General diet - kosher

Aim

To provide a diet that conforms to Jewish dietary laws.

Characteristics

Kosher is a set of Jewish dietary laws, outlining allowed and prohibited foods. For a food item to be kosher the production process must meet kosher laws and be approved by a kosher authority.

Kosher requirements

Kosher meat must be specifically selected and prepared according to kosher laws. The laws apply to meat from cattle, goats, sheep, as well as most poultry including chicken, turkey, goose and duck.

All dairy products, e.g. cheese, yoghurt, custard, ice cream, must have the certified kosher symbol visible as these products must not contain gelatine or animal rennet. All milk for sale in Australia is kosher.

Processed foods must have a certified kosher symbol.

Fish with scales and fins, e.g. tuna and salmon, is kosher.

Foods that are not kosher

• Pork and pork products, e.g. gelatine
• Seafood including crustaceans, e.g. prawns, lobster
• Eggs if they contain blood spots.

Food separation

An essential principle of a kosher diet is complete separation of milk and meat products, including separate preparation areas, cooking utensils and cutlery. Meat and milk products are commonly separated for 6 hours.

Pareve foods, e.g. fruit, vegetables and fish, have neither milk nor meat products and can be eaten with either.

Indications

Available on request to patients of the Jewish religion. Not all patients listed as being Jewish will require a kosher diet order.

Nutritional adequacy

Nutritionally adequate. Nutritionally adequate diets can provide sufficient nutrition to patients without the need for supplementation.

Precautions

Deciding whether products have been prepared in a manner that complies with Jewish law is complex and is done by a Rabbinic organisation that publishes the Australian Kosher Food Bulletin. Most hospitals purchase specially prepared meal packs from an external kosher food supplier. Meals are kept frozen, then re-thermed and sent sealed to the patient who breaks the seal before eating. Note that different meal packs are used for certain religious holidays, e.g. Passover (absence of leavened bread and yeast products). The nutritional content of kosher meals may prevent their use on certain therapeutic diets, e.g. sodium restricted diets.

Paediatrics

Suitable for use in paediatrics when combined with an age-appropriate diet.

Specific menu planning guidelines

Kosher certified products may appear in any of the categories and are allowed on this diet.

Food type	Allowed	Not allowed
Hot main dishes	Kosher meal packs	All others
Sauces, gravies	None	-
Starchy vegetables / pasta / rice	None	-
Vegetables	None	-
Soups	None	-
Sandwiches	None	-
Salads, dressings	Kosher meal packs	All others
Breads, cereals	None	-
Spreads	None	-
Hot breakfast choices	None	-
Fruit	Fresh fruit	All others
Yoghurt	Kosher yoghurts	All others
Desserts	Kosher meal packs	All others
Milk and cheese	Milk portions for cereal, tea and coffee Kosher flavoured milks	-
Drinks	Tea, coffee, filtered or bottled water	All others
Biscuits	Kosher biscuits	-
Miscellaneous	Kosher cutlery packs Nutritional supplements certified as kosher Foods with a certified kosher symbol	-

References

1. Kashrut Authority. Kosher Product Directory. Kashrut Authority; 2017
2. Kosher Australia Pty Ltd. The Kosher Food Bulletin. Melbourne; Kosher Australia.
3. Regenstein JM, Chaudry MM, Regenstein CE. The Kosher and Halal food laws. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 2003;2:111-7

Change log

Change date	Section updated	Change
July 2025	Indications	Updated to say: Available on request to patients of the Jewish religion. Not all patients listed as being Jewish will require a kosher diet order
	Specific menu planning guidelines - fruit	In allowed added fresh fruit, in not allowed, added all others
	References	Removed Dietitians Association of Australia. Nutrition manual, 8th ed. UpdatedNutrition Standards
	Language	Updated to be consistent with ACI writing style guide