What does gelatine consists of?

Germany

Gelatine is a food ingredient, like e. g. starch, sugar, soy oil. It is an odourless, tasteless and colourless pure protein, which forms a jelly when dissolved in hot water and then cooled. There are 338 calories in 100 gram of gelatine. It is derived through partial hydrolysis of the collagen from beef and veal bones, cartilage, tendons and other tissues. Much of the commercial gelatine today is a by-product of pig skin and is used as a thickening agent.

Common examples of foods that contain gelatine are gelatine desserts or jelly, aspic, marshmallows and confectioneries such as gummy bears. It may be used as a stabiliser, thickener or texturizer in foods such as ice cream, yogurt and cream cheese. It is also used in fat-reduced foods to simulate the mouth feel of fat and to create volume without adding calories. Another use is for the clarification of juices, such as apple juice, and of vinegar. Gelatine is not a food additive and thus is allowed to be used without prior authorisation and without further restrictions to use.

Vegetarians and vegans have the possibility to substitute vegetable jellying agents such as agar, pectin or carrageen (a dried seaweed product) for pork skin derived gelatine.