Is gelatine a by-product of meat production?!
Is gelatine a by-product of meat production?
Whenever it is discovered that I do not eat gelatine, people tell me I may as well since it is just a by-product of meat production, so animals are not killed simply to get it. Is this true?
Regardless of whether it is or isn't, I still won't eat gelatine. I would just like to be able to rebut these aforementioned people if possible. Thanks for your help!
Answers:
Gelatine is an intrinsic part of the meat industry and anyone who uses it is directly contributing to the death of the animal.
Animals are not "simply killed" to get any one individual slaughter by-product, the whole system is interdependant.
Without the use of gelatine, the cost model would change, meat would be dearer, less people would buy it, less animals would be killed.
Another example being leather accounts for 20% of the meat industry cost model
So, the "people" who tell you its "just a by-product" need to realise that is is an important part of the meat industry and they need to accept and take responsibility for what they pay for.
You cannot get gelatine without killing the animal, its fairly simple.
Not sure if you are veggie or not, but as you posted it in the V&V sections I'll say that anyone calling themselves a vegetarian or vegan cannot eat any gelatine.
There are vegetarian products that do the same job as Gelatine but these are never called "gelatine", so anytime you see gelatine on a packet you can be sure its dead cow or pig.