Volume 16: Reference Material
4. Uses made of the cattle carcass
Gelatine

4.4 Gelatine is a highly processed substance made from the hides and bones of animals, including cattle. Pigs are also commonly used. Its manufacture involves treating the bones and hide with acid and, for some types of gelatine, alkalines also. ¹

4.5 Gelatine is used in a huge number of products, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, glue, bone china, photographic chemicals and human food. Approximately 60 per cent is used in food preparation, 20 per cent in pharmaceutical manufacture (the coatings of tablets being a major use), 15 per cent in photographic use and the remainder for other non-food use. ² Most of the gelatine used in food preparation is produced by the 'acid' process, which predominantly uses pig skins.