Revered pigs

Pork is revered within the food traditions where it is accepted. From Bacon, Barbecue to Prosciutto, their hard-core proponents make eating it almost a religion all on it own.

Religious doctrine

Contrast that with the combined number of Muslims, Buddhists, Jews and Hindus in the world, and it appears some 3 billion people adhere to faiths that prohibit or restrict either pork or meat eating more generally. In other words a significant portion of humanity rejects pork. Those who are familiar with ancients texts such as the Bible or Quran will happily quote you with multiple verses that refer to doctrines that forbid eating pigs (and some other animals).

Why shy away from pork?

From a religious standpoint, implied is that the core reason for not eating pork is religious obedience, with the understanding that a divine command is sufficient and does not require a humanly understandable rationale.

For others, the most easily to understand explanation is the (religious) claim that pigs are unclean implying that eating pig meat can be bad for your (spiritual?) health. Some of this explanation refers to the fact that pigs do not regurgitate their food (do not chew their cud).

Another reason some people give is that they object to the modern way pigs are raised. They claim it amounts to animal cruelty.

A noteworthy rejecting of pork occurred in the US during its Civil Rights era, when many Black Americans began turning their back to pork. It is a reflection on the fact that during slavery pork and corn was the (forced) diet of the slaves.

And, especially recently, the harm to the environment and its contribution to causes of climate change have brought others to no longer eat pork (and likely cows).

Origin in Middle East

An interesting observation for at least the Muslim and Jewish religious doctrines regarding not eating pork is that this originates from the (ancient) Middle Eastern countries and their cultures. India being a notable exception to that observation.

North America, China, Africa and Europe generally seem on the whole to not be in the ‘don’t eat pork’ camp (except of course those in these regions that adhere to the religious prohibition)