The Torah commands in Parashat Re’eh (Debarim 14:3), “Lo Tochal Kol To’eba” – that we may not eat food which is “abominable.” The oral tradition teaches that this refers to an animal which had been consecrated as a sacrifice, but was then disqualified. Specifically, the Sefer Ha’hinuch explains, the Torah speaks here of two cases: where a person blemished the animal in a manner that invalidates it (an act which itself constitutes a Halachic violation), and where the sacrifice became invalidated for any reason after the animal was slaughtered. Eating the meat of the animal in either of these two cases is forbidden by force of this Biblical command, as the sacrifice is considered “abominable.”
The Sefer Ha’hinuch writes that the Torah forbade partaking of such sacrifices in order to maintain our esteem and reverence for the sacrifices. It is vitally important that we treat and regard the sacrifices with great respect so that the experience of offering a sacrifice will have the desired emotional impact, leading us to repent and devote our hearts to G-d.
This command is binding upon both men and women, and applies in all places and at all times, even nowadays. If somebody were to consecrate an animal and then inflict a disqualifying blemish, the animal would be forbidden for consumption. One who eats a Ke’zayit of meat from such an animal is in violation of this command and is liable to Malkut.