/ck/ - Food & Cooking

>>15528642
For most of human history, dietary laws often did serve some practical purpose, even if it weren't espoused for that reason.
By following Kosher and Halal butchering, the receivers/customers of the meat are at least (seemingly) guaranteed that the butcher followed a known standard for handling the meat, and one which involves relatively minimal damage to the meat, inspection for unsuitable meats, proven preservation and serving, etc. That the practices are compatible with modern food sanitation and regulation displays at least some of their legitimacy.
The forbidden animals also had a tendency to carry a higher risk for disease, either from parasitic compatibility (pigs) or novel preparation requirements (insects, non-scaled fish, etc.). Not as much of an issue today, but religious autists back in the day probably put two-and-two together after mass illnesses or known associations, and so codified it into law.

Mind you, not all dietary laws served a clear purpose, and if it weren't wrapped up in religious requirements and demanded by society with religious legal enforcement, it probably would have fallen out of fashion much sooner for lack of necessity (see: China).