Am I still a vegetarian even it I eat Gelatin?

Question

I eat yogurt, jelly, Jello, marshmallows, ect., that all has gelatin in it. Btw, I HAVE to have gelatin in my diet, don't ask why, it is to long to explain. I mean, I'm a vegetarian and don't eat meat. Is gelatin considered meat, I don't think so, even though it has animal product in it. Am I still a vegetarian even if I eat gelatin?

Answer 1

Hasn't the Rhubarb God come and smitten you for your transgression?

Answer 2

I don´t get how you NEED it, it´s just a bunch of c**p. but okay. . .It´s not meat, it´s not a body of a dead animal. but it´s still part of a dead animal. . .I wouldn´t consider it meat, but if you say you don´t eat meat, then it´s fine. if you say you don´t eat animals then you actually do, if you eat gelatin

Answer 3

Gelatin has animal fat in it so if you want to be picky about it then you aren't being a 100% vegetarian but you are doing a lot more than most people by giving up meat.  However, if you have to have it in your diet then don't beat yourself up over it.

Answer 4

If you intentionally eat dead animals, you're not a vegetarian.  Gelatin is made from dead animals and is not a vegetarian food.

I can't imagine why you HAVE to have gelatin in your diet.

Answer 5

You are still a vegetarian in my eyes, so yes, you can call yourself one.

Edit  After reading all posts there sure seems to be some very hateful people in the ranks of those who purport to be such loving people to all life forms on this earth.

Answer 6

you only need it in pills? well then just take your pills and dont eat any other gelatin aka animals bones and animals tissue

Answer 7

No.  You are simply a non meat eater.  Vegetarians do not consume slaughter by products.

You need gelatin for ring worm?  Are you kidding me?  Ring worm is cured with a topical cream to kill the fungus.  Why are you making up stores?  Gelatin does not cure anything.

Answer 8

Honey .. how in the world could gelatin be considered a meat?? It's not. And the only way you would have to worry about eating yogurt or dairy products is if you were a VEGAN. Vegans are different from vegetarians. Vegetarians don't eat meat but they do eat cheese and drink milk. Vegans refuse to eat ANY product that comes from an animal. You're safe to eat jello, jelly, marshmallows, etc.

Answer 9

well if you need it, then keep eating it. but if you DONT need gelatin then dont eat it please!! its made of animal!

Answer 10

Gelatin is made from decaying animal hides. In fact, one of the most confusing products on the market today is "gelatin." Gelatin is a jelly-like protein by-product made from pork, skin, cattle bone, calfskin or fish skin for commercial use. The three main concerns about gelatin are: the origin of gelatin (is it from a pig or a cow or something else?), the safety of gelatin (is it safe to consume so much gelatin?), and the BSE risk of gelatin.

http://www.straightdope.com/art/1988/880...

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_...

Mixed Opinions...

Is gelatin derived from pork halal (permissible) for a Muslim to eat?

Is gelatin derived from cattles halal (permissible) for a Indian to eat?

Answer 11

You don't need gelatin, that's a big load of bull.

If you eat dairy, you aren't a strict vegetarian anyways. You would be a lacto-vegetarian.

Gelatin DOES come from a dead animal and vegetarians do not eat dead animals. This is the case even though eating dairy contributes to a great deal of suffering and gelatin contributes to absolutely no suffering.

Answer 12

You do not need gelatin in your diet.  That is ridiculous.  You are no more a vegetarian than someone who eats steak.  You either are a vegetarian or you are not.  You definitely are not.

No your not x 1000.

There are TONS of ringworm treatments that are topical.  They don't contain animal products.  I pretty much don't believe you.

Answer 13

Not, you are not a vegetarian, vegetarians do not eat slaughter by-products.

If you really have to eat animal geletine for your health then I would say don't beat ourself up over it, just don't call yourself a vegetarian. You know all the other meat products you cut out so why worry about not using the word vegetarian.

If you continue to call yourself a vegetarian and yet people know you eat geletin, it will confuse the whole definition of a vegetarian, and I'm sure you wouldn't want to do that, would you ?

I have never heard of your medical condition, but the doctor probablty said eat geletin without realising you were a vegetarian and couldn't eat it. If you mention this, i bet they will have an alternative solution for you.

Many doctor's advice revolves around meat products, but thats because to them there is no issue with it, just because they say "eat more read meat" to someone with low iron does not mean they HAVE to eat more red meat, there are plenty of solutions.

If you NEED to eat it in pills, why are you also eating all those candies with it in ?

Looking at your other vegetarian questions, i wonder if you have a basically unhealthy diet, which really is unrelated to being vegetarian.

Answer 14

Girl eat your gelatin. I don't think any of us answering this question are doctors. If your doctor says to eat them then do it. But if you're just eating them because you can't let them go then thats fine. It takes time .Gummy bears were my joints(Especially around that time. When co workers saw me come in the office with a container of gummies that knew what time it was) LOL after learning where they came from it wasn't that hard to give them up. Your still a vegetarian. No one is perfect.

Answer 15

Yeah, um...

If your doctor is treating a parasitic fungal infection with gelatin, his liscence ought to be revoked.  That is the biggest load of bull**** I've ever heard.

Answer 16

well gelatin is made from pigs fat

so yes it is considered an animal since the whole vegetarian thing is supposed to be against the killing of animals eating their fat doesnt really support that lol..

but if its something in your diet thats a neccesity than just do it..

but im pretty sure there are other foods that can give you the benefits that gelatin give you, you should really talk to a nutritionist!

hope i helped

<3 sarah

Answer 17

Honey, you need to see another doctor. I have a hard time believing a doctor would prescribe: Jello, and marshmallows to get rid of ringworm. On doctors orders, I've taken drugs that were tested on animals, only because there was no alternative; but If a doctor told me to eat boiled down cow hoofs, I'd call him a witch doctor and run out of his office.

Answer 18

I would say that in most circumstances(other that needing gelatin for health, and having no other option), eating gelatin would mean that a person is not vegetarian. However, since you need this gelatin for some reason(and cannot replace it with a vegetarian alternative), you would still be considered vegetarian.

As long as you are not just eating it b/c you like the taste of jello, or want candy that contains gelatin, than I think you are still considered vegetarian.

There are no vegetarian police that come to your door, or a membership card that gets revoked if you eat gelatin. You are a vegetarian for your own reasons and beliefs, there is no one to answer to but yourself.

Answer 19

First of all, gelatin doesn't contain an animal product in it, it IS an animal product. Gelatin is meat. It is derived from collagen found in the bones, cartilage, connective tissue, and skin of animals, traditionally cows. Most commercially produced gelatin nowadays is produced from pig skin. So to be frank, gelatin is not vegetarian. But if it is necessary for your health, then you should have it. Like Riley said, if you have to have it, then don't beat yourself up over it. And I suppose you can still call yourself a vegetarian, since the only meat you do eat is gelatin. It's kind of like people who eat only fish that call themselves vegetarians. Technically they're not, but hey, whatever floats your boat. Hope I helped :)

PS. Yes you are right I have eaten gelatin before when vegetarian. I ate gummy worms and skittles. But remember it's all about progression, not perfection. You don't need to be a 100% perfect vegetarian just try your best!