On the topic of food taboos, the first thing to note is that people abstain certain food for religious or cultural prohibition. However, it might be also caused by the environment, of which the food rot for the weather conditions. It is evident that with 12 different cultures, there are 38 kinds of meat taboos while there is only seven vegetable taboos. Dog meat, in China, Korea, Vietnam, and Switzerland, has been popular cuisines. While it remains inappropriate in most of the western countries, or to be more accurate, globalized consumptions have actually seen this food taboo as offensive socially and religiously. China, in particular, they have consider it as a cuisine that serves the same purpose as cows in other countries, while cows remain holy animals and gifted working partner on agricultural aspect. Chinese states that they want to preserve the local tradition and not be affected by western views. Pork, though as United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported, is the most widely eaten meat in the world. However it is also widely known that it is forbidden in Islam and Judaism, for originally as a sacred animal, which cannot be touched nor eaten. The taboo remained until pigs were no longer considered as sacred, thus explained as unclean animal. |