am i allowed to have gelatin?

Question

ive been vegetarian [NOTVEGAN} for quite a few months. i am NOT a peta activist..i like their stickers but i am not like AAHH. okay... am i allowed to have gelatin? is there vegetarians out there that do eat gelatin? i dont eat gelatin, but my fiber pills [which i must take] have gelatin and i feel really disgusting cuz i just had a yogurt that said kosher gelatin...i didnt know this before i ate it... i actually looked at the back when i was done to see the calories.. eww yea.. someone help. thanks.

Answer 1

NO! Not if you are serious about not having animal products.



The gelatin you eat in Jell-O comes from the collagen in cow or pig bones, hooves, and connective tissues. To make gelatin, manufacturers grind up these various parts and pre-treat them with either a strong acid or a strong base to break down cellular structures and release proteins like collagen. After pre-treatment, the resulting mixture is boiled. During this process, the large collagen protein ends up being partially broken down, and the resulting product is called gelatin. The gelatin is easily extracted because it forms a layer on the surface of the boiling mixture.



Gelatin is a common ingredient in foods because it is so versatile. It can be used as a gelling agent (as in Jell-O), as a thickener, an emulsifier, and a stabilizer. You'll find it in a variety of foods, from yogurt to chewing gum. Here is a list of some other foods that commonly contain gelatin:





gummy bears

sour cream

cream cheese

cake icing and frosting

marshmallows

soups, sauces and gravies

canned ham and chicken

corned beef

sausage

Gelatin is even used to make the coating for pills that makes them easier to swallow. It's also in cosmetics, lozenges, and ointments



Kosher gelatin can be made with fish bones, and/or beef skins. Contrary to assumptions, it is also considered kosher to use it with dairy products. Kosher law is very complex and the bones and hides used in gelatin production are considered pareve. The general meaning of pareve refers to foods that are neither milk nor meat, and many people assume this means that the product is vegetarian

Answer 2

A vegetarian does not eat any meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, or slaughter by-products.



Gelatine is a slaughter house by-product as it is derived from animal ligaments, skins, tendons, bones etc



Get into the habit of checking ingredients lists before you eat to watch out for things like gelatine hding in your food. But don't beat yourself up for eating it. Everyone makes mistakes occasionally.



As for the fibre pills. Have you looked into whether there are any vegetarian alternatives? Either ask your local health food shop and your pharmacist and they should be able to find you some. If there really aren't any alternatives then as you need to take them you will just have to accept it until they do make an alternative. But I am sure there will already be something else you can take out there.

Answer 3

Gelatin is not vegetarian (and nor is some cheese because of rennet). Try to find another kind of fiber pills, or eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans instead. There are plenty of yogurts that don't have gelatin in them. You might want to try soy yogurts. The three brands I see regularly are all vegetarian, and one is even vegan, so that's the one I eat.



You're going to have to be more scrupulous about reading labels in the future before you buy or eat something to ensure you're not eating gelatin.

Answer 4

No, Gelatin is made up of scrap animal parts, technically it is still meat. Try substituting Pop Tarts and Marshmallows etc. for other stuff that is just the same, and much healthier and free of animal products. Vegans don't eat or use any animal products basically the only change in your diet when you become vegan is that you are dairy-free....and then you have to change the products that you use. Being a vegetarian includes no gelatin

If you have to have your pills, then dont give them up! dont feel bad about it!! Its better having you alive. But still try to give up other gelatin products

Answer 5

always read the ingredients before you eat something! Premium crackers useto contain lard until I wrote to them and asked them to make a lard free crackers! Some jams contain gelatin, Some peanut butters contain lard.. so do some ice creams! sometimes they are sneaky and use the chemical name! Cheerios contain Trisodium phosphate for preservative and that's a soap that contains some animal tallow which lard is made from! Vegetarians should talk to their doctor and if the doctor is understanding will cooperate and make sure the pills are made with vegetarian gelatin made from bean gum.. it's vegetarian not vegan cause bees are involved in it's making!

Answer 6

You are "allowed" to eat anything you want! Everything you consume is your choice, and that is what makes you a vegetarian or not. I'm just not personally into labeling myself one way or the other because that will put restrictions on you instead of allowing you to make custom choices.



It sounds like you are aware of what gelatin is made of, so it is up to you to use that knowledge to back up your decision. Personally, I choose to eliminate gelatin from my diet, as well as other animal bi-products that sneak themselves on a label (watch out for meat-based broths in soups). Keep in mind that there are many alternative supplements and yogurts that do not have gelatin. Just like with meat, the choice is yours.

Answer 7

Vegetarians do not eat gelatin. Its a slaughter by-product.



Vegetarians do need to read ingredients lits before you buy or eat the food. If you don't its just guesswork as you've found out.



It only takes a few minutes longer to shop and becomes automatic after a while. Don't beat yourself up over it, learn from it and change the fibre pills for a veggie version

Answer 8

well, by definition Vegetarians eat no meat or slaughter by-products.. Unfortunately, yes, Gelatin is a slaughter by-product.



Kosher gelatin means it was made from cows hooves as opposed to pig's hooves (Jews consider pigs "unkosher")



try your best to eliminate it.. there's lots of brands of yogurt that don't have gelatin. IF you really need the medicine, and you can't get it in any other form, then don't sweat that..

Answer 9

nope. unless it's kosher. most gelatin has animal products in it like bones etc.

Answer 10

traditonal vegetarians would consider it a non meat animal food product. animal right vegetarians wood not consider it a vegetarian food.

Answer 11

NO NO NO!