Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety (한국식품위생안전성학회지)

The Korean Society of Food Hygiene and Safety (한국식품위생안전성학회)
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Monitoring of the Source of Gelatin in Dietary Supplement Capsules Sold on the Internet

  • Kang, Tae Sun (New Hazardous Substance Team, Food Safety Evaluation Department, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) ;
  • Kim, Mi-Ra (New Hazardous Substance Team, Food Safety Evaluation Department, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) ;
  • Hong, Yewon (New Hazardous Substance Team, Food Safety Evaluation Department, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) ;
  • Lee, Jae-Hwang (New Hazardous Substance Team, Food Safety Evaluation Department, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) ;
  • Kwon, Kisung (New Hazardous Substance Team, Food Safety Evaluation Department, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety)
  • Received : 2017.06.15
  • Accepted : 2017.07.25
  • Published : 2017.08.30
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Abstract

Determining the origin of the components in commercially available gelatin, a purified protein derived mostly from pig skin and bovine tissue, is a challenge, leading to concerns on the grounds of religious beliefs and health. Therefore, regular monitoring of labeling compliance by food control authorities is also necessary. In this study, we monitored the origin of gelatin capsules from 181 commercial dietary supplements that were available for purchase on the internet, using species-specific PCR assays. Fifty five products were labeled correctly, declaring that they used bovine-, fish- and plant-derived gelatin, whereas the other 126 capsules were labeled "gelatin" without specifying the origin. Gelatin in these capsules was obtained from cattle (n = 51), pigs (n = 31), or both (n = 44). Therefore, it is important to declare all of the raw materials used to produce gelatin capsules on the labels to best protect consumers' rights, religious beliefs, and health.

상업적으로 유통되는 젤라틴 캡슐 제품은 소비자의 건강(예: 광우병) 및 종교적 신념에 대한 우려를 야기시킬 수 있다. 젤라틴은 대부분 소, 돼지 등에서 유래한 원료물질을 가공한 것으로서, 가공 후 그 원료 물질을 분석하는 것은 대단히 어렵다. 따라서 정부 규제기관의 표시사항 준수여부 모니터링 연구가 주기적으로 필요하다. 본 연구에서는 인터넷에 유통되는 건강기능식품(n = 181)을 대상으로 젤라틴 캡슐의 원료 물질을 종 특이 PCR 방법으로 분석했다. 55개 제품의 경우 표시사항에 젤라틴 캡슐원료 물질에 대한 정보를 명시하였으나(예: bovine-, fish-and plant-derived gelatin), 126개 제품의 경우 사용 원료에 대한 정보 없이 "gelatin"으로 표시하였다. 이 126개 제품의 젤라틴 캡슐 분석 결과 51개 제품은 소 유래의 젤라틴을, 31개 제품은 돼지 유래의 젤라틴을, 그리고 44개 제품은 소와 돼지의 원료를 혼합하여 제작한 블렌딩 젤라틴을 사용한 것으로 밝혀졌다. 따라서 소비자의 알 권리, 종교적 신념 및 건강을 보호하기 위해 젤라틴 캡슐에 사용된 원료 물질을 표시사항에 제공하는 것은 매우 중요하다.

Keywords

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