They were designed to preserve health standards.
See the attached link.
Generally speaking, Ashkenazi laws of kashrut are stricter.
The laws of kashrut.See also the Related Link.Kashrut-laws
Yes, religiously observant Jewish kids follow the laws of kashrut.
Kashrut, the Jewish dietary laws, govern the preparation and consumption of food for Jew. There is no conflict between kashrut and preparing food for diabetics.
Partridge is a kosher bird but has to be slaughtered and prepared following the laws of kashrut.
The Jewish dietary laws are called 'kashrut'. Food that is prepared according to the laws of kashrut is 'kosher'. The word kosher literally means fit, as in, fit for consumption. Fleishig is the term used to describe food that contains meat.
Assuming the question refers to why there are kosher butchers versus "regular" butchers, this is because of the laws of kashrut - Jewish dietary laws. Kashrut has very strict requirements for the slaughter and butchering of animals that are not met by non-kosher butchers.
Dairy and meat cannot be combined according to the laws of kashrut.
Kosher soup is any soup that is made following the laws of kashrut (Jewish dietary laws). It is not a specific type of soup.
Food prepared according to the laws of kashrut (Jewish dietary laws) is referred to as 'kosher'.
Some states have specific laws for restaurants that claim to be kosher and inspect those restaurants with the aid of a Rabbi conversant in Kashrut. Some states do not, but for a kitchen to be kosher it must comply with Kashrut, and sometimes certified by a Rabbi as such.