Gelatin from Non-Kosher Animals
What is the OU position on gelatin from non-kosher animals?
The OU considers gelatin from non-kosher animals to be non-kosher, and requires the kosherization of a utensil that was used with gelatin. One of the great poskim of the last century, Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski, zt”l (Achiezer III: 33), permitted using gelatin from dried bones as a coagulant (at a level of less than 1/60th) for various considerations. However, Rav Belsky, zt”l maintained that the sugya d’alma (prevailing custom) in America is in accordance with the view of Rav Aharon Kotler, zt”l (Shu”t Mishnas Reb Aharon I:17) and Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l (Igros Moshe Y.D. 2:23), who both ruled that this type of gelatin is not kosher. Rav Aharon posits that since the bones are converted into food, the gelatin may be Biblically prohibited. It should be noted that gelatin is also made from porcine hides (pigskin), which the Mishnah (Chullin 9:2) lists as being Biblically prohibited, and Rav Chaim Ozer would presumably agree that porcine gelatin is not kosher.
The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.