Gelatin

What is gelatin? Is it made from horses? ---Marisa, Dallas, TX

A: Yes and cows and pigs and ... Gelatin is a colorless or slightly yellow, transparent protein made by boiling animal hide, bones, and connective tissues (i.e., gristle). Manufacturers most commonly boil cow parts to make gelatin but any animal will do.

They grind the bones and other parts, soak in a strong base to soften them, pass them through stronger and stronger acid solutions until the bones no longer look like bones. They boil the mess for hours and raise an incredible stink. The gelatin floats to the top. They skim off the gelatin from the boiling pot and dry it into a powder. Adding sugar, flavorings, and artificial color transforms it into Jell-O.

Peter Cooper, a self-taught engineer got the first American patent for the manufacture of gelatin in 1845. By the way, in 1981 a couple of Aussies (Paul Squires and Geoff Ross) created the world’s largest Jell-O—a 7,700 gallon-tank of jiggling pink delight.

Picture: Raspberry cherry gelatin
Article taken from http://www.wonderquest.com/dinoplants-peepers-jello.htm#jello