ABSTRACT

Dairy is one of the oldest food industries and dairy products have been processed for human consumption for more than 5000 years. While kosher and halal requirements for producing dairy are very similar, halal requirements are not generally as strict, though in some instances dairy products can be considered kosher and halal at the same time. Kosher foods are either meat, dairy or parve and Jewish dietary laws forbid the mixing of meat and milk. All foods derived from milk or containing milk are classed as dairy, including milk, butter, yoghourt and cheese. The issues raised in halal dairy production are similar to those in kosher dairy production. Many dairy products are manufactured using haram and questionable ingredients added to milk and other dairy products, including vitamins and polysorbates, for example. There are also concerns about the enzymes used in cheese processing, which are often derived from pigs and animals that have been slaughtered inappropriately.