Recently somebody told me that the Apple Juice I was about to pour had been clarified using sheets of gelatine! I didn’t know about this process at all so I was shocked and also confused as to why companies felt the need to use that and bypass, say, some sort of Muslin cloth.

I researched a bit and found this information on a website called Jain World: -

The Vegetarian Society UK Soft Drinks and Gelatine

From The Vegetarian Spring/Summer 1994

Gelatine is, quite literally, a sticky area for strict vegetarians. Yoghurt, mousses, sweets etc. are obvious prime suspects, as are commercial wines and beers, where its use in the fining process is widespread. More insidious however, because it is less well publicised, is the use of gelatine in the manufacture of soft drinks. Gelatine can be used to clarify fruit juices as well as added to the final product to stabilise beta-carotene, which is often used as a colouring agent.

The Vegetarian Society recently surveyed the UK’s major soft drinks producers in an attempt to establish which were suitable for vegetarians. All Schweppes soft drinks and fruit juices, (those include Sunkist, Gini and Kia-Ora as well as Schweppes own brand) were free of animal products, with the exception of some of the Kia-Ora range. Kia-Ora Orange Drink and Kia-Ora Orange and Pineapple Drink (regular and no added sugar versions) contained gelatine stabiliser, and gelatine was used in the processing of juices in Kia-Ora Mixed Fruit Drink and Kia-Ora Pear and Blackcurrant Drink.

Of the other companies who responded, Ben Shaws, Wells Soft Drinks, and Barrs all claimed their soft drinks were suitable for vegetarians. Fruit juices made by Del Monte, Suma and Princes (including Cima and Spartan brands) were also claimed to be suitable. Britvic stated that all their fruit juices were acceptable with the exception of canned apple juice. Tango Apple is believed to contain gelatin-clarified apple juice, while Tango Orange contains beta-carotene and gelatine.

The Director for the Research and Process Development Department at Borthwicks Flavours, suppliers of juice concentrates to other soft drinks manufacturers, thought it unlikely that most apple juice concentrate manufacturers could offer absolute assurance of gelatine not being used for clarification.

Given the difficulty in obtaining reliable information from companies, the best advice for avoiding gelatine in soft drinks is probably to steer clear of those listing beta-carotene and/or apple juice as ingredients.

Cheers!

The Vegetarian is published by The Vegetarian Society and is sent free of charge to all members.

 

I did some more research because 1) the article was written a while back AND 2) I had been told that one brand in particular was known for using gelatine when clarifying their juices. However, the content shown above did not list that company.

If in doubt any juice that is not cloudy or doesn’t have bits may have been clarified after being drained through sheets of animal derived gelatin!

Why isn’t there any accurate information about this? Unfortunately they don’t have to state their use of gelatine on the packaging as it’s not an ingredient. It’s to do with the process of making it!

Here are the replies from the companies that I wrote to: -

—–Original Message—–

From: Tim Kezman [mailto:Kezman@KingJuice.com]

We do not use any gelatin in our products

~~~~~~~

From: enquiries@princes.co.uk [mailto:Enquiries@princes.co.uk]

Dear Ms Modi,

I can confirm that there are no animal derivatives used in the production of our juices.

Kind regards

Customer Care Department

~~~~~~~

From: Consumer Care [mailto:ConsumerCare@AGBarr.co.uk]

Dear Heena

Thank you for query regarding our products.

I can confirm all our drinks are suitable for vegetarians as we do not use animal products except milk.

In fact all our products have been declared suitable for Vegans except 2 juices as we use condense milk. The two juices are:

Sun Exotic Pineapple and coconut juice
Sun Exotic Fruit paradise

Kind regards

~~~~~~~

From: Consumer Services [mailto:Consumer.Services@gerberjuice.com]

Good afternoon

We would like to inform you that the gelatine is not derived from animal products no items are derived from animal products which we use.

Regards

Consumer Services Department

~~~~~~~

From: Info OceanSprayInfo.co.uk [mailto:Info@oceansprayinfo.co.uk]

Dear Heena,

Thank you for taking the time to contact Ocean Spray on this matter.

I can assure you that there is no gelatine or any other animal derivatives used as an ingredient in any of our juice drinks, dilute juices or sauces.

Some fruits, particularly red ones, do not clarify easily using most techniques that are widely available. Nonetheless, after reviewing our product specification and rigorous testing, we have been able to source most juices that have been clarified without the use of gelatine of any origin. To date we have been unable to find a supply of pomegranate concentrate to match our demanding standards, therefore if you are vegetarian or vegan, please be aware that we currently do not recommend our ambient Cranberry & Pomegranate Juice drink.

In order to overcome this we are continuing our discussions with all global providers of pomegranate concentrate so that we can obtain a sustainable source with consistent quality. Our policy is now to exclude gelatine clarified products from our supply base and there is a requirement within our raw material specification to this effect.

Although I am very sorry if this may, at present, slightly limits your choice of Ocean Spray drinks, I do hope this has gone some way to clarifying this matter for you.

Kind regards

Magida

~~~~~~~

From: Charley Roberts [mailto:charleyr@vegansociety.com]

Hi Heena,

Thank you for your enquiry.

Fruit juices and other soft drinks which we know to be unsuitable for vegans are as follows:

Non-alcoholic drinks known to be unsuitable for vegans

• Coca-Cola state that their drinks are all free from animal ingredients apart from: Lilt, Lilt Zero, Kia-Ora Orange Squash, Kia-Ora Orange Squash No Added Sugar and Schweppes Orange Squash.
• Ocean Spray‘s Cranberry & Pomegranate Juice drink and Grower’s Reserve Cranberry & Pomegranate Juice drink are not currently suitable for vegans as the pomegranate concentrate may have been filtered with gelatine. All other drinks are suitable for vegans (confirmed Feb 11).
• Britvic: Robinsons High Juice Blood Orange is not suitable for vegans.

Unfortunately, gelatine when used as a processing aid in drinks does not have to be declared on the packaging. However, if the drink is labelled as suitable for vegetarians it should not have been processed using gelatine. This would be in breach of the Food Standards Agency’s guidance for vegetarian and vegan labelling and the EU definitions for vegetarian and vegan food which are due to become law in the next couple of years.

Best wishes,
Charley Roberts
Information Officer

I hope that was helpful.

This is an article I read. The facts and estimates mentioned below are very interesting. What do you make of them?

As the Government was desperately looking for areas in which to make cuts, the spotlight fell on the “free milk for children” scheme. Scrapping it could save £60 million a year, yet almost as soon as it was suggested publicly, No 10 hastily released a statement saying the scheme would remain. But the damage had already been done; the militants were shrieking with outrage that such a proposal could even have crossed anyone’s mind.

Yet suppress the initial knee-jerk reaction to look at the science behind it and one can see that it’s a sensible, even advisable idea. The scheme is the only remaining part of the Welfare Food Scheme, introduced in 1940 to protect pregnant women and young children against wartime food shortages, but now, in this time of gross nutritional excess, it is unnecessary. Indeed, scientific evidence is amassing that suggests regular milk consumption may be bad for you.

Experts now say that after the first year of life, children require no milk of any type. The former director of paediatrics at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in the States estimates that half of all iron deficiency in US infants results from cows’ milk-induced intestinal bleeding. He proposes that infants drink so much milk (which is low in iron) that they have little appetite left for foods containing iron; at the same time, by inducing gastrointestinal bleeding, milk causes iron loss. The same certainly applies to British infants too.

Cows’milk is just that: for cows. Man is the only animal that drinks milk into adulthood. Cows’ milk is higher in sugar than humans need, and although high in calcium, only 30 per cent of it is available for use by the body, compared to 60-70 per cent for fruits, grains, nuts, roots, seeds and vegetables.

There is also a theory that a protein found in milk mimics a protein found on the insulin-producing cells of the body. If the body develops an allergic reaction to this milk protein, then it is also stimulated to destroy the insulin cells through an autoimmune attack, a possible cause of diabetes.

And while milk is often considered key in the development and maintenance of bones, even this is being questioned. Globally, countries with the highest rates of osteoporosis also have the highest consumption rates of milk and dairy products. Milk proteins contain phosphorous and sulphur compounds that acidify the blood. To correct this acidity, the body actually draws calcium from the bones, weakening them.

Instead of recommending dairy to ward off osteoporosis, we would do better to advise women, and especially teenage girls, to take more exercise. A 15-year study published in the British Medical Journal found that exercise may be the best protection against hip fractures and that a reduced intake of dietary calcium doesn’t seem to be a risk factor.

So is providing our kids with free milk actually doing more harm that good? Current evidence suggests it might be.

1. Dr. Kradjian writes to his patients about milk. Is it really good for us?
2. Is cow’s milk pure?
3. Is human milk pure?
4. Is there a link between diabetes and milk?
5. Is there a link between Leukaemmia and milk?
6. The link between BIV, BSE and milk explained.
7. What are the benefits of drinking milk? Is it a deterrent to good bone health?
8. The link between race and lactose intolerance explained

I received this by email today. I had no idea that cereal needed Pork or Beef in it! Did you? Read on and find out why it’s ‘needed’

Here’s what kellogs said when asked if they have gelatine in their products

“From: <kellogg@casupport. com>

Mr. Kenia,

Thank you for your inquiry regarding gelatin used in some of our products.  We are glad you contacted us and we are happy to provide you with this information.

Gelatin is used to help the texture of the product and is derived from either beef or pork.  All gelatin used at Kellogg is certified Kosher.

Gelatin derived from pork is found in: -

Kellogg’s® cereal products that contain marshmallow additives

For example

Kellogg’s® Marshmallow Froot Loops cereal and

Kellogg’s Smorz® cereal.

It is also found in all varieties of Kellogg’s® Rice Krispies Treats®

Squares and

Special K® Protein Snack Bars.

Gelatin derived from beef is found in all varieties of: -

Kellogg’s® Frosted Pop-Tarts®,

Kellogg’s® Frosted Mini-Wheats® cereal and

Kellogg’s® Rice Krispies TreatsT cereal.

None of the equipment that comes in contact with the gelatin in Kellogg’s® Frosted Pop-Tarts® is used in the production of the other pastries.  As a result, Plain (unfrosted) Kellogg’s® Pop-Tarts® do not contain gelatin.

The pre-gelatinized wheat starch contained in some of our toaster pastries is derived from wheat and does not contain any gelatin.

All Kellogg’s® fruit snacks contain gelatin.

In fruit snacks beef and pork gelatin are used interchangeably based on availability in the marketplace.

Again, thank you for contacting us.  We appreciate your loyal use of our products and hope that this provides you with the information you need to make food choices appropriate for you and your family.

Sincerely,

Grace De La Cruz

Consumer Affairs Department

I wrote to Wrigley after being told that most chewing gum is made of bladders and such like. The reply I got from them was beyond what I was hoping.

It provides a quick and easy to understand list for those who need/want to know!

From: consumer.affairs@wrigley.co.uk

Dear Heena,

Thank you for your email regarding the use of animal/meat based ingredients in our products.

Please be reassured that the Wrigley Company’s priority is, and always will be, to manufacture high-quality products that are safe, enjoyable and meet domestic and international food regulations.  All the ingredients used in Wrigley products are of the highest standards of safety and purity.

We confirm that while the vast majority of Wrigley products sold in the UK & ROI are free from ingredients of animal origin, including egg and dairy products; the following Wrigley products contain ingredients which are not suitable for:

Vegan Diet

Altoid Mints

Extra Fusion® Berry Tronic

Extra Fusion® Electric Fruits

Hubba Bubba® Max™ Strawberry & Watermelon

Hubba Bubba® Max™ Sour Double Berry

Hubba Bubba® Glob

Vegetarian Diet

Hubba Bubba® Max™ Strawberry & Watermelon

Hubba Bubba® Max™ Sour Double Berry

Altoid Mints

Hubba Bubba® Glob

Our Altoid Mints do contain very small quantities of gelatine which is derived from pork.  Gelatine does not impart any flavour to the mints but it’s a necessary ingredient for the texture.  When we use gelatine it is thoroughly purified and dried during its manufacturing process.  As a company we are continually looking at alternatives to animal gelatine, but at the moment we’ve not been able to find a substitute that produces the same quality our consumers have come to enjoy with Altoid Mints.

We hope this information is of assistance and thank you for taking the time to contact The Wrigley Company Limited.

On behalf of,

Beverley Brown (Ms)

Office & Consumer Services Manager

I was sent an email via the Trisha via the Jain Vegans group and I was shocked when I clicked on one of the links in the email. I thought I had been horrified enough about cheese and how it was made but this post is about cheese is marketed to hook those who are more likely to become addicted to it!

Would you believe it if I told you that cheese has morphine in it which keeps us hooked in? Do you remember the anti smoking adverts that were all about showing smokers how hooked in they were? Well it’s kind of like that but in a more subtle way!

So anyway here are some snippets from the article.

A couple days ago I joked that I was detoxing from dairy and that I needed a 12-step program because I find it so hard to give up cheese. Amazingly, little did I know that cheese has actually been proven to be addictive. This explains why so many people like me find it incredibly difficult to give up cheese. It has been harder for me to give up dairy than cigarettes. I am not joking about that. Perhaps the more shocking thing is that the Dairy Industry has deliberately fed on cheese’s addictive quality…

The first hint of a biochemical explanation came in 1981, when scientists at Wellcome Research Laboratories in Research Triangle Park, N.C., found a substance in dairy products that looked remarkably like morphine. After a complex series of tests, they determined that, surprisingly enough, it actually was morphine.

 

….the enzymes that produce opiates are not confined to poppies — they also hide inside cows’ livers.

Opiates hide inside casein, the main dairy protein….The especially addicting power of cheese may be due to the fact that the process of cheese-making removes water, lactose and whey proteins so that casein is concentrated.

Scientists are now trying to tease out whether these opiate molecules work strictly within the digestive tract or whether they pass into the bloodstream and reach the brain directly.

The cheese industry TARGETS those most prone to being addicted to cheese

The cheese industry is miles ahead of them, having gone to great lengths to identify people who are most vulnerable to addiction. It dubs them “cheese cravers,” and tracks their age, educational level and other demographics so as to target them with marketing strategies that are tough to ignore.

At a “Cheese Forum” held Dec. 5, 2000, Dick Cooper, the vice president of Cheese Marketing for Dairy Management Inc., laid out the industry’s scheme for identifying potential addicts and keeping them hooked.

In his slide presentation, which was released to our organization under the Freedom of Information Act, he asked the question, “What do we want our marketing program to do?” and then gave the answer: “Trigger the cheese craving.” He described how, in a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the dairy industry launched Wendy’s Cheddar Lover’s Bacon Cheeseburger, which single-handedly pushed 2.25 million pounds of cheese during the promotion period.

The presentation concluded with a cartoon of a playground slide with a large spider web woven to trap children as they reached the bottom. The caption had one spider saying to another, “If we pull this off, we’ll eat like kings.”

Wow! This shows that Dick Cooper and his team know the affects of cheese, their primary aim is to use it to increase sales, regardless of the affects on the health of those consuming it and the cartoon referred to above shows how they cold they are about it all!

I can’t say anymore.

I’m shocked!

I got an email from my friend Chirag recently. He was really impressed that he could get a Jain meal on the flight. Check out the discussion that was sparked from this info: -

Hi all,

I’m travelling on Air New Zealand soon and took the opportunity to look at their meal options:

I spotted VJML – Jain Vegetarian Meal. Nice to see airlines catering for us!

VJML

Vegetarian Jain

Vegetarian foods prepared Indian style according to Jain customs

Please advise your contacts that they now have the option of ordering Jain food on planes – they should ask their carrier the next time they fly.

Regards,

Chirag.

Harshad replied to the forwarded email with a surprising response: -

Dear Heena,

Jain Meals have been offered by many international airlines over many years.  The IATA code for Jain Meal used to be JNML.

For reasons not known, many airlines withdrew this service and the JNML code was removed.

Many airlines, including BA, Thai, Mauritius, Quantas, ANZ, etc., have or are in the process of reintroducing Jain Meal on their flights.

Jains who are observers should enquire and book a JAIN meal.

Let us strive to put JAINISM on the world map in a stronger colour!

Mansukh then replied: -

Dear Heena,

I am delighted that even Airlines are taking on board and complying with the Jain dietary needs on long haul flights that cross the International Date Line. Despite the fact that we are but a tiny minority on the world stage our needs are recognised and catered for. In the midst of all around bad news this is something that is positive and helpful to us all.

Uncs.

Have you found out anything about meal provision on flights?