Conclusion

Gelatin is clearly a ubiquitous and highly divisive product. It's found mainly in the food industry, but also in cosmetics, photographic film, drug capsules and even some vaccines! On the one hand, pork gelatin, the most frequently used, offers a plethora of applications that can appear indispensable in both the savory and sweet worlds. On the other hand, it has to contend not only with age-old religious convictions, but also with the emergence of plant-based substitutes for reasons of vegetarianism and animal welfare.

Consumer associations are calling in vain for greater transparency when it comes to the labeling of gelatin in food. A question put by MP Alexandra Valetta Ardisson to the French National Assembly and published in the Official Journal on March 6, 2021 produced the following response: "While making additional information on the type of gelling agent...