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Is Sturgeon kosher?

No — Sturgeon is not kosher under Jewish dietary law.

Not kosher per the Orthodox Union, Chabad, and the overwhelming majority of Orthodox authorities: sturgeon have ganoid scales, which do not meet the halachic definition of scales (they cannot be removed without tearing the skin). Their roe, true caviar, is also not kosher.

Sturgeon (Acipenser)

Image: Photo by Pierre André · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Scientific name
Acipenser
Hebrew name
חדקן
Also known as
Beluga sturgeon, White sturgeon, Lake sturgeon, Russian sturgeon
Category
scaleless
Fins & scales
Fins ✓ , no scales ✗
Kosher status
Not kosher

About Sturgeon

Ancient family of large, bony fish with ganoid scales arranged in rows along the body. The source of true caviar.

Kosher ruling

Not kosher per the Orthodox Union, Chabad, and the overwhelming majority of Orthodox authorities: sturgeon have ganoid scales, which do not meet the halachic definition of scales (they cannot be removed without tearing the skin). Their roe, true caviar, is also not kosher.

Source: Orthodox Union, Chabad

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