The world knows about Gelatin as the miracle product, the word miracle is used for gelatin for a purpose that it has much use in the food industry. From making candies for children to adding them as an ingredient in sweet dishes. It enhances the food taste. The importance of this is not limited to the only food industry, the extracted product has many medicinal benefits which make it dominant as it has many properties which cure many diseases. Here we will learn what is fish gelatin and how it is extracted?
Gelatin is used all over the world which results in the increased use and demand. Gelatin extracted from mammals has been used in the world and is the most popular but in recent times, fish gelatin is also characterized as having similar functions as of porcine ( mammal gelatin ) and now it has been successfully using as an alternative in the food industry and serves in the best way for customers.
Muslims usually consider gelatin as a haram ingredient as it Is an extracted protein from animals, which is naturally present in pigs and sheeps bone, tissue, cartilage, and skin. Gelatin usually gets from pork and beef of animals but now it has been easily extracted from fish (warm water). They have the same quality and medicinal benefits but they vary in their melting and boiling points. Fish gelatin has a lower melting temperature than mammalian gelatin.
How It Is Extracted?
Fish gelatin, a protein that is extracted from fish skin and scale as it is naturally present and the extraction is carried out by a process of partial hydrolysis. As we talk about gelatin’s physical appearance, it is in a powder form which is used as a thickening agent when it is added in a liquid and is subjected to heat and then cooled.
The product gets the gel consistency after it has been cooled. It has no odor and no taste. Amino acids (protein) present in our body, when linked together in a chain and therefore perform the function like they together strengthen the tissues and thus the ingredient, is used by different productions in food manufacturing as well as by pharmaceutical companies for capsule cover and even as an ingredient to reduce the disease severity.
How It Is Made?
The general extraction process of Fish Gelatin from fish skin and scale is briefly described in the following steps:
- Clean the skin of fish with water, try to use cold water.
- Cut the fish skin into small pieces.
- Add the pieces into the basic solution, alkali.
- Then again wash the pieces with warm water and remove every traces of acid or alkali.
- Dilute it with aqueous mineral acid or alkali.
- Now add some citric acid on fish skin.
- Now again wash the fish with cold water so that citric acid becomes neutralized.
- Then extract the fish skin by using warm water to get degraded collagen material.
- Remove all impurities and filter it with frame filter using resin beds.
- Then it is evaporated and enters infiltration of polish so that unwanted substances are removed.
- Then sterilization is done.
- After sterilization, the fish skin is chilled and dried and then is chopped so get we get gelatin powder.
What Are The Characteristics?
The characteristics that Fish gelatin has gained in recent years are:
- It is Halal
- It is BSE-free.
- Also, it meets USP standards.
- It meets FCC standards.
- Kosher and Gras
What Are The Applications?
- It is used as a thickening agent.
- It is added as a binding agent.
- Fish Gelatin increases the shelf life up to 5 years when stored in a cool place.
- It is used as a cover for capsules.
- It is added in tablet formation.
- Also, Fish Gelatin is a stabilizing property.
What Are The Medicinal Uses?
There are numerous health benefits of Fish Gelatin. It has a property that strengthens the hair and nails of humans as it has protein which is good for their growth. The ingredient helps in increasing your immune system. It also helps to reduce the inflammation and pain in joints, bones, and ligaments. The gelatin capsules for vitamins are also on the market. It has a benefit as it reduces the severity of Type 2 diabetes. The other uses are:
- It is used in the preparation of many drinks and beverages.
- It is used in making nutrition bars.
- Fish Gelatin is used by the food industry for making candies, gummies, and marsh mellows for children.
- It is used by pharmaceutical industries for tablet formulations.