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MarsNeedsRabbits t1_iuh5oxi wrote

I have celiac, and knowing that it is gluten free keeps me from calling the company or writing them emails. It's sort of dumb, but not dumb. Before GF standards came out under Obama, there was no standard and companies didn't want to risk calling their products GF. Now it is anything under 20ppm, I think.

The vegan thing is probably more for Jewish and Islamic people, because they can't mix meats with certain foods (dairy is one, iirc), but probably vegans, too.

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merkaba_462 t1_iuhb8fu wrote

Kashrut (Kosher law) says you cannot eat insects under any circumstances. You cannot mix dairy and meat either, but insects of all kinds (except locusts) are always forbidden.

Halal is conditional: if you are starving and have no food access or it falls into your food, you can eat it. You can mix dairy and meat.

*Vegans, I would think, would be appalled by eating insects, but something being vegan doesn't make it kosher or halal. Those certifications must be done under rabbinical supervision. Halal has Imams or people trained to perform such certification do supervision/inspection of products. There are also other rules and restrictions to be kosher / halal.

*I say vegans would be appalled because as a vegetarian, just knowing rennet and certain enzymes exist in cheese makes me avoid most cheeses. But insects?! Also just being vegan has nothing to do with Jews or Muslims who keep strict dietary laws for religious purposes. Unless it has a kosher certification (and sometimes only from OU / Union of Orthodox Rabbis or a rabbi they know) won't touch it. If no Halal marker is present, Muslims will look for a Kosher certification (but also read the label to make sure no alcohol was used).

Source: Jewish, kosher, and was a chef / food buyer who worked with both rabbis and imams for certification. Also have my BA in History, Judaic Studies, and a minor in Islamic Studies.

Edit: locusts

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sam-says-oww t1_iuijzi0 wrote

Curious - with the perhaps urban legend that food items can have ppm or ppb of insects in them, peanut butter being a common example, how do modern Jewish people contend with that potential issue? Or say, carnuba wax? Or does that make it not kosher?

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sam-says-oww t1_iuk7110 wrote

Oh darn! Then I’m thinking of something else. Is it red food colouring? Something is made of bugs that you wouldn’t think of

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merkaba_462 t1_iukasez wrote

That would factor into the certification process if it did. Red dye is all natural, but it often has additives to make it stay red (especially in the baking process) so that has to be checked for verification before certification, just like every other ingredient.

There are kosher red dyes.

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fiendishrabbit t1_iuhsrq2 wrote

I was under the impression that desert locusts and migratory locusts are considered kosher.

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merkaba_462 t1_iuhvvia wrote

You're right.

Locusts would kill crops, so the Torah permitted eating them in order to prevent them from doing so.

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PreOpTransCentaur t1_iuh837i wrote

Decidedly vegans. Unless it's specifically a halal or kosher company, pretty much nobody gives a flying fuck about religious food exemptions. The lactose intolerant, who make up quite literally over half the world's population, are finally (like, the past 5-7 years) getting to eat things that more than vaguely resemble dairy because of the vegans. Their inability to shut the fuck up about their food choices has honestly paid dividends for transparency, accessibility, and innovation.

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