biters are on top of it and waking you up to the mistake. I hope you guys are able to admit mistakes (unlike some national leaders we know) and let your community know the reality of meat.
I'm glad to see other people are sounding off about today's 'tip' because when I read it I nearly went through the roof!! A lOT of people out there, myself included, take these tips seriously; and it sickens my heart to think that people now have it in their heads that kosher meat can be 'animal friendly'. Are you freaking kidding me???? Have you *seen* the video footage???? I defy anyone to witness an animal being bled out and say that it's humane or 'animal friendly' in any way!!
ARGH!! I'm livid!!
thank you to everyone who wrote to refute the "humane" kosher butchering. i think ideal bite should offer a retraction- it's completely false information. yes, kosher meat is theoretically killed in a more humane manner, but not in reality. and i thought ideal bite was supposed to be based in reality. anyways, thanks.
No, no, no, no, no. As a Jewish vegetarian, I have to hope that today's tip was a continuation of your April Fool's joke.
"Kosher pareve" does exclude most meat and dairy, but includes fish, eggs, and animal-derived gelatin.
Kosher killing is NOT more humane since, as noted above, it forbids stunning the animal before killing it by slitting its throat.
Kosher meat is NOT more environmentally responsible, since it involves discarding large parts of the animal (half of a cow, for example) that would otherwise be consumed.
These are just a few of the reasons why more and more Jews are going vegetarian; lots more reasons and information are at http://www.jewishveg.com/, http://www.kosherandhumane.com/, and http://www.goveg.com/kosher.asp.
Better kosher meat does exist -- at http://shop.deliciousorganics.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=411, for example -- but it's not better than other organic, free-range/pasture-raised meat.
I have been at Biter for years and this is the first time I've felt compelled to write. I strongly urge you to send a Bite correcting this misinformation!
Shame on IdealBite.
I was really saddened to see that ideal bite didn't do their research in respect to kosher slaughter. It is NOT humane. Articles from the NY Times to investigations from AR groups show that kosher can be just as cruel as regular factory farmed meat. The animal after all is fully alert when their throat is slit. Hardly kind.
Please send out a retraction. And please look further into the issue:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/01/national/01kosher.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=kosher+slaughter&st=nyt&oref=slogin
Thanks for all your comments. It certainly is the *principle* behind kosher that makes kosher meat sometimes more humane, and unfortunately there are cases where the practice does not reflect the label. Please check out this post to find out more about the principles behind kosher slaughter, as well as some links to kosher, organic meat suppliers:
http://www.kosherblog.net/2006/11/02/faq-is-kosher-meat-better/
Toshio ~
No offense, but big frigin deal. If it were the principal or 'rules' that mattered, no animal would suffer when being slaughtered for meat. Our very own 'wonderful' US of A claims to have standards and regulations too ~ but anyone with an ounce of a brain in their head knows that while it might look good on paper, it's not so pretty in the slaughterhouse.
Bottom line: The only way to be 'animal friendly' is to not eat them.
Respectfully, if I were one of the animals being killed, the *principle* matters much less (actually almost *not at all*) and the *practice matters completely*.
For example, if I were to be killed and I knew that executioner _intended_ me to not feel pain, but was very very likely too make me feel pain .... I would not care of his principles. I would want to be killed ... oh ... umm ... I really would *NOT WANT TO BE KILLED AT ALL*. Oh yeah, that's *more humane*.
It would also save the environment / our own butt's too (Green House Gases due to 'livestock').
Please update your readers on this! Did you point them to the 'other side' / 'sometimes' / 'most of the time' that it is not more humane? More humane to have their throats slit while conscious???
Thanks
Andreas
Toshio-
I think you should have said that in the bite today. Instead it was presented as if Kosher is more humane as a general rule. I think it's the exception when kosher is more humane than regular factory farmed animals. Most live in the same misery and are killed just as painfully- perhaps even more so.
I still think ideal bite should send a retraction. It was misleading and irresponsible to post without giving a fuller picture of the issue.
Thanks,
A loyal biter
Kosher slaughtering of animals is the most humane way to kill an animal. An extremely sharp, smooth blade is used to sever the spine, spinal cord, trachea and esophagus all at the same instance. This prevents the animal from feeling any pain AT ALL.
Here is a quote from the Chabad website explaining kosher animal slaughter:
"Kosher mammals and birds are slaughtered by a special procedure called shechitah, in which the animal's throat is quickly, precisely and painlessly cut with a sharp, perfectly smooth knife (called a chalaf) by a shochet -- a highly trained, Torah-observant and G-d-fearing individual."
http://www.chabad.org/library/howto/wizard_cdo/aid/113468/jewish/Shechitah.htm
In addition, http://www.ou.org is a great resource. And any food that is labled with an OU (it's really a U inside an O) is also strictly kosher. Just a plain K is not as strict of a kosher certification as OU.
Rivka ~
Maybe that's true in theory - that's what all the debate is about. I've seen footage, however, that shows people don't always do things the way they're supposed to and the animal DOES SUFFER tremendously!!!
Like someone said earlier - this is about reality, not theory.
No one's forcing anyone to eat meat. And there may be animals suffering out there. The point is that if someone does want to eat meat, animals slaughtered according to kosher laws suffer less than other methods.
Moreover the point of the ideal bite today was to indicate that kosher-slaughtered animals are healthier to eat, and this is because Kosher laws require an animal to be in absolutely perfect health when slaughtered. Non-Kosher meat is not as strict about this.
In fact, after an animal is kosher-slaughtered, its internal organs are inspected to ensure that there was no sickness within the body that went undetected. If any illness, damage, or cancer is found, the animal loses its kosher status.
Lorie-
The fact is that if it was just about health, ideal bite shouldn't have touted that Kosher is worlds better for animals.
And again, Kosher is rarely more humane. They are raised along side factory farmed animals and are killed by slitting the throat. There are videos and articles by great sources (the ny times being quite notable) that talk about how Kosher isn't better. So if you're just arguing that the slaughter method is kinder, well, what about the rest of their lives up until those last 2 minutes of death. Do those not matter?
Frustrated loyal biter
A. Berman ~
I'm on YOUR side. I think you're arguing with the wrong person. :)
We know that consumption of meat is bad for us, bad for the environment and bad for the animals. So why are there so many Bite posts encouraging meat-eating and disguising the health, ecological and inhumane realities behind false notions of "green", "animal-friendly" and "healthy"? Isn't it time we moved beyond our reliance on the traditional Western diet rather than continuing to make excuses for it?
And avoiding the whole kosher meat issue . . . I'm a non-Jewish girl who lives for Passover, because you can by Kosher Coca-Cola in the stores! It's one of my few remaining soda thrills. Kosher Coke is made with sugar, instead of high-fructose corn syrup, and it tastes WONDERFUL! Look for the 2 liter bottles with the yellow caps, and check the labels. SOOOOO yummy!
Toshio,
Yes, Judaism is concerned about humane treatment of animals. When kosher laws were created, a quick slit of the throat *was* the most human method of killing. In 2008, though, there are far more humane methods, all involving stunning the animal before its death -- something forbidden for kosher meat. Some Jews stick with the letter of the law (continuing to eat meat produced by cutting a conscious animal's throat), some follow the spirit (going vegetarian or eating only free-range/pasture-raised, organic, humanely killed meat), and some do both by patronizing the few, small, humane kosher meat companies. The point, though, is the total inappropriateness of encouraging people who aren't familiar with these distinctions to eat regular kosher meat because it employs what was the most humane practice thousands of years ago.
I was also disappointed that your brief message did not address the "kosher pareve" issue. Do you really argue that it wasn't inaccurate to present foods that can contain fish, eggs, and meat-derived gelatin as "a blessing for vegetarians" that "contain no meat derivatives"?
Well said Jessica!!
In general, the term vegetarians refers to people who do not eat meat, chicken or fish. If food is labeled "OU Pareve" or with a similar strictly kosher label saying "Pareve" this means that the food does not contain meat, chicken, dairy or fish, and is therefore suitable for vegetarians. I know that when there is a food that is meat- and chicken-free, but does contain fish, OU lables it "OU Fish" (unless it is very obvious that it is a fish product, like tuna or fishsticks for example).
When people do not eat meat, chicken, fish, and also do not eat eggs, or dairy, they are generally called "Vegans."
Ideal Bite did not say that Pareve is suitable for Vegans.
According to Jewish dietary laws, eggs are considered Pareve.
Rivka,
Semantics about "vegetarians," "vegans," and the tip's claim that "kosher pareve" foods are a "blessing for vegetarians" because they "contain no dairy" aside, kosher pareve gelatin is often derived from animals. You seem knowledgeable enough to know this; for others, see http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/faq.htm#kosher, among many other sources.
I practiced vegetarianism for 4 months consecutively, several years ago. As I enjoy eating meat, chicken and fish, this was very difficult for me. I did it for health reasons, and I definitely enjoyed the results. I researched as much as possible and it is not "semantics." It's called "definitions." No one accuses Merriam Webster of dealing with "semantics."
The generally accepted definition of vegetarian is someone who does not eat meat, chicken and fish. I know vegetarians who will not eat meat, chicken and fish because of idealistic reasons (they are veterinarians or other animal fans). However, they do eat dairy and eggs.
The generally accepted definition of vegan is someone who does not eat anything derived of animals at all. They only eat plant based food. I know people who are vegans, mostly for health reasons. The do not eat meat, chicken, fish, dairy, eggs, or anything derived from any animal. They eat grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes -- anything plant derived.
Jessica, please research the definitions of words and not accuse me of semantics. I am very specific and detailed in my explanations, I do not base my arguments on semantics.
Any food that is labeled Pareve is guaranteed not to contain meat, chicken, or dairy. It may contain eggs. Fish is really semi-pareve. According to kosher laws, fish may be eaten with dairy, but it may not be eaten with meat. Therefore it is not strictly Pareve. (Pareve means food that may be eaten together with either dairy or meat. Meat and dairy are forbidden to be eaten together.) Certain observant Jews actually hold that fish is forbidden to be eaten together with dairy, and is therefore not pareve at all.
According to the strictest kosher laws, gelatin that is derived from any animal besides fish is not considered Pareve.
All of my concerns and arguments are listed above (and I see Jessica's response as the best against Toshio's post), but I just wanted to let you know that I am yet another disgruntled reader.
I was surprised to see the Ideal Bite this morning along with many others. I agree with much of the arguments that have been made against the idea of kosher slaughter equating with humane all of the time. Kosher slaughter houses have turned into factories just like the rest of most slaughter houses across our country and other parts of the world.
With that being said, there is a movement in the Jewish community to connect small family farms with the kosher slaughterer to provide kosher organic, free range, grass fed meat and poultry products. You can check out jcarrot.org for a healthy blog on the subject as well as kolfoods.com for more information.
Rivka. Sigh. Knowing that most Ideal Bite readers don't know the difference between "the strictest kosher laws" and any other kind, and that even the laws you reference include (non-vegetarian) pareve gelatin derived from fish, do you really see no problems with today's tip?
There are serious efforts within the Jewish community to ensure that Kosher certification actually also means humane treatment -- it's a real pity that today's email overlooked this good work and made it sound as if kosher-certified foods are somehow greener -- and that eating meat at all is perfectly green -- both misleading!
The Jewish community's most hopeful activists in the food world are:
Hazon (http://jcarrot.org/)
KOL Foods (www.kolfoods.com)
Kosher Conscience (www.kosherconscience.com)
PETA has a website devoted to exposing inhumane treatment of animals in kosher slaughterhouses:
www.humanekosher.com
Please, Jennifer & Heather, in the future, if you're planning to write an Ideal Bite about a cultural or religious or ethnic community, check with the green activists within that community so you can stand in solidarity with them instead of making their work more difficult!
Just a quick question: how do you (Ideal Bite) know that the site you posted in response to all these comments is legit?
Something to think about: you may not be losing readers, but I can guarantee you are losing credibility.
I run KOL Foods which sells kosher and non-kosher, local, organic, grassfed lamb and beef (www.kolfoods.com). I also give educational programs on the problems with commerical kosher meat industry and what can be done about it.
In reality kosher industrial factory produced meat is no better, and no worse than non-kosher conventional industrial factory produced meat. Kosher laws have not prevented the kosher industry from adopting the worst of the meat industry's problems. Even organic meat is usually finished in conventional feed lots.
Ten years ago, a person who wanted to avoid participating in unethical meat production would have to become a vegetarian. There were truly no ethical meat options. Then, consumers began to demand grass-fed, humanely slaughtered meats from non-industrial farms. Kosher meat is very complex to produce however, and is still virtually completely industrially produced. Until July, 2007 a person in the US who kept kosher and refused to eat industrial meat had little choice but to eat vegetarian.
Jews should not have to choose between eating according to their values and keeping kosher. KOL Foods makes ethical kosher meat available and puts increasing pressure on the existing kosher meat industry to raise standards and adopt more ethical practices.
Some other information:
1) Generally there is little difference in the treatment of organic and non-organic animals. The difference is that they are given organic feed and they are not given hormones or anti-biotics.
2) All cattle and lamb start their lives eating grass so any conventional meat factory can claim that their meat is "grass-fed" even if most of their lives is spent in feedlots. Consumers need to be careful if they want to find animals that are also "grass-finished," meaning that they has lived on pasture their entire lives.
3) Temple Grandin (the foremost authority and designer of "humane" slaughterhouses) writes that kosher slaughter can be as humane as non-kosher despite the lack of stunning. Problems come from the design of the slaughtering as well as the skillfulness of the handler. How often do stunners get it wrong and have to stun the suffering animal more than once? Kosher slaughter when done well can be just as pain free as non-kosher. Temple Grandin's website is: www.grandin.com.
4) There is a new movement afloat. Heckscher Tzedek (or Justice Certification) is a certification for food produced in a way that meets standards of social justice for workers and animals. Its website is: http://hekhshertzedek.org/
5) Anyone concerned with the commercial meat industry (kosher or non) should read The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollen.
So many informed posts ...
Lets get this straight though:
.
+ Humane killing??? If you were fed delicious food. (wheat) grass, & Pina Coladas until you were 25 years old and then (magically) killed without pain, would you think your killing/death was humane?
.
+ Green meat???? Based on the UN FAO in their report Livestock's Long Shadow (2006), in which notes that Livestock production is pumping-up Green House Gases faster than ALL transportation (140%!!). Would you really drive a double-Hummer?!?
.
http://www.virtualcentre.org/en/library/key_pub/longshad/A0701E00.pdf
Will we be hearing a response from J or H on this blog, or in a future tip? I'm disappointed not to see Ideal Bite taking responsibility for an inaccurate and misleading post.
In case anyone is interested, there is a movement called Hekhsher Tzedek which would like to have an ethical label added on to the standard kosher label for kosher products to signify that employers were treated well (fair wages, good working conditions), the animals were treated humanely, and the environment was minimally impacted in making the product. Hopefully, this will happen and be done for all kosher products, meats included. For more information, check the website at http://hekhshertzedek.org/.
pickles, schmickles: here's a piece on a couple who have conducted both covert and overt investigations of kosher slaughter:
http://www.forward.com/articles/13264/
(i learned of this article from the very well written--and documented--farmed animal net e-bulletin, which you can sign up for here: http://www.farmedanimal.net/signup.htm.)
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: Rae Sikora | April 02, 2008 at 09:20 AM