Diet Code: Unclean and Clean Animals

Birds of prey and scavengers (“fowls”)

Eagle, ossifrage, osprey, vulture, kite, raven, owl, nighthawk, cuckow, hawk, little owl, cormorant, great owl, swan, pelican, gier-eagle, stork, heron, lapwing, bat, and “all fowls that creep, going on all four.”

Birds not identified as unclean are considered to be clean and may be eaten.

Lev. 11:13–20; Deut. 14:11–20

Fish (“all that are in the waters”)

Fish lacking fins and scales may not be eaten.

Fish with fins and scales may be eaten.

Lev. 11:9–12; Deut. 14:9–10

Insects (“flying creeping things”)

Those not of the grasshopper family; quadrupeds with wings.

“These may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth” (Lev. 11:21), for example, locust, bald locust, beetle, and grasshopper.

Lev. 11:21–25, 42

Mammals (“beasts”)

Animals that either lack a parted hoof or do not chew the cud may not be eaten, including the camel, coney, hare, and swine; carnivores and those not meeting all three of the “clean” qualifications.

Diet may include mammals that have a parted hoof or cloven foot and that chew the cud.

Lev. 11:2–8, 26–30; Deut. 14:6–8

Reptiles (and other “creeping things”)

All are unclean, for example, the weasel, mouse, tortoise, ferret, chameleon, lizard, snail, mole.

None.

Lev. 11:29–31, 41–43