Religious Dietary Laws to Keep in Mind

Usually the organization or department sponsoring a foreign visitor will forward dietary restrictions to you in a message prior to the DV's arrival -- in sufficient time for you to make your menu plans. Here are some dietary laws that should be observed:

• Pork is never served to a Muslim or Jewish person. Avoid pork for visitors form the following countries, among others: Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, and Turkey.
• No meat from the cow family to a Hindu. Avoid beef for visitors from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
• Never serve alcohol to visitors from a Muslim country
• Don't serve eggs or fish to visitors from Sri Lanka.
• A Jewish guest may let you know in advance that he or she desires a kosher meal -- you need to make special arrangements well ahead of time.
• Catholics may refuse to eat meat on Fridays during Lent.