What is gelatin?

Question

And does it kill the animals?

Answer 1

It's skin, bones, and tendons  from animals. It's cruel of course.

Answer 2

Common gelatin is collagen made from either animal hide or the ligaments of an animal. An animal doesn't have to die to get this type of Gelatin. it is a by product from animals. Some do die unnecessarily for the gelatin.  The two major co. that sell this is  Knox the unflavoured gelatin and Jello who sells the flavoured stuff.  These not Vegetarian!    You can get plant gelatin from the Locust bean gum which is vegetarian but not Vegan.   Brand new gelatin made from Onion membranes is Vegan.. this gelatin is extremely expense!  I got some in my fridge right now! It's ok and doesn't taste like onion but I do sneeze after eating that stuff!

Answer 3

Gelatin is from the bones, connective tissues, and hides of slaughtered animals.  I learned not long ago that they don't use the hooves.

And, yes, the animal must die to produce gelatin, although the animal is typically killed for his muscles (that's what you're eating when you eat "meat"); gelatin is just a byproduct.

Answer 4

If you've ever cooked a roast and then put it in the fridge - that yellowish slimy stuff that congeals on it is what they use to make gelatin. It's in quite a few things, including gel caps for medicine.

Answer 5

gelatin is a kind of extraction from a dead animals bones which is so not vegetarian

Answer 6

To make gelatin they boil the bones, hooves, hides and connective tissue of pigs, horses and cows. A frothy layer develops at the top (from bonemarrow, ligaments, etc.) and is scooped off and, ta da! Gelatin!

Although animals are not killed just for gelatin, and it is in fact a by-product, it is in no way vegetarian.

And anything in the west labeled as gelatin is this type. You can use agar in place of gelatin, but unless something is labeled vegan or states that it is gelatin free (ie. puddings, many desserts, some cosmetics) then you've got animal connective tissue in it.

Answer 7

It's jell-o...

Answer 8

Yep. It's a flavorless substance from animal collagen. Not vegetarian.

Answer 9

Asian gelatin is usually agar, which is derived from seaweed and is vegetarian (and vegan). The gelatin used in the West is derived from animal hooves and skins.

Answer 10

There are horsehooves in gelatin. No joke.

Answer 11

Gelatin is normally made from seaweed or something vegetable. It is what causes jelly to "gel".

Sometimes people eat stuff that looks like jelly but is actually fat from animals, but I think gelatin you find in North America is made from seaweed or is synthetic.