One of the reasons most religions have dietary restrictions is that they keep the religious group apart from its neighbors. Thus, it can be argued that integrative eating (i.e. accommodating people of various religions with different dietary requirements) is actually irreligious.

I didn't fully appreciate the role that imbibing sustenance comunally plays in bonding groups together until I encountered a secular instance of a peculiar dietary habit, and an unusual form of it at that.

Since this particular dietary habit was not sanctified by religion, tradition (e.g. Older Chinese not eating Beef) or pervasiveness (e.g. vegetarianism), others reacted as they are wont to do - with disgust, apprehension and ultimately, ostracism.