Chapter 14: Religious and Cultural Perspectives on Food Selection

Everyone differs from one another in terms of their origins and identity according to their culture. This includes every facet of human existence, as well as how people interact and communicate with one another. Food is more than just a necessity for survival—it is an integral component of who we are. It also has a major role in how we see and categorise individuals, as well as how their culture is affected. There are many types of food and ingredients from other cultures, and there is a fusion of dishes from those nations. You are the product of your diet; it makes no difference how someone prepares or consumes food as long as it is authentic to them and their culture. Food and culture are closely related; this also applies to their customs and religion. This chapter emphasises the critical significance that religious and cultural influences have on food choices in order to clarify the complex effects of religious doctrines and cultural norms on people’s dietary preferences and behaviors across varied countries. This chapter provides a thorough analysis of the food customs of various religions, including Sikhism, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Jainism. The chapter ends with a summary of the main conclusions, highlighting how crucial it is to understand religious and cultural viewpoints while creating functional foods. It looks forward, talking about how religious beliefs are changing, how cultural influences are expected to evolve, and how these perspectives may affect the creation of functional foods in the future.