Swine flu not kosher in Israel

28 Apr 2009, 3:23 am   -   Source: Reuters
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An orthodox Jewish man prays at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. (File)

An orthodox Jewish man prays at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. (File)

Israel's strongly religious deputy health minister has tried to ban the use of the term 'swine flu' and replace it with Mexico flu' because pork is not kosher.

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Israel's deputy health minister has tried to ban the use of the term 'swine flu' and replace it with Mexico flu' because pork is not kosher.

"We will call it Mexico flu. We won't call it swine flu," Deputy Health Minister Yakov Litzman, an Orthodox Jew, told a news conference, assuring the Israeli public that authorities were prepared to handle any cases.

Under Jewish dietary laws, pigs are considered unclean and pork is forbidden food - although the non-kosher meat is available in some stores in Israel.

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