There are three categories of Kosher food – Meat, Dairy and Parve (or Pareve).[7] The laws of kashrut pertaining to these derive from various passages in the Torah, and are numerous and complex, but the key principles can be summarized.

Only meat from particular species is permissible. Mammals that both chew their cud (ruminate) and have cloven hooves can be kosher. Animals with one characteristic but not the other (the camel, the hyrax and the hare because they have no cloven hooves, and the pig because it does not ruminate) are specifically excluded (Leviticus 11:3–8).[8][9] In 2008, a rabbinical ruling determined that giraffes and their milk are eligible to be considered kosher. The giraffe both has split hooves and chews its cud, characteristics of animals considered kosher. Findings from 2008 show that giraffe milk curdles, meeting kosher standards. Although kosher, the giraffe is not slaughtered today because the process would be very costly, they are hard animals to restrain, and to prevent the species from becoming endangered.[10][11][12]

Non-kosher birds are listed outright (Deuteronomy 14:12–18) but the exact zoological references are disputed and some references refer to families of birds (24 are mentioned). The Mishnah[13] refers to four signs provided by the sages.[14] First, a dores (predatory bird) is not kosher. Additionally, kosher birds possess three physical characteristics: an extra toe[clarification needed], a zefek (crop,) and a korkoban (gizzard) with a peelable lumen. However, individual Jews are barred from merely applying these regulations alone; an established tradition (masorah) is necessary to allow birds to be consumed, even if it can be substantiated that they meet all four criteria.[15] The only exception to this is turkey. There was a time when certain authorities considered the signs enough, so Jews started eating this bird without a masorah because it possesses all the signs (simanim in Hebrew) and there is a place for this in Jewish law.[citation needed]

Fish must have fins and scales to be kosher (Leviticus 11:9–12). Shellfish and other non-fish water fauna are not kosher.[16]

Insects are not kosher, except for certain species of kosher locust (unrecognized in almost all communities).[17]

That an animal is untamed does not preclude it from being kosher, but a wild animal must be trapped and ritually slaughtered (shechted) rather than killed some other way to be kosher. Generally any animal that eats other animals, whether they kill their food or eat carrion (Leviticus 11:13–19), is not kosher, as well as any animal that was partially eaten by other animals (Leviticus 22:8).

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