Is it true that gelatin is no longer made from animal parts?

Question

I am a vegetarian who has always avoided gelatin based on the knowledge that it was an animal by-product. As far as I know it still is (I can't find any information to the contrary) but a friend of mine was insisting that it isn't made from animals anymore. He thinks that was the "old fashioned" way and that it's completely artificial now. My mom thinks he might just mean that it's so processed that it hardly counts- but I still don't want to eat an animal product. If someone knows of some cold hard facts proving that it's not I am willing to listen but I really don't think it's changed. I know that there is vegetarian gelatin but I don't think they use that commonly- I think it's more expensive and therefore not worth it to most companies. Anyone know anything about it?

Answer 1

Not sure about where you are, but where I am (Australia) the majority of gelatine is still from animal parts such as skin and hooves - you often have to really look hard to find the vegetarian/vegan ones. However, Aeroplane Jelly (we call it jelly here), which until now I have avoided like the plague, has recently come out with a "quick-set" jelly powder which is pectin-based (ie fruit), but their regular versions are still made with animal-based gelatine. There's also agar (aka agar-agar, agal-agal or kanten) that I'm aware of, which is made from the cell walls of red algae or seaweed and often found in science labs as a culture medium, but most Western companies seem to prefer pectin or vegetable gum over agar - possibly something to do with the mild laxative effect...
Personally, I tend to go to Asian supermarkets (try Chinatown, if you have one nearby) for my non-animal jelly stuff, it's much easier to find there, they usually have a fairly decent range of flavours and often stock the different types of gelatine replacements as well, and they're usually a lot cheaper. Plus they have a lychee-flavoured one... always a bonus. ^_~
But you're right, it is more expensive to use the vegetable-based forms, and the meat industry probably isn't running out of hooves any time soon and leather seems to be becoming less fashionable, so unfortunately I think they'll be using animal parts for a while yet...

Answer 2

Your friend is pulling a fast one on you. Gelatin(e) is still made from bones, hooves, and hides. Even kosher gelatin is sometimes made from animal parts (believe me; I've seen "kosher fish gelatin" listed as an ingredient for marshmallows).

Some Jews do believe that the product is so far removed from the animal that it doesn't count, but others say once an animal part, always an animal part, and they will not consume gelatin with dairy meals.

There are vegetarian gelling agents, such as agar, and vegetarian "gelatins" available at natural food stores, but you have to read the label.

Answer 3

Yup. Gelatin is derived from animals. Also: Some cheeses contain rennet, which is derived from animals. Some red wines are filtered using animal blood. Some refined sugar is filtered through animal bones. Anything with gelatin as an ingredient (like jell-o), but this also includes marshmallows, some gummy candies like gummi bears, and other jelly-like desserts such as panna cota. It IS true that you CAN get marshmellows and gummi candies, and jello that uses agar-agar (derived from seaweed) instead of gelatin. These are vegetarian friendly - you need to read the labels.

Answer 4

Kosher gelatine has no animal products. You can buy it in any food store that has a Kosher or Jewish food section and it comes in little boxes just like the regular kind. It might be a few cents more expensive but it is not a huge difference.

Answer 5

I really don't care
but Yes
OK
I read your sob story
there is a vegetable extract of gelatin
it is found in the kosher stores
It was mentioned here about two weeks ago
along with there is a fish rendering
Your MOM is correct gelatin today is so far from being animal
Just remember you get sick in an accident have surgery your going to get animal parts that will save your life and heal you
HA gelatin capsules

Answer 6

Geletin is ONLY made from animal bones, hooves and cartilidge

Answer 7

I don't eat the crap......sorry can't answer for certain.

I believe that it is still a highly refined by-product though.