Israel’s Chief Rabbinate — a bellwether rabbinical council for religious certifications in Judaism — declared that an Israeli company’s lab-grown steak is “pareve.” That means, in his view, it is not milk or meat and that therefore the eating of the two together by those who follow a kosher diet is not forbidden.
But the declaration was greeted with surprise by Rabbi Menachem Genack, the chief executive of the Orthodox Union Kosher Division in New York. Orthodox Union Kosher is an influential federation of Orthodox synagogues in the United States and Canada. Genack, in an interview with The Washington Post, suggested that his organization may take a different view.
Halal certification of cultivated meat is not a foregone conclusion. “Cultivated meat is a very controversial subject. Internally, Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America is having a robust conversation, and it will take some time for us to come up with a position on the subject,” spokeswoman Alison DeGuide said.
…
Mat McDermott, the director of communications at the Hindu American Foundation, says that plant-based beef is perfectly fine for Hindus from an ethical perspective. Some may eat it, some may not, but that is down to personal preference.