Vegetarian question?

Question

Here is the situation, my sister who is a vegetarian recently watched the tv show "How Its Made." And in the particular episode they showed the production of Jello gelatin. The thing is Jello is partly made up of ground up and powered cow bones. So I told her that she hasnt really been a vegetarian because she eats Jello. Am I right on this?

Answer 1

Yes, you are right.

Answer 2

She is a real vegetarian even if there are a few foods that aren't completely animal product free. If she wants to cut out all animal product she has to look at all of the ingredients in everything she uses including her soaps and shampoos. Most vegetarians let a couple of items like gelatin slip into their diet. Staying away from meat is enough for some, while eliminating all animal products is important for others. A lot of it has to do with why you're a vegetarian. If it's for health, than a little gelatin isn't enough to hurt. If you are morally opposed to the killing of animals for our use, jello needs to be cut out of your diet. Tell your sister that there are a few jello alternatives that use gelatin substitutes.

Answer 3

Yes, you are right. A vegetarian avoids gelatine products, which are common in things such as poptarts (in the frosting) commercial yogurt, ice cream, pastries, any many commercially produced foods. Many vegetarians, especially new ones, are unaware that jello and gelatine are made from the rendered bones, skins, ligaments and tendons of slaughtered animals. Most give up gelatine based products when they learn about it. It sounds as though you are being a bit nit picky with your sister-perhaps supporting her decision would be better for both of you. Another common mistake new veggie make is eating cheese made from "enzymes" or rennet, which comes from the stomach of slaughtered baby veal calves. Unless the cheese is clearly market "vegetarian" rennet, then it likely contains animal rennet. Cabot brand makes a nice selection of vegetarian cheeses.

Answer 4

Yeah, but don't be mean about it. Gelatin isn't vegetarian, but you can get vegetarian versions at the health food stores. Veg versions are made with carageenan (seaweed). A big frustration for vegetarians is finding vegetarian marshmallows. Veg versions are expensive and way inferior.
It's important to note that she is eating a by product of the meat industry and only in small amounts. She is still doing a damn good job of reducing animal suffering in her overall diet. I consider myself a vegetarian even though I occasionally take vitamins in gelatin capsules. I think car tires are processed with pig fat, and I own a car. Glues used in envelopes have animal by products, and I get mail...
Vegetarianism isn't an absolute.

Answer 5

Well I wouldn't say she hasn't been a vegetarian, I'd say she has just been eating an animal product without being aware of it. When I started 13 years ago, I did as much research as I could to find out what I couldn't eat, but still found out about others later which I had unknowingly been eating.

But yes you are right about the gelatin.

Answer 6

Many people don't realize how Jello is made. There are many so called vegetarians who eat Jello...until they find out how it's made.
I agree that she hasn't really been a vegetarian, but she didn't know. If she chooses to keep eating it, she should not consider herself a vegetarian.

Answer 7

You are right but if she isn't a strict vegetarian and just doesn't eat the meat or skin of an animal she still kind of is a vegetarian because for a lot of people vegetarian just has to do with health or trying out not being deep and doing it for the animals.

Answer 8

People have many different opinions on what is and what isn't a vegetarian. Some people would say she is, some wouldn't.

There is also vegan, where they don't touch anything belonging to any animal. Leather, milk, gelatin. Nothing.

I'm a vegetarian, I eat no meat, no gelatin, but I do on occasion drink milk. It all depends on whether or not she thinks it's okay.

Answer 9

Yes, you are unless she only eats vegetarian jelly/jello/...J-lo.

The normal stuff is made from bone marrow and can be found in ordinary Jelly/J-lo, chewy sweets, mints, jam/conserves, some ice creams and milkshakes and loads of convenience food.

Buy your sister a t-shirt saying "Meat tastes like murder and murder tastes pretty God-damned good!"

Maybe your sister shoul be told that plants scream when they have leaves torn off.

EDIT: Hey hey hey hey hey....I've just been reading some of these Answers. And some of you people are just chronic self deceivers.

If you're a vegetarian you ONLY eat vegetables and animal products which don't come from a dead animal.

A vegan eats no animal products at all.

A true commited vegetarian or vegan will go to great lengths to find out what is suitable and wholesome for them to eat rather than just doing it as a fashion statement. Vegetarianism isn't something you can just pick up and drop every other day but still call yourself a Veggie. You either are or you aren't.

Personally, I love the taste of dead animal. Plants are still living things and I'd be more tempted to live on meat to preserve the plant life of the world.

Answer 10

Yes, that's true. Did you know Utahns eat more Jello per person than any other state?

I don't like Jello, though, because I think the grounding and powdering process takes out most of that old-west style "raw cow bone" taste, that tastes so yummy after a day of herdin' rabbits, shootin' ****, and stalkin' yetis!

Answer 11

You're right that it's not vegetarian, but don't beat up your sister (figuratively) for eating it if she didn't realize that gelatin means she's been eating rendered cow bones, hooves, etc. Chances are, she'll stop eating anything with gelatin in it.