Kosher foods is based on cross contamination in other words growth of bacteria or reduction of nutrition. Example of nutrition; meat and milk if combined in cooking reduces nutritional value to humans.

I lived for 12 months on a holiday camp site, when the Jewish schools booked the site the whole kitchen utensils and surfaces were steam cleaned to ensure no bacteria contamination. Uncleanness in their view was bacteria that might contaminate their food preparation and handling.

Dear Josephus,

Lol.

I'm still here mate.

Here is the 70th annual report of the Mizrachi Organisation Melbourne

http://www.mizrachi.com.au/sites/default/files/Full%20Report%20-%20with%20financials.pdf

It is the controlling group of Kosher Australia which looks after Kosher certification in Victoria.

On page 81 (page 12 of the financial section) you will find a figure for the income for 2013 of Kosher Australia for certifications. It was a whopping $2,065,739.

So perhaps your question should more properly read;

'Is Halel and Kosher certification a form of religious tax on consumers?'

My take is no. Most businesses will make their decisions based purely on cost effective means of access to customers and will judge whether the costs involved impact positively or negatively on their bottom line. Isn't that the marketplace at work?

Perhaps you have a different view.

It is a trade embargo.

Of course it is a religious tax.

Of course the money can be diverted to nefarious purposes. What exactly is there to prevent that happening? Of course Islam has form.

Referring to ritual slaughter, anyone who asserts there is anything 'ethical' in it is lying through his teeth. No farmer, no processor and no worker involved in production and processing accepts anything but full stunning of animals. A works is a controlled environment. Within reason and wherever possible we are duty bound to ensure that all possible risks are treated.

Unlike chickens, where it is easy even in a rush of processing to locate and sever the main blood vessels in slaughter, that is by no means certain in the larger food animals that are considerably larger and more muscled around the neck. Would anyone propose a new method of slaughter that involved a single 'sweep' across the throat of a cow with a knife? They would be laughed at, or more likely 'outed' for public contempt and censure by the very people who are here defending the indefensible. So much for their ethics.

It is always a slippery slope isn't it where multiculturalism is concerned? Politicians are pragmatic, particularly in marginal seats where the ethnic lobbyists can bully and call the shots.

However it isn't only politicians. The prevailing political correctness ensured for years (still does) that even where animal welfare groups and the media were criticising live animal exports, there was and is silence on ritual slaughter without stunning at home.

What it boils down to is that no one, other than the relative authorities, should say how food should be killed/handled/packaged, Both the Jews and the Muslims should be told that religious certification has no place in Australia.

onthebeach
<<Of course it is a religious tax.>>
Do you regard advertising on A Current Affair or Today Tonight as a tax?

If not, what's the difference?

<<Of course the money can be diverted to nefarious purposes. What exactly is there to prevent that happening?>>
There are laws against funding terrorism.
<<Of course Islam has form. >>
Islam has many forms.
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Josephus,
Firstly, that question about advertising on Today Tonight or A Current Affair was originally aimed at you, and I notice you never did answer it. Can you?

Secondly,
<<Example of nutrition; meat and milk if combined in cooking reduces nutritional value to humans. >>
Is there any evidence for that claim?

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Is Mise
<<What it boils down to is that no one, other than the relative authorities, should say how food should be killed/handled/packaged,>>
Why should consumers be denied a say?

If I was the food manufacturer I would say, fine I will put your label on.
I will work it out and send you an invoice.