tl;dr | Only Kosher Fish Gelatin from all the certified Kosher Gelatin is considered Halal Suitable
| Type of Kosher Gelatin | Source | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Porcine Gelatin | Hide/skin of young pigs | Commonly used in marshmallows, gummy candies, gelatin desserts, and various other confectionery products. Not suitable for kosher or halal diets. |
| Kosher Fish Gelatin | Fish skins from kosher fish | Primarily used in kosher marshmallows and other confectionery products. It can also be used in yogurt production, as it does not violate the prohibition of mixing meat and dairy. |
| Kosher Meat Gelatin | Animal hides from kosher slaughtered animals | Used in products where fish gelatin is not suitable, such as yogurt production. It is considered pareve and can be used in both dairy and meat products. |
Summary of the OU-Kosher Article from 2005
In the past, there was debate among religious scholars about the kosher status of gelatin derived from animal bones. Initially, the consensus in the United States leaned towards considering it non-kosher. However, recent developments have brought new insights into the kosher status of various types of gelatin.
Porcine Gelatin: The primary source of gelatin in the United States is from the hide or skin of young pigs. This type of gelatin requires less processing compared to that made from animal bones, making it more cost-effective for manufacturers. However, from a halachic perspective, the use of pig hides presents challenges due to their classification as non-kosher meat.
Kosher Fish Gelatin: In response to the demand for kosher marshmallows, some manufacturers began producing gelatin from fish skins. This innovation provided a kosher alternative for various confectionery products. Despite initial concerns about verifying the kosher status of fish skins, rabbinic authorities approved the use of fish gelatin in kosher-certified foods.
Kosher Meat Gelatin: While fish gelatin served well in certain products, it lacked the necessary gelling strength for others, such as yogurt production. As a solution, some companies turned to producing gelatin from animal hides obtained from kosher slaughtered animals. This initiative required careful consideration of issues like treifos and the pareve status of meat gelatin.
Unexpected Uses of (Non-Kosher) Gelatin: Beyond the kosher market, gelatin finds its way into various products, often as a minor ingredient. This includes its use in vitamin capsules, pills, immobilized enzymes, and filtering processes for juices and alcoholic beverages. Despite its widespread use, the kosher certification of products containing non-kosher gelatin remains a challenge.
Kashering After Products That Contain Non-Kosher Gelatin: The presence of gelatin in food products raises questions about the kosher status of processing equipment. While gelatin itself may not impart a taste into the final product, concerns arise from its use in intermediate stages of production. This complexity requires careful examination within the framework of kosher law.
https://oukosher.org/blog/consumer-kosher/gelatin-revisited/
From Shar’i perspective, our default position is that Gelatin is produced from collagen without any metamorphosis. As such Halal Suitable sources for Gelatin will include:
- Hide / Bones of Halal animals which are slaughtered in Halal Manner
- Bones of Halal Animal which have not been slaughtered in halal manner ** [This is purely technical point, since it is difficult to assess this in an actual market]
- Fish Gelatin sources
- Vegetable Gelatin sources (eg. agar-agar from algae or seaweeds etc.)
Conclusion :
- When Gelatin is listed in the ingredients, And the product is Kosher Certified, then we will need to make sure if the source of the Gelatin is Fish sources.
- If not, then the product will be considered Mushbooh (to be avoided).
- If the ingredients mention “Kosher Gelatin”, then too we need to make sure its source.
- However, even after this “Kosher Gelatin” ingredient has been clarified, we will still need to check through other ingredients of the product as it is possible that only this one ingredient was Kosher certified, and others are not. In such a case the product will NOT display Kosher stamp/certification.