2,351. Meat Found in the Street

Maachalos Assuros 8:10

If someone buys meat and sends it with an unlearned person, the messenger’s word is accepted about the meat. Even though he doesn’t have an established religious reputation, we aren’t concerned that he might exchange the meat. Even the servants of Jews are trusted in this matter, though a non-Jew isn’t because we are concerned that he might exchange the meat.

Maachalos Assuros 8:11

Let’s say that there are ten stores, nine of which sell kosher meat and one of which sells neveila. If someone bought meat from one of these stores but he doesn’t know from which, the meat is prohibited because when a prohibition is in a fixed location, it’s considered like a 50/50 chance. However, if meat was found in the street, then we follow the majority because of the halachic principle that something that became separated is presumed to have separated from the majority. If the majority of sellers are non-Jewish, the meat is prohibited; if the majority are Jewish, then the meat is permitted.