Gelatin (or gelatine) is a translucent, colorless, brittle (when dry), flavorless solid substance, derived mainly from collagen found inside pig skin (hide) and cattle bones. It is commonly used as a gelling agent in food, pharmaceuticals, photography, and cosmetic manufacturing. Substances containing gelatin or functioning similarly are termed gelatinous. Gelatin is an irreversibly hydrolyzed form of collagen, classified as a foodstuff. It is found in some gummy candies, marshmallows, gelatin desserts, and certain ice creams and yogurts. Household gelatin comes in sheets, granules, or powder.

Best known as a gelling agent in cooking, different types and grades of gelatin are used in various food and non-food products. Examples of foods containing gelatin include gelatin desserts, trifles, aspic, marshmallows, candy corn, and confections like Peeps, gummy bears, and jelly babies. Gelatin may serve as a stabilizer, thickener, or texturizer in foods such as jams, yogurt, cream cheese, and margarine. It is also used in fat-reduced foods to mimic the mouthfeel of fat and provide volume without adding calories.

Gelatin is utilized for clarifying juices, like apple juice, and vinegar. Isinglass, derived from fish swim bladders, is still used as a fining agent for wine and beer. Apart from hartshorn jelly from deer antlers, isinglass was one of the earliest gelatin sources.

Gelatin is categorized into edible, medicinal, industrial, photographic, leather glue, and bone glue based on production raw materials, methods, quality, and application:

1. Edible gelatin: An essential ingredient and additive in the food industry, used as a gelling agent, stabilizer, emulsifier, thickener, and clarifying agent in meat products, cakes, ice cream, beer, juice, etc.
2. Biofilm material: Gelatin-based film materials, like chitosan-gelatin blend film, enhance functionality due to improved physical and chemical properties.
3. Medical fiber: Combining gelatin with other materials enhances mechanical properties for tissue repair and replacement.
4. Industrial gelatin: Employed in manufacturing fiber textiles, insulating materials, paper, holographic materials, etc.https://www.foodchem.cn/products/Gelatin