I think that particular scripture is talking about not eating meat that had been offered to idols and then sold in temple butcher shops to avoid offending Jews still living under the law. The Jerusalem Council had decided that keeping the law and observing those rituals was not a condition for salvation but they didn't want the Gentiles to keep them riled up by having medium-rare cookouts in front of the Jews. James suggested that they abstain from those things because the dietary restrictions had been in effect for many generations.