What does "kashrut" refer to in Halacha?

Kashrut refers specifically to the dietary laws in Judaism that dictate which foods are permissible for consumption and how those foods must be prepared. These laws are derived from the Torah and have been developed through rabbinic interpretation over centuries. They define various categories of food, such as kosher animals, forbidden foods, and the separation of meat and dairy, detailing what is acceptable and what is not.

While rituals surrounding eating relate to how food is consumed, these do not define kashrut itself; rather, they may be informed by kashrut. Similarly, laws governing prayer and traditions of Shabbat pertain to entirely different areas of Jewish life and practice that do not overlap with the dietary laws. Therefore, the focus of kashrut is unequivocally on the dietary laws and regulations, making the identification of it as referring to these laws the most accurate answer.