Croda Healthcare has launched a new range of fish-derived gelatins for pharmaceutical and edible applications.
The new product is produced from high quality edible fish and Croda said it offers all the functionality of traditional bovine gelatin but from a non-mammalian source. It was created in response to consumer concerns over issues such as BSE, and also allows Croda to tap into the potential of the Kosher and Halal markets.
Croda's fish gelatins are targeted primarily at soft and hard shell capsule manufacturers, tablet binders and microencapsulators, and are also recommended in functional and consumer foods, the company said.
Both gelling and non-gelling grades are available in a range of bloom strengths. The fish gelatins possess a low odour and neutral taste; pharmaceutical grades comply with European, US and Japanese pharmacopoeia.
Croda Healthcare, a division of the UK-based speciality chemicals group Croda Olechemicals, added that it had produced a new booklet on gelatin called Gelfax, which is designed to provide formulators and processors with comprehensive technical data on all aspects of gelatin manufacture and use. The booklet is available free to customers.