Difference Between Kosher and Trefah Food
Learn the difference between kosher and trefah food in Judaism, with GCSE examples of permitted foods, forbidden foods and rules for preparing meat.
Kosher food is permitted under Jewish dietary laws; trefah food is not permitted. These laws are called kashrut. For GCSE Religious Studies, the key difference is whether the food, and where relevant its preparation, meets those rules.
What makes food kosher?
Some animals may be eaten and others may not. Cows and sheep are permitted animals, but their meat is kosher only if it has been slaughtered and prepared according to the dietary laws. Blood must be removed from meat. Fish with fins and scales, such as salmon, are permitted.
Food preparation matters too. Meat and dairy products must not be eaten together. So a meal containing properly prepared beef and cheese would still not be kosher, even though beef and cheese can each be eaten separately.
What makes food trefah?
Pork and shellfish are examples of foods that are not kosher. Meat from a permitted animal can also be non-kosher if it has not been prepared according to the rules. The word trefah originally has a more specific meaning linked to an animal that was torn or injured, but it is often used more broadly to mean food that is not kosher.
For example, a beef burger could be kosher if the meat was prepared correctly and the meal contained no dairy. A cheeseburger would not be kosher because it combines meat and dairy. You cannot decide whether food is kosher just by naming the animal it came from.
Exam mistake to avoid: Do not write that kosher means “clean” and trefah means “dirty”. This is about religious dietary rules, not whether food looks hygienic or tastes good.
