What Meat Can SDA Eat? A Guide to Clean and Unclean Animals

According to research from the Adventist Health Study, a significant portion of Seventh-day Adventists follow a diet that either excludes meat or includes only biblically defined clean meats. This dietary approach is rooted in both religious principles and a strong emphasis on overall health.

Quick Summary

The Seventh-day Adventist diet distinguishes between clean and unclean meats based on scripture, with clean options like certain fish and fowl allowed for some, while unclean items like pork and shellfish are prohibited.

Key Points

• Biblical Foundation: SDA dietary rules for meat are based on the Old Testament books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. {Link: The Seventh Day Adventist Diet & Food Beliefs https://www.seventhdayadventistdiet.com/the-seventh-day-adventist-diet-food-beliefs/}

• Clean vs. Unclean: Animals are categorized into clean (permissible) and unclean (forbidden) groups based on specific physical characteristics. {Link: The Seventh Day Adventist Diet & Food Beliefs https://www.seventhdayadventistdiet.com/the-seventh-day-adventist-diet-food-beliefs/}

• Permitted Meats: Includes mammals with split hooves and cud-chewing, fish with fins and scales, and certain birds. {Link: The Seventh Day Adventist Diet & Food Beliefs https://www.seventhdayadventistdiet.com/the-seventh-day-adventist-diet-food-beliefs/}

• Prohibited Meats: Includes pork, shellfish, and scavengers, among others. {Link: The Seventh Day Adventist Diet & Food Beliefs https://www.seventhdayadventistdiet.com/the-seventh-day-adventist-diet-food-beliefs/}

• Plant-Based Ideal: The church's health message encourages a vegetarian or vegan diet as the ideal for optimal health. {Link: The Seventh Day Adventist Diet & Food Beliefs https://www.seventhdayadventistdiet.com/the-seventh-day-adventist-diet-food-beliefs/}

• Personal Choice: While guidelines exist, the final decision on whether to eat meat is a matter of personal conscience for each Adventist. {Link: The Seventh Day Adventist Diet & Food Beliefs https://www.seventhdayadventistdiet.com/the-seventh-day-adventist-diet-food-beliefs/}

The Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) church, founded in 1863, promotes a health message that influences the dietary choices of its members. While a plant-based diet is advocated as ideal, guidelines for those who eat animal products come primarily from biblical texts like Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, which classify animals as "clean" or "unclean". Adhering to these biblical principles is a key part of the SDA health message for those who include meat in their diet.

Clean Meats Permitted by SDA Standards

Animals considered "clean" are acceptable for consumption by Adventists who choose to eat meat.

Land Animals (Mammals)

Clean land animals must have a split hoof and chew their cud. Examples include beef, lamb, goat, and venison.

Water Creatures (Fish)

Only fish with both fins and scales are permitted, such as salmon, tuna, cod, tilapia, halibut, and bass.

Fowl (Birds)

Most birds are clean, excluding scavengers and birds of prey. {Link: The Seventh Day Adventist Diet & Food Beliefs https://www.seventhdayadventistdiet.com/the-seventh-day-adventist-diet-food-beliefs/}

Insects

Certain winged insects with jointed legs are clean, including locusts, crickets, and grasshoppers.

Unclean Meats to be Avoided

Animals classified as "unclean" are forbidden in the Adventist diet.

Land Animals (Mammals)

Pork and related products are prohibited. Rabbits and camels are also unclean, as are predators and scavengers like dogs and bears.

Water Creatures (Seafood)

Any marine life without both fins and scales is unclean. {Link: The Seventh Day Adventist Diet & Food Beliefs https://www.seventhdayadventistdiet.com/the-seventh-day-adventist-diet-food-beliefs/}

Fowl (Birds)

Scavengers and birds of prey like eagles, vultures, hawks, and owls are forbidden, along with ravens, ostriches, and storks.

Insects

All flying insects other than the few specified clean types are considered unclean.

Comparison of SDA Dietary Meat Guidelines

Category	Examples of Clean Meat	Examples of Unclean Meat (Forbidden)	Biblical Criteria
Land Animals	Cow, Sheep, Goat, Deer	Pig, Rabbit, Camel, Bear	Must have a split hoof AND chew cud
Water Creatures	Salmon, Tuna, Cod, Tilapia	Shrimp, Crab, Lobster, Eel, Catfish	Must have fins AND scales
Fowl	Chicken, Turkey, Duck, Quail	Eagle, Vulture, Owl, Raven	Cannot be a scavenger or bird of prey

The Health Message and Individual Conscience

While the clean/unclean distinction is biblically based, the broader Adventist health message strongly promotes a vegetarian or vegan diet as the ideal for optimal health. Writings by church pioneer Ellen G. White advocate against meat consumption. This emphasis has led many Adventists to adopt plant-based lifestyles, with studies suggesting potential health benefits. For those who eat meat, adhering to the clean categories is a matter of conscience, respecting the body as a temple. The church encourages, but does not mandate, a meat-free diet, allowing for personal choice within scriptural principles. For more information, visit the official website: Adventist.org.

Conclusion

For Seventh-day Adventists, dietary meat choices are guided by biblical principles from Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Clean meats like beef, chicken, and fish with fins and scales are permissible for some, though a plant-based diet is highly recommended. Unclean meats such as pork and shellfish are prohibited for all members. This approach balances scripture, health, and individual conscience. {Link: The Seventh Day Adventist Diet & Food Beliefs https://www.seventhdayadventistdiet.com/the-seventh-day-adventist-diet-food-beliefs/}

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Seventh-day Adventists all vegetarian?

No, not all Seventh-day Adventists are vegetarian, although it is strongly encouraged as the ideal diet for optimal health. Many members choose to be vegetarian or vegan, while others follow the biblical clean/unclean meat guidelines.

Why can't SDAs eat pork?

Seventh-day Adventists avoid pork because the Bible, specifically Leviticus 11:7-8, identifies pigs as unclean animals, unfit for consumption. This is viewed as a health principle rather than just a ceremonial law.

Can SDAs eat fish?

Yes, Adventists who choose to eat meat can eat fish, but only those with both fins and scales, as specified in Leviticus 11:9. This excludes bottom-feeders and shellfish.

Is eating meat considered a sin for Seventh-day Adventists?

The consumption of clean meat is not considered a sin, but the broader SDA health message recommends a plant-based diet. The church teaches that the ideal diet is vegetarian, though it does not condemn those who eat clean meats.

What is the difference between clean and unclean meat?

The distinction, based on biblical texts, is that clean animals meet specific criteria (e.g., split hooves and chew cud for mammals; fins and scales for fish), while unclean animals do not.

Can SDAs eat beef?

Yes, beef is considered a clean meat because cows have split hooves and chew their cud, fulfilling the biblical requirements for clean land animals.

Why do Adventists prioritize a plant-based diet?

Adventists prioritize a plant-based diet as it is considered the original, ideal diet given to humanity in Eden and is also supported by modern health science. It is seen as the healthiest choice for a long and vibrant life.

Are shellfish forbidden for SDAs?

Yes, shellfish such as shrimp, crab, lobster, and oysters are forbidden for Seventh-day Adventists because they are water creatures without fins and scales, making them biblically unclean.