Kosher slaughter paradigms: Evaluation of slaughterhouse inspection procedures

Meat Sci. 2017 Jun:128:30-33. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2017.01.013. Epub 2017 Feb 2.

Abstract

Slaughter by Jewish religious rite is the killing of an animal by cutting the trachea and oesophagus and major blood vessels using a very sharp blade. This operation is subject to strict rules laid down by religious authorities that characterize its sacredness. The aim of the study was to evaluate the specific criteria inherent in the Jewish religious rite, by analysing reject rates during the different phases. In this study, 52.4% of the carcasses failed to quality as Kosher, with 22.9% being rejected due to pulmonary lesions and only 3% for miscuts. The study also revealed legal vacuums in the field of labelling rules.

Keywords: Jewish religious rite; Kosher; Slaughter.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Abattoirs
  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Food Inspection / methods*
  • Food Inspection / trends
  • Food Labeling* / trends
  • Food Quality*
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Judaism*
  • Meat / analysis*
  • Meat / classification
  • Meat-Packing Industry / methods*
  • Meat-Packing Industry / trends
  • Models, Biological*
  • Needs Assessment