Is gelatin considered to be kosher? I have seen some people say that it is, and others that gelatin has to be kosher-certified.
There is divergence between Orthodox and Conservative Jewish authorities regarding whether or not all gelatin may be regarded as kosher. Orthodox Jewish authorities have largely ruled that gelatin must be produced from kosher animals.[1] Conservative Jewish authorities, in contrast, have indicated that the process of extracting gelatin, be it from kosher or non-kosher animals, is so rigorous that it widely renders the gelatin a neutral substance.[2] Among Messianic resources which have addressed the topic of kosher, the 2012 volume Biblically Kosher by Aaron Eby includes a section titled “Hidden Ingredients,” where a number of chemical additives to processed foods, which may be unkosher, are listed.[3] This publication, at least, tends to demonstrate an Orthodox Jewish orientation for kosher.
A majority of kosher-friendly people within the Messianic community keep a kosher-style of diet, which is often not too concerned with various Orthodox Jewish particulars. So, the frequent Conservative Jewish position of gelatin being a substance so altered by its production, that it is neutral, is likely to be adopted by many. Yet as with all chemical additives to processed foods, the buyer needs to be cautious, checking labels, and always being aware of the quality of the item he or she purchases for consumption.
NOTES
[1] Yacov Lipschutz, Kashruth: A comprehensive background and reference guide to the principles of Kashruth (Brooklyn: Mesorah Publications, Ltd, 1989), pp 111-112.
[2] Samuel H. Dresner, The Jewish Dietary Laws: Their Meaning for Our Time (New York: The Rabbinical Assembly of America, 1982), 97.
[3] Aaron Eby, Biblically Kosher: A Messianic Jewish Perspective on Kashrut (Marshfield, MO: First Fruits of Zion, 2012), pp 124-125.
