"Sweet Dreams","Honey","Sweetie" all these words make us remember all sweet things in this world.When we talk about desserts what comes first in to our minds?Most of the people would say "Icecreams".Yes, Icecream is a universal dessert which is the most favourite of people of all age groups.No lunch or dinner parties ends without serving icecreams.

Have you ever thought how come icecream is so sweet in taste and soft in texture?.This is the question which is perturbing my mind for a very long time and here is the answer for the question. Icecream is made up of Gelatin which is 100% non vegetarian. There is no harm in consuming icecreams made of gelatin. But this is an information to all vegetarians whose favourite dessert is icecream.

Collagen is a natural protein substance which is found in the tendons,ligaments,tissues,skins and bones of all mammals.Collagen is the main source of raw material for the manucfacture of Gelatin. Pig,Cow and horse are the animals from which collagen is collected from.The collgen collected from animals undergo acid or alkaline or enzymes treatment.After the proces, It is dried and powdered and the resultant is gelatin.Gelatin is not only used for making icecreams but also cakes and chocolates. The pig's skin usually undergoes acid treatment and the resultant gelatin is referred to as Type A and Cow's skin usually undergoes Alkaline teatment and the resultant gelatin is called as Type B.

I have read from a magazine that some of the people who want to mint money get small bones from the slaughterhouses boil it,dry it,make them as a powder and sell it as gelatin.Nobody is cared to see whether the animal is healthy or infected. So, when people consume food items made of this type of gelatin there is a possibilty of getting dieseases. It is really hazardous to health.

There is no vegetarian alternative to Gelatin.Some create publicity by advertising food items made of vegetarian gelatin. Agar-Agar is a sea weed extract which can be used as a substitute to gelatin.Agar-Agar is also a good antioxidant. The way to recognise that a product is made up of agar-agar is by the number E406.It can also be well noticed from the package of a product whether gelatin is added or not. If it specifies E441 then the particular food item is made up of gelatin.

The other areas where gelatin is most commonly used are the pharmaceutical industry and it is also used for making photographic films.

Now, it is time for us to decide whether icecreams can be consumed by us or not?

• Written by nagalakshmi.karunanidhi.
• In category Food.
• 14 years ago.

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