Stern: Vegetarians beware, animal by-products lurk in gelatin

You?d be surprised what is in your favorite candies.

At least once in elementary school, some kid brings up that glue is made from horse hooves. While that is no longer true, there is a variety of food made from animal skin. The majority of people are surprised when I explain why I cannot eat certain popular candies, cereals and yogurts. As a vegetarian, I choose not to eat products that an animal must die to produce.

Although it may seem like a vegan practice, gelatin is present in a variety of today?s foods and is indeed made out of dead animals. Gelatin is what most people think of as the main ingredient in jello and is an ingredient in gummy candies and serves as a thickening agent in other foods.

Gelatin lurks in many unexpected foods and isn?t made of the most appealing ingredients. Gelatin comes from collagen, a protein in animal skins. Andrew Milkowsi, adjunct professor of animal sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the source varies depending on the type of food. Gelatin used in desserts comes mainly from pig skin.

If you think that you?re safe just watching for gelatin in food, vitamins and encapsulated medicines often contain gelatin. Hy-Vee Multivitamins are one of two brands of vitamins I have found without gelatin. The local Mercantile, or The Merc, also has multivitamins without gelatin, but the ones I found tended to smell like rabbit food. To be safe with medicine, choose pill form over capsules to avoid gelatin.

Gelatin is not the only emulsifier on the market. Pectin comes from apple skin or citrus peels. Pectin is usually used in jams and jellies, but has a long list of positive effects. According to eafus.com, Pectin removes unwanted metals and toxins, reduces the side effects of radiation therapy, helps lower cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart disease and gallstones.

Whether you are a vegetarian or not, a gummy bear made from fruit sounds more appealing than one made from bones. The company that manufactures Skittles seems to agree and capitalizes on the alternative. Formerly made from gelatin, Skittles is phasing into being gelatin-free. According to The Vegetarian Resource Group Blog, Skittles underwent a recipe reformulation in 2009 that removed the gelatin. However, some old-formulation Skittles are still on the shelf, so be sure to read the label.

Other companies have capitalized on the alternatives. Both Sour Patch Kids and Swedish Fish are vegan candies. Most brands of Greek or organic yogurt do not have gelatin. Also, at The Merc, gummies are sold without gelatin.

What truly surprises me is the lack of knowledge that surrounds gelatin. I was informed of the ingredients of gelatin after a year of being a vegetarian as I was biting into a marshmallow. I find it relatively concerning to think about how blindly we put food into our body. I admit that I am unaware of what some of the ingredients listed actually contain. The weirdest part about it is that I am not motivated to try harder and investigate and understand what I am eating.

While it seems minute, what we eat has a huge effect on how we feel and how we look. With the inconsistency of our emotions, our diet is an effective way to control how we feel. I originally became a vegetarian as part of a bet, but I ended up sticking with it because I felt energized and healthier.

As you have probably heard before, vegetarianism exists as a spectrum. Some vegetarians eat fish while others choose to be stricter with their diets. So if you are a vegetarian with a soft spot for gummy bears, remember that you control the extent of your vegetarianism.

If nothing else, I hope this article has given you a little food for thought. You may just want to read the ingredients label and do your research before you start enjoying your seemingly innocent Starburst.

Jenny Stern is a freshman majoring in biology from Lawrence. Read more from Jenny Stern.

Source: http://kansan.com/opinion/2013/01/28/stern-vegetarians-beware-animal-by-products-lurk-in-gelatin/

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