Gelozone Introduction Gelatine is an unacceptable product to vegetarians as it is a by-product of the slaughterhouse industry, being made of protein derived from animal bones, cartilage, tendons and other tissues such as pig skin. Isinglass, used in fining some alcoholic drinks , is a type of gelatine from the air bladders of certain kinds of fish.
Aspic is also unsuitable, as it is made from clarified meat, fish or vegetable stocks and gelatine.
However, there are various alternatives available, which do not contain any animal products whatsoever. These include agar agar, carrageen and a proprietary product called Gelozone . Also known by its Japanese name Kanten , agar agar is derived from the gelidium species of red sea vegetables. Natural agar agar is unflavoured producing a firm, clear jelly and is rich in iodine and trace minerals and has mildly laxative properties. The flakes are produced by a traditional method of cooking and pressing the sea vegetables and then naturally freeze-drying the residue to form bars which are then flaked for easier packing and transport.