The difference between food grade gelatin and industrial gelatin

Nowadays, many of the things we eat have added edible gelatin. The raw materials for producing food grade gelatin are quite different from industrial gelatin.

Gelatin produced through leather hydrolysis is called industrial gelatin and is not a legal food additive.

The difference between industrial gelatin and edible gelatin lies in the source of raw materials, production process, use, heavy metal residues, and safety.

1. Source of raw materials

Industrial gelatin is made from materials such as leather and animal bones, while edible gelatin comes from animal connective tissues such as cowhide and pig trotters.

2. Production process

Industrial gelatin is usually made through steps such as acid hydrolysis, neutralization, precipitation, filtration, and concentration. Edible gelatin requires additional purification treatment to remove impurities and may involve further processing.

3. Application

Industrial gelatin is mainly used in the manufacturing of non-food fields such as paper, plastic, adhesives, etc.; Edible gelatin is widely used in the production of candies, jellies, gummies, and other foods.

4. Heavy metal residues

Industrial gelatin has not undergone special supervision for food safety, and there may be high levels of heavy metal residues; Edible gelatin must comply with strict food safety standards to ensure that heavy metal content is below an acceptable range.

5. Security

Industrial gelatin does not consider safety indicators for food use, which may lead to higher safety risks; Eating gelatin must comply with strict safety standards to ensure consumer health.

Although industrial gelatin and edible gelatin are both composed of collagen, there are significant differences in their production conditions and applications. For safety reasons, it should be ensured that the products used are purchased through legal channels and comply with applicable regulations.