10 Food Taboos Around the
World
For women tribal members in Papua New Guinea in
the middle of their menstrual cycles, there are a
number of food taboos they must adhere too. Since
they are thought to be in a “sickly” state, women
are not allowed fresh meat, juicy bananas or any red
colored fruits. Furthermore, anyone who eats the
food a menstruating woman cooks or even steps
over, that person, — particularly the husband — will
become "ill with cough and possibly die.” And while
older women are also not supposed to eat fish eggs
when pregnant, unmarried young men will receive
the best food and do not have many food taboos.
Seafood is a staple of the Brazilian
diet. But not all fish are enjoyed
by all Brazilians. Predatory fish,
like piranhas and bottom feeders
are considered taboo for the ill to
eat. Those who are ill though, are
recommended to eat fish that are
omnivorous.
If you happen to be traveling to China,
minding your chopsticks is the same as
minding your manners. After finishing a meal
at a restaurant, do not leave your chopsticks
sticking up in the left-over rice at the bottom
of your bowl. That practice is employed when
families offer a meal to their ancestors'
ghosts at family shrines but Chinese people
believe that doing so in a restaurant would
plague the proprietor with a terrible curse.
Japanese Taboos
• Sharing is not necessarily caring in
Japanese culture. If you do plan on sharing
your meal, you must place the tasting
morsel on a small plate and then pass it to
the recipient. Why? Because passing food
from chopstick to chopstick irreverently
references the Japanese custom of sifting
through a family member’s cremated ashes
to handle their loved ones’ bones.
Old world traditions are very much
alive in Russia when it comes to
traditional dating. If you are hoping
to court a lady at a restaurant, do not
expect to go dutch. As the initiator of
the date, you are expected to pay for
everything, as most Russian women
won’t even bring their wallets on a
formal date.
Food taboos in India vary according to
religion. For those that practice Hinduism,
eating a cow in prohibited, as it is thought of
as God’s useful gift to mankind since it
provides dairy products and is the basis for
other products. Many Islamic and Muslim
families not only avoid pork for religious
reasons, they feel that pigs are bred in
absolutely revolting conditions and are not
worthy of consumption.
• Italian Taboos
• Whether you are from an Italian-American
family or have been lucky enough to visit Italy
yourself, you know that there is no shortage of
food. Despite the fact that Italians will feed
you until you are beyond full, it is considered
rude to accept the first offering of food.
Politely decline at first, but when offered a
second time — which you likely will be — feel
free to accept
Jamaican Taboos
When it comes to child rearing, there are
some definite food-related taboos
Jamaican people believe in. It is believed
that if children eat chicken before they
learn to speak, they will never talk.
Eating half an egg will make the child
grow into a thief and drinking milk from
a baby bottle will turn them into a
drunkard.
Nigerian Taboos
Much like the Jamaican taboos, many
Nigerians’ taboos revolve around children.
While they also believe children who eat
eggs will turn into thieves, they also feel
particularly strongly about coconut milk.
Another widely held belief is that children
who drink this type of milk will make them
unintelligent.
French Taboos
Dining in France is an experience. The
taboos associated with French dining have
more to do with manners than with
cultural beliefs. It is considered rude to
rush through a meal or hurry your order
along. You also never want to ask for a
doggy-bag or leave food on your plate, the
implication being that you did not enjoy
your meal.
