What is Gelatin?

Gelatin is a unique foodstuff that has many application in food products, including jellies, ice cream, confectionery, cookies and cakes. Gelatin is a protein obtained by partial hydrolysis of collagen derived from skin, bones hides and connective tissues of animal body. Gelatin is the soluble form of collagen and does not contain all the essential amino acid as it lacks of tryptophan.

Gelatin is a translucent, colorless, odorless, brittle, nearly tasteless solid substance; typically produced in powdered and granulated form.

Production of gelatin

From google

The principal raw material used to produce gelatin are from healthy animals which include cattle bone, cattle hides and fresh frozen pig skin. Gelatin is recovered from collagen by hydrolysis. There are several varieties of gelatin, the composition of which depends on the source of collagen and the hydrolytic treatment used. Most gelatins are one of two types. Type A gelatin is exclusively made from pork skins and hence haram for Muslims to use; produced by acid processing of collagenous raw material. Type B gelatin is made either from cattle and calf skins or from demineralized cattle bones; produced by alkaline or lime processing. Because it is obtained from collagen by a control partial hydrolysis and does not exist in nature, gelatin is classified as derived protein. Whether this type of gelatin is permitted or prohibited for Muslims is controversial. However, gelatin made from bones of duly halal slaughtered is available.

Uses

Gelatin is unique and multifunctional ingredient widely used in the food industry, pharmaceutical preparations, photographic and other industries. Gelatin is used in the food industry is probably best known in gelatin dessert, dairy products such as sour cream, yogurt, cottage cheese and other dairy foods, confectioner application such as gummy candies, marshmallows and many more. Gelatin is also used as a processing aid for the clarification of fruit juices and cider. It is also used as binder and/or glazing agents in meat industry which helps to retain the natural juices and enhance texture and flavour.

The major use of halal gelatin in the pharmaceutical industry is for the manufacture of soft gelatin capsules, hard capsules, tablets, tablet coating and as a gelatin emulsifier/filler. Gelatin has been recognized to be an excellent stabilizer and emulsifier in pharmaceutical emulsions. Gelatin is also used for microencapsulation as a water-insoluble sponge during surgical procedures, medical troches and pastilles; lozenge like products.

The unique chemical and physical properties of gelatin make it an important compound in the photographic industry. The useful functions of gelatin are a result of its protective colloidal properties during the preparation of silver halide crystals, setting and film forming properties during coating and swelling properties in processing of exposed film or paper in the photographic film manufacture.

A new major application of gelatin is in the paintball industry; used to make the shells of paintball which is similar to the way pharmaceutical capsules are produced.

Source:

Buletin Halal Thn 5 Bil:8 2009