pareve

Pareve (also spelled parve) is a term in Jewish dietary law (kashrut) describing foods that are neutral with respect to meat and dairy. A pareve item may be eaten with either meat or dairy meals, provided it has not been prepared with meat or dairy ingredients or contaminated by them during processing or handling.

Common pareve foods include fresh fruits and vegetables, grains and cereals, legumes, nuts, seeds, eggs, and fish. Many processed foods can also be labeled pareve if certified by a kosher organization, indicating they contain no meat or dairy ingredients and were not produced with equipment or processes that introduce meat or dairy flavors.

In practice, pareve status can be affected by preparation and utensils. If a pareve item comes into contact with meat or dairy, or is cooked in pots, pans, or dishes previously used for meat or dairy, its status can change. Therefore, households that observe kashrut often use separate utensils and dishware for meat, dairy, and pareve foods, and may rely on certification to ensure pareve status for processed products.

Fish is generally considered pareve, as are eggs and many plant-based products, though customs vary and some communities have additional guidelines for specific foods. During Passover, pareve foods may face extra restrictions related to chametz or kitniyot, depending on tradition and certification. Certification helps ensure that a food remains suitable as pareve under varying circumstances.