The flaky, fluffy chicken patty is missing from the shelves of Nahoum, the Jewish confectioner in New Market.

The shop stopped selling the savoury from January upon instruction from its director Adam Nahoum, said the manager, Jagadish Chandra Haldar.

Adam Nahoum also instructed for the shop to be closed on Saturdays. It used to be open seven days a week, with Sunday being a half-day.

Haldar said on Saturday: “I am following orders.”

Sources familiar with Nahoum & Sons Private Limited said the Saturday closure was in line with Jewish practice. Saturday being Shabbath, a day of rest for religious Jews, the shop has been ordered to remain shut, they said.

Members of the city’s Jewish community said Judaism allowed kosher food and while poultry is counted as kosher, it must be slaughtered correctly. This can only be practised by a trained person known as shochet.

Ian Zachariah, a veteran member of the community, said: “According to Orthodox Jews, the chicken has to be slaughtered in a particular way to be kosher. I think the Nahoums feel the chicken is not slaughtered the right way in Calcutta.”

Jael Silliman, author and a member of the community said: “Kosher food does not allow meat and dairy products to be eaten together.”

While Nahoum continues to sell what it is most famous for, the rich fruit cake, as well as the other items on its menu, the flaky chicken patty is no longer being served.

The confectionery business was started by Nahoum Israel Mordecai, a Baghdadi Jew, in 1902 and the shop shifted to its present location in 1916. It is now run by Adam Nahoum from Israel. He could not be reached for comment.