Erica Hanhams's Contact Details

Erica Hanhams's Company Details

Kenney & Ross Ltd.

Port Saxon, NS, CA • 100 - 249 Employees
BioTech/Drugs

Gelatin is obtained by the hydrolysis of collagen which is the principal protein found in skin and bones. Fish gelatin is being extracted commercially in Nova Scotia by Kenney & Ross at Port Saxon. The raw material is the skin from deep water fish such as cod, haddock and pollock, and is obtained from local salt fish and frozen fish processors. The uniqueness of fish gelatin lies in the amino acid content of the gelatin. Although all gelatins are composed of the same 20 amino acids, there can be a variation in the amount of amino acids, proline and hydroxyproline. With lower amounts of these amino acids, there is less hydrogen bonding of gelatin in water solutions, and hence a reduction in the gelling temperature. Gelatin from cod skin gels at 10ºC, whereas gelatin from carp skin would be more similar to animal gelatin, which gels above room temperature. Most people think of gelatin as a food additive or part of photographic film. With a lower gelling temperature, other commercial applications of fish gelatin have been developed.