Is Gelatin Gluten Free? (Hint: the Answer is YES!)

Is Gelatin Gluten Free

Gelatin is an ingredient for many different things, ranging from cosmetics to photographic film. However, it is most commonly used in foods such as Jell-O, one of many people’s childhood favorites. It is also a thickener in yogurts, ice cream, marshmallows, cakes, fruit gelatins, and puddings. Is this thickener gluten-free?

Gelatin is gluten-free. Gelatin comes from animal products, so there is no association with ingredients such as wheat, rye, barley, malt, or any of their derivatives. If you are looking for an alternative to gelatin, the best gluten-free alternatives include Fit Lane Agar Agar, Hoosier Hill Farm Fruit Pectic Powder and It’s Just! Xanthan Gum.

This versatile ingredient is created when animal products such as bones, ligaments, skin, and tendons are boiled in water. These parts most commonly come from cows and pigs, but it can vary. Let’s dig in!

Contents

Is Gelatin Healthy?
Gelatin Nutritional Facts
Jell-O Products
Healthy Gluten-Free Alternatives to Gelatin Products
Final Thoughts
Related Questions
- Related Guides

Is Gelatin Healthy?

As long as gelatin isn’t mixed with large amounts of sugar like in some Jell-Os, gelatin is healthy! It is made from collagen, and it is a protein, allowing this ingredient to provide amino acids that can bring along many health benefits. Consuming a proper amount of collagen daily can help strengthen your hair, nails, and skin. Many people take it in powder form for this purpose. There is also the possibility that gelatin can reduce skin aging, improve brain function, and lessen bone and joint pain.

On the other hand, some people do not have the best experience when eating it. Heartburn and bloating are among a few of the possible symptoms. Some people are even allergic; if you have never eaten gelatin before, make sure to start with small quantities to ensure that your body will not react negatively to it.

Gelatin Nutritional Facts

Gelatin comes in many different forms and can serve a variety of purposes. Check out the many brands below!

Vital Proteins Beef Gelatin

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

Calories: 70
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrate: 0g
Total sugars: 0g
Protein: 17g

These are the ingredients in the Vital Proteins Beef Gelatin:

Bovine hide gelatin

Zen Principle Grass-Fed Beef Gelatin Powder

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

Calories: 55
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrate: 0g
Total sugars: 0g
Protein: 13g

These are the ingredients in the Zen Principle Grass-Fed Beef Gelatin Powder:

Bovine gelatin

Knox Unflavored Gelatin

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

Calories: 5
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrate: 0g
Total sugars: 0g
Protein: 1g

These are the ingredients in the Knox Unflavored Gelatin:

Gelatin

Great Lakes Unflavored Beef Gelatin

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

Calories: 40
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrate: 0g
Total sugars: 0g
Protein: 11g

These are the ingredients in the Great Lakes Unflavored Beef Gelatin:

Beef gelatin

Now Natural Foods Beef Gelatin Powder

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

Calories: 35
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrate: 0g
Total sugars: 0g
Protein: 9g

These are the ingredients in the Now Natural Foods Beef Gelatin Powder:

Pure beef gelatin

Further Food Premium Gelatin Powder

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

Calories: 35
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrate: 0g
Total sugars: 0g
Protein: 9g

These are the ingredients in the Further Food Premium Gelatin Powder:

Beef hide gelatin from grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine

Aspen Naturals Grass-Fed Beef Gelatin Powder

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

Calories: 84
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrate: 0g
Total sugars: 0g
Protein: 21g

These are the ingredients in the Aspen Naturals Grass-Fed Beef Gelatin Powder:

Gelatin

Jell-O Products

Jell-O Cherry Sugar-Free Gelatin Dessert

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

Calories: 10
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrate: 0g
Total sugars: 0g
Protein: 1g

These are the ingredients in the Jell-O Cherry Sugar-Free Gelatin Dessert:

Gelatin
Adipic acid
Disodium phosphate
Maltodextrin
Fumaric acid
Aspartame (sweetener)
Contains less than 2% of: artificial flavor, acesulfame potassium (sweetener), salt, red 40, blue 1

Jell-O Lime Sugar-Free Gelatin Dessert

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

Calories: 10
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrate: 0g
Total sugars: 0g
Protein: 1g

These are the ingredients in the Jell-O Lime Sugar-Free Gelatin Dessert:

Gelatin
Adipic acid
Sodium phosphate
Maltodextrin
Fumaric acid
Contains less than 2% of: aspartame and acesulfame potassium (sweetener), natural and artificial flavor, salt, yellow 5, blue 1

Jell-O Strawberry Sugar-Free Gelatin Dessert

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

Calories: 10
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrate: 0g
Total sugars: 0g
Protein: 1g

These are the ingredients in the Jell-O Strawberry Sugar-Free Gelatin Dessert:

Gelatin
Adipic acid
Disodium phosphate
Maltodextrin
Fumaric acid
Aspartame (sweetener)
Contains less than 2% of: artificial flavor, acesulfame potassium (sweetener), salt, red 40

Jell-O Peach Gelatin Dessert

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

Calories: 80
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrate: 19g
Total sugars: 19g
Protein: 2g

These are the ingredients in the Jell-O Peach Gelatin Dessert:

Sugar
Gelatin
Adipic acid
Contains less than 2% of: artificial flavor, disodium phosphate, sodium citrate, fumaric acid, red 40, yellow 6, blue 1

Jell-O Cranberry Gelatin Dessert

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

Calories: 80
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrate: 19g
Total sugars: 19g
Protein: 2g

These are the ingredients in the Jell-O Cranberry Gelatin Dessert:

Sugar
Gelatin
Adipic acid
Contains less than 2% of: cranberry juice solids, natural flavor, disodium phosphate, fumaric acid, red 40, blue 1

Jell-O Lemon Sugar-Free Gelatin Dessert

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

Calories: 10
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrate: 0g
Total sugars: 0g
Protein: 1g

These are the ingredients in the Jell-O Lemon Sugar-Free Gelatin Dessert:

Gelatin
Adipic acid
Disodium phosphate
Maltodextrin
Fumaric acid
Contains less than 2% of: natural and artificial flavor, aspartame and acesulfame potassium (sweeteners), yellow 5, yellow 6, BHA (preservative)

Jell-O Berry Blue Gelatin Dessert

Here is some important nutrition information to note (per serving):

Calories: 80
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrate: 19g
Total sugars: 19g
Protein: 2g

These are the ingredients in the Jell-O Berry Blue Gelatin Dessert:

Sugar
Gelatin
Adipic acid (for tartness)
Contains less than 2% of: disodium phosphate and sodium citrate (controls acidity), fumaric acid (for tartness), natural and artificial flavor, blue 1

Healthy Gluten-Free Alternatives to Gelatin Products

Agar-Agar

Living Jin Agar Agar Powder

Nutrition Info:

Calories: 25
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrates: 6g
Total sugars: 0g
Protein: 0g

Ingredients:

100% Natural Red Seaweed

Hoosier Hill Farm Agar Agar

Nutrition Info:

Calories: 20
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrates: 5g
Total sugars: 0g
Protein: 30g

Ingredients:

Red algae (seaweed)

Fit Lane Agar Agar Powder

Nutrition Info:

Calories: 5
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrates: 1g
Total sugars: 0g
Protein: 0g

Ingredients:

Agar-agar powder

Carrageenan

Fit Lane Organic Kappa Carrageenan Powder

Nutrition Info:

Calories: 17
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrates: 4g
Total sugars: 0g
Protein: 0g

Ingredients:

Organic kappa carrageenan powder

Modernist Pantry Pure Refined Kappa Carrageenan

Nutrition Info:

Calories: 240
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrates: 60g
Total sugars: 0g
Protein: 0g

Ingredients:

Kappa carrageenan

Landor Trading Co Iota Carrageenan

Nutrition Info:

Calories: 22
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrates: 5g
Total sugars: 0g
Protein: 0g

Ingredients:

Iota carrageenan

Pectin

Kate Naturals Premium Fruit Pectin Powder

Nutrition Info:

Calories: 50
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrates: 15g
Total sugars: 14g
Protein: 0g

Ingredients:

Dextrose
Pectin
Fumaric acid

Hoosier Hill Farm Fruit Pectic Powder

Nutrition Info:

Calories: 30
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrates: 8g
Total sugars: 7g
Protein: 0g

Ingredients:

Dextrose
Pectic
Fumaric acid

Ball RealFruit Classic Pectin

Nutrition Info:

Calories: 0
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrates: 0g
Total sugars: 0g
Protein: 0g

Ingredients:

Dextrose
Fruit pectin
Citric acid

Xanthan Gum

USA Flava Xanthan Gum

Nutrition Info:

Calories: 5
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrates: 1g
Total sugars: 0g
Protein: <1g

Ingredients:

100% xanthan gum

It’s Just! Xanthan Gum

Nutrition Info:

Calories: 5
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrates: 1g
Total sugars: 0g
Protein: 0g

Ingredients:

Xanthan gum

Anthony’s Premium Xanthan Gum

Nutrition Info:

Calories: 5
Total fat: 0g
Total carbohydrates: 7g
Total sugars: 0g
Protein: <1g

Ingredients:

Xanthan gum

Final Thoughts

Gelatin is a versatile and gluten-free ingredient that anyone with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity can eat. While it is known to provide both positive and negative benefits when regularly consumed, most people appreciate how it improves their skin, hair, and nails because it is made from collagen.

It is also a very low-calorie and straightforward ingredient. If it is in a Jell-O that does contain sugar, the calories are quite a bit higher; this is something essential to be aware of. Many other brands carry powdered gelatin that may be more beneficial. If you want to avoid gelatin, you can try substitutes such as agar-agar, carrageenan, pectin, and xanthan gum!

Related Questions

Is Gelatin Collagen?

Gelatin is made from collagen, and it is made when skin, bones, and cartilage are boiled in water.

Is Gelatin The Same As Pectin?

While both gelatin and pectin are powders that can be substituted for each other, they are not the same thing. Gelatin comes from animals or fish, while pectin comes from plants.

Is Gelatin Kosher?

Gelatin is Kosher-certified.

Is Gelatin A Protein?

Gelatin is a protein that comes from collagen.

Related Guides

Christine VanDoren

Christine is a certified personal trainer and nutritionist with an undergraduate degree from Missouri State University. Her passion is helping others learn how strong and healthy they can become by transforming their daily habits. Christine spends most of her time in the gym, hiking, painting, and learning how she can influence others through positivity!

Recent Posts

Push Press vs Overhead Press (Which Is Better?)

We often hear about the importance of cardiovascular exercise for overall health, but what about strength training? Lifting weights has many benefits for our bodies, including increased bone density,...

Continue Reading

Club 33 Membership Cost (Extensive Guide)

You wouldn’t know it, but there’s a secret club in Disneyland known as Club 33. It has existed since 1967, offering a private retreat for Disney’s most exclusive guests. Today, the club is...

Continue Reading