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Religion and food have been inseparable since the dawn of time. Because religion and food are part of life and part of the celebrations of major lifetime milestones, the two remain entwined in every modern culture. When a person is born, leaves childhood, gets married, or dies, the event is often marked with a religious ceremony and a meal for guests. As such, religion plays a large part in the selection and consumption of food by some individuals and by their respective communities.
Religious practices and teachings have promoted or prohibited various foods, have dictated the planting and harvesting of crops, and were an early source of information on healthy versus unhealthy food substances. Some religions have incorporated alcohol into religious ceremonies, while others have discouraged or forbidden its use altogether.
There are well over 5,000 religious groups, denominations, movements, or sects in the world. The six broad groups are Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, and Shintoism, each of which has developed branches. The related branches of some religions, such as Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox Judaism, have similar food traditions. The many Protestant branches of Christianity, however, have widely varied food traditions. Even within one branch of a religion there may be different denominations or congregations that differ in their food traditions. The result is a myriad of dietary restrictions so varied, complex, and conflicting that no one food-service establishment could hope to keep track of them all.
EATING AWAY FROM HOME
During summer 1994 the United States hosted the World Cup Soccer tournament. Games were played in dozens of U.S. cities, and along with 40 national teams and coaches came the press corps and fans from those countries. While hotels and restaurants in each city had to accommodate the food requirements of the participants, media reports cited a lack of places for Muslim and Hindu fans to eat. Smart food-service managers who changed their menus or adapted their processes to accommodate those clients not only made money but also received the patronage of local adherents with the same food requirements.
In 1996 Atlanta will play host to the Summer Olympics. Athletes, coaches, security forces, press corps, and heads of state from more than 100 nations will arrive for the games. While ARA will...