Rocky Road Fudge - Fish Allergies, alert About This Page:

[mechurchlady]

I have been having major food reactions so I read the ingredients for the rocky road fudge at MK confectionary. One of the ingredients is gelatin made from fish. Once again an allergen in food that you would not think is there. Vegetarians may want to skip the fishy rocky road fudge. There is no fish taste that I can discern. The fudge contains soy lecithin but no other soy thankfully and the fudge was not causing my problems and I am not fish sensitive.

[lauriep]

As a vegetarian, I WOULD think that there's gelatin in the ice cream, since many brands and flavors use it. Gelatin (fish, chicken or beef) is used in many foods, such as most commercial yogurts-- always ask or read the label!

[mechurchlady]

I often look at Muslim and Jewish sites for issues dealing with meat. There are many sources for gelatin and there is seaweed/carrageen.

Muslim Consumer Group: Your Source for Halal Foods Information | Ingredient Types
This is one of several sites that I refer to. This one says Edy's is Halal (allowed) because they use carrageen as a thickener and no alcohol is used to process the carrageen.

Apparently Rocky Road candy, ice cream, etc. may use gelatin in their marshmallows. Kosher gelatin uses fish gelatin. If one is avoiding meat based gelatins or is avoiding fish due to allergies you need to check your ingredient lists carefully.

Thanks for your comment, this is something I never thought about when doing research. Reading Halal lists shows how many products have alcohol, pork, fish, or other ingredients hidden in them.

[Sandra Bostwick]

Interesting info! I never knew!

[mechurchlady]

I bought some candy last night.

Fun to Share
Goofy's Candy
Circus Peanuts

On the back is the nutrition facts, Goofy's Candy Co. logo, expiration date and ingredients. No where on the package will you find a Kosher or Halal mark.

Sugar, Corn Syrup, Gelatin, Pectin, Articificial Flavor, Artificial Colors ( Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Red 40). manufactured in a plant that processes tree nuts, peanuts, milk, soy, eggs, and wheat ingredients.

There is no indication what the sources of the pectin and gelatin are. I also never realized how widely this affects people. Those who avoid certain meats for religious reasons, vegetarians, and those with special dietary restrictions could be eating fish, pork, beef, or plants without knowing they are eating something forbidden. Kosher and Halal means the company went out of their way to get and keep that mark.

[yalibrarian]

Pectin is a plant product, and gelatin is animal-based. Pectin comes mainly from citrus fruit and is used to make jams and jellies, helping them set. Gelatin comes from crushing and boiling things like hoofs, bones and skin of cows, chickens, etc. If you've ever stewed a chicken, then put it in the fridge overnight, you'll easily see the "gelatin." Both of these are used widely in commercially processed foods and as noted, in some that you wouldn't think of. Those of you who like gummies, they contain gelatin, unless labeled as vegetarian.

[lauriep]

Originally Posted by yalibrarian

Pectin is a plant product, and gelatin is animal-based. Pectin comes mainly from citrus fruit and is used to make jams and jellies, helping them set. Gelatin comes from crushing and boiling things like hoofs, bones and skin of cows, chickens, etc. If you've ever stewed a chicken, then put it in the fridge overnight, you'll easily see the "gelatin." Both of these are used widely in commercially processed foods and as noted, in some that you wouldn't think of. Those of you who like gummies, they contain gelatin, unless labeled as vegetarian.

If it says "gelatin", it's not vegetarian. One of my pet peeves is the presence of gelatin in most commercial yogurts. If they need to add gelatin to thicken the product, it's not a real yogurt.

[mechurchlady]

Frequently Asked Questions - FOOD INGREDIENTS -- The Vegetarian Resource Group
This goes more into ingredients and what is vegan and what is questionable. The circus peanuts were not as good as the ones I used to get outside of Disney. The marshmallows in the rocky road fudge are gummy and do not have the quality of Kraft marshmallows or the vegan ones I used to buy. I love learning about food and this has been most enlightening. Thank you.

[lauriep]

Originally Posted by mechurchlady

Frequently Asked Questions - FOOD INGREDIENTS -- The Vegetarian Resource Group
This goes more into ingredients and what is vegan and what is questionable. The circus peanuts were not as good as the ones I used to get outside of Disney. The marshmallows in the rocky road fudge are gummy and do not have the quality of Kraft marshmallows or the vegan ones I used to buy. I love learning about food and this has been most enlightening. Thank you.

It is interesting, isn't it! I'm sure most people don't know that their jello or 'smores are made of animal products!

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by lauriep

It is interesting, isn't it! I'm sure most people don't know that their jello or 'smores are made of animal products!

It's a little shocking whe you think about it!