[Food prohibitions of social and religious origin]

There are two types of food prohibitions: permanent and temporary. Permanent prohibitions have little influence on diet, except in India. They are symbolic social markers and continue to govern the attitude and behaviour system while facilitating social dynamics. Temporary prohibitions play a major role, particularly as regards the nutritionally "vulnerable" groups. They reflect empirical preoccupations and some of them are in line with science. In each concrete case these aspects interpenetrate and bear the mark of the culture in which they are observed. An inductive approach therefore is necessary and caution must be exerted in interpreting them.