What is Gelatin?
Gelatine is a food protein derived from mammalian skin and bone. It is unique in that a dilute solution in water forms a thermally reversible elastic gel, which melts at below body temperature; hence jellies made from gelatine have a melt in the mouth texture with exceptional flavour release.
Gelatine is produced from two main sources of raw material, namely skin and bone. The production from bone requires that the bone be crushed, degreased and all meat removed before demineralisation using dilute hydrochloric acid to solubalize the calcium carbonate and phosphate in the bone. The residual protein matrix (collagen I) is then converted to gelatine by heating in water, filtration and ion-exchange of the resulting solution to remove contaminants, and then the solution is concentrated, gelled and dried. Finally the dry gelatine can be milled to a fineness most suited to its use i.e. fine ground for fast dissolving or coarse ground for minimal foam generation in confectionery manufacture.
Previously, the gelatin occupied the number E441 and later it was transferred to E428. The most common use of gelatin is edible, in processed foods, followed by gelatin for pharmaceutical use, in the manufacture of capsules, in cosmetics, and, to a lesser extent, its photographic and technical use.
Gelatine is produced from two main sources of raw material, namely skin and bone. The production from bone requires that the bone be crushed, degreased and all meat removed before demineralisation using dilute hydrochloric acid to solubalize the calcium carbonate and phosphate in the bone. The residual protein matrix (collagen I) is then converted to gelatine by heating in water, filtration and ion-exchange of the resulting solution to remove contaminants, and then the solution is concentrated, gelled and dried. Finally the dry gelatine can be milled to a fineness most suited to its use i.e. fine ground for fast dissolving or coarse ground for minimal foam generation in confectionery manufacture.
Previously, the gelatin occupied the number E441 and later it was transferred to E428. The most common use of gelatin is edible, in processed foods, followed by gelatin for pharmaceutical use, in the manufacture of capsules, in cosmetics, and, to a lesser extent, its photographic and technical use.
Use cases
Gelatine has a large variety of useful properties besides forming a gel with water. Its adhesive properties are used in tabling and sticking together the layers of Liquorice All-sorts. Its crystallisation control properties are used in making ice-lollies and ice cream. Its film forming properties are used in making hard and soft capsules. Its foaming properties are used in the manufacture of marshmallow products and its emulsifying properties are utilised in making toffees and ice cream. Its thickening properties are used in powdered soup formulation and its water binding property is used in the manufacture of canned meats. Finally, at higher concentration it binds the ingredients of gelled confectionery into jelly-babies and a host of similar products. There are a large number of additional uses of gelatine. An example is the use in the manufacture of yoghurt as a stabilizer. Gelatine is also used to stabilise thickened cream and low fat spreads and to clarify fruit juices.
Discussion on its permissibility
There are several methods mentioned in the juristic compilations by means of which impure surfaces and items may attain purity. One of the methods by virtue of which something impure attains purity is if the essence of the articleitem undergoes a complete transformation. This process is termed as Tabdeel-e-Maahiyat or Qalb-e-Maahiyat in the terminology of the Fuqaha (Jurists). Examples in this regard are illustrated in the compilations of the classical jurists. Hence, if alcohol goes trough a transformation and thereby turns into vinegar, it becomes pure and, therefore, consumable. Similarly, if an animal, even if it is a pig, falls into a salt pit, due to which it decomposes and consequently turns into salt then it will be permissible to consume it.
Based on this principle the contemporary scholars state that if gelatine is extracted from the hides and skin of a haraam source (i.e. pork, or hides and bones of cattle which were not Islamically slaughtered) then if the raw material from which the gelatine was prepared undergoes a complete metamorphosis, it will become pure and thus consumable.
Hence everyone is unanimous on the fact that if a complete metamorphosis does occur during gelatine manufacture then such gelatine will be Halaal.
However, does a complete metamorphosis occur? Whilst some Ulama contend that a complete metamorphosis occurs in the process of Gelatine manufacture, thereby transforming Haraam raw material into a Halaal end product, the vast majority of the Ulama, however, are of the opinion that such required transformation does not occur and, therefore, they render gelatine derived from haraam sources to be unacceptable.
Lennox Davis is one of the major gelatin manufacturing plants, which has several branches around the world such as in America, Australia, etc. One of its biggest branches is located in Krugersdorp, South Africa. Senior Muftis and Scholars have along the years visited this plant. Hence in August 1990, an Ulama group comprising of senior Muftis of the Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal had undertaken such a visit to the plant to closely inspect the Gelatine manufacture process.. Their findings were one of non-adequacy in passing a judgment of permissibility with regard to the Gelatin produced there.
Based on this principle the contemporary scholars state that if gelatine is extracted from the hides and skin of a haraam source (i.e. pork, or hides and bones of cattle which were not Islamically slaughtered) then if the raw material from which the gelatine was prepared undergoes a complete metamorphosis, it will become pure and thus consumable.
Hence everyone is unanimous on the fact that if a complete metamorphosis does occur during gelatine manufacture then such gelatine will be Halaal.
However, does a complete metamorphosis occur? Whilst some Ulama contend that a complete metamorphosis occurs in the process of Gelatine manufacture, thereby transforming Haraam raw material into a Halaal end product, the vast majority of the Ulama, however, are of the opinion that such required transformation does not occur and, therefore, they render gelatine derived from haraam sources to be unacceptable.
Lennox Davis is one of the major gelatin manufacturing plants, which has several branches around the world such as in America, Australia, etc. One of its biggest branches is located in Krugersdorp, South Africa. Senior Muftis and Scholars have along the years visited this plant. Hence in August 1990, an Ulama group comprising of senior Muftis of the Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal had undertaken such a visit to the plant to closely inspect the Gelatine manufacture process.. Their findings were one of non-adequacy in passing a judgment of permissibility with regard to the Gelatin produced there.
Some researchers stated that gelatin which is derived from the bones and skin of cattle and pigs has undergone a complete transformation and is different from the substance from which it was derived, and that it has acquired chemical properties that differ from those of the original substance from which it was extracted, thus it comes under what the scholars have said about transformation.
This view was adopted by the Islamic Organization for Medical Science. In their statement it says: Istihalah (process of transformation) means that a substance changes into another substance with different characteristics, so an impure substance may change into a pure substance, and a haram substance may change into one that is permissible according to Shari’ah.
Based on that: gelatin that is produced by means of a process of transformation from the bones, skin and sinews of impure animals is tahir (pure) and it is permissible to eat it.”
However others disagreed and said that the chemical processes to which the skin and bones of pigs are subjected in order to extract gelatin do not result in complete transformation. Rather it is a partial transformation, because the gelatin still retains some of the characteristics of the impure substance from which it was taken.
Dr. Wafeeq ash-Sharqawi (President of the administrative committee of the Arabian Company for Gelatin Products in Egypt) said:
“The skin and bones of pigs do not undergo a complete transformation; rather it is a partial transformation and by means of testing it is possible to determine the origin of the gelatin that is extracted from the skin and bones of pigs after they are subjected to the chemical processes by means of which gelatin is extracted. That is because of the presence of some properties in this gelatin, from which it is possible to determine its origin. So we cannot say that the parts of the pig that are turned into gelatin have undergone a complete transformation.” (Majallat al-Buhuth al-Fiqhiyyah al-Mu‘asirah, 31/28)
This view was adopted by the Islamic Organization for Medical Science. In their statement it says: Istihalah (process of transformation) means that a substance changes into another substance with different characteristics, so an impure substance may change into a pure substance, and a haram substance may change into one that is permissible according to Shari’ah.
Based on that: gelatin that is produced by means of a process of transformation from the bones, skin and sinews of impure animals is tahir (pure) and it is permissible to eat it.”
However others disagreed and said that the chemical processes to which the skin and bones of pigs are subjected in order to extract gelatin do not result in complete transformation. Rather it is a partial transformation, because the gelatin still retains some of the characteristics of the impure substance from which it was taken.
Dr. Wafeeq ash-Sharqawi (President of the administrative committee of the Arabian Company for Gelatin Products in Egypt) said:
“The skin and bones of pigs do not undergo a complete transformation; rather it is a partial transformation and by means of testing it is possible to determine the origin of the gelatin that is extracted from the skin and bones of pigs after they are subjected to the chemical processes by means of which gelatin is extracted. That is because of the presence of some properties in this gelatin, from which it is possible to determine its origin. So we cannot say that the parts of the pig that are turned into gelatin have undergone a complete transformation.” (Majallat al-Buhuth al-Fiqhiyyah al-Mu‘asirah, 31/28)
Verdict: Is it Halal?
It is not permissible to consume foods, drinks and medicines that contain gelatin derived from the skin of pigs or other impure substances, especially when alternatives are available in the form of animals which Allah has permitted. It is possible to manufacture gelatin from animals, such as cow and sheep, that are slaughtered in the prescribed manner, and will be Halal to consume in that case. Gelatin can also be derived from fish, since fish itself is Halal, fish gelatin is Halal to consume.