Utilization of Fish Processing By-Products in the Gelatin Industry

Since the bovine spongiform encephalopathy crisis, there has been a growing interest for finding an alternative source of raw materials for gelatin production. Gelatin produced from fish processing by-products is a potential alternative to mammalian gelatin. Fish processing generates solid wastes that can be as high as 50-80% of the original raw material. These wastes are an excellent raw material for preparation of high protein foods. About 30% of the wastes consists of skin and bone with a high collagen content. Fish gelatin can be obtained by hydrolysis of collagen the principal protein found in skin and bone. Fish skin and bone gelatin can be prepared with bloom strength similar to that obtained from mammalian sources. Fish gelatin has numerous applications, particularly, in the food, pharmaceutical, and photographic industries due to its unique chemical and physical properties. This review presents how fish processing by-products can be utilized in the manufacture of gelatin.