Gruesome Gelatine

To mark Halloween, I'm shining a light on a horrifyingly gory ingredient.

Gelatine.

It's commonplace. It's used to thicken up or add chewiness to products, and sneaks into a multitude of food and cosmetic items. Many people probably eat it daily without even realising, or stopping to consider what it is.

Here's a picture of gelatine in its manufacturing process....

Gelatine is made from boiling up bones, skin and connective tissues, most commonly from cows, pigs and fish. The gloopy result is then used in sweets, jelly, marshmallows, mousse, stews and stock. Amongst other things. Yummy.

Grossed out?

Luckily, plant-based alternatives for all of these products are easily available. Most importantly, here's a long list of very mainstream tasty sweets that don't have boiled up animal waste-products masquerading in pretty colours.

Starburst

Candy Kittens

Fruit Pastilles

Skittles

Percy Pigs

Jelly Tots

Loads of Supermarket own-brand strawberry laces and fizzy belts etc

Chewits

Millions

Swizzels Refreshers/Love Hearts/Drumsticks/Lollies etc

Haribo Rainbow Strips

So next time you fancy a chewy treat, you know which ones aren't made from ligament juices. You're welcome.