THY+Gelatin


 * 1) In recent years a lot of efforts have been initiated to find new alternatives for gelatin? Why?
 * 2) Gelatin is always considered a special/unique ingredient that find many applications in food and non-food industry. Why?
 * 3) Do you think fish gelatin can be used to replace mammalian gelatin (porcine and bovine)?

1. Gelatin is a translucent brittle solid substance, colorless or slightly yellow, nearly tasteless and odorless, extracted from the collagen inside animals' connective tissue. It has been commonly used in food, pharmaceutical, photography, and cosmetic manufacturing. Gelatin is best known for its use in fruit jellies or gums—a much-loved international institution. However, in recent years a lot of efforts have been initiated to find new alternatives to replace gelatin. This is mostly due to the source of gelatin which are boiled bones, skins and tendons of animals. Hence, gelatin is unsuitable for the vegetarian minority who number around seven per cent of the population and this encourages the efforts to find alternatives for gelatin.

2. What makes gelatin unique in terms of functionalities is its thermo-reversible gelling power: a gelatin-based formulation gels when cooled and liquefies when subsequently heated. This transformation occurs rapidly and can be repeated without significant changes in characteristics. With all its functionalities gelatin versatility is outstanding.  In addition, gelatin is relatively unaffected by ionic strength and is stable over a broad pH range. Gelatin is preferred in many applications for its clarity and bland flavor.

3. Yes, I think fish gelatin can be used to replace mammalian gelatin. Fish gelatin (especially from warm-water fish) reportedly possesses similar characteristics to porcine gelatin and may thus be considered as an alternative to mammalian gelatin for use in food products. Production and utilization of fish gelatin not only satisfies the needs of consumers, but also serves as a means to utilize some of the byproducts of the fishing industry. 