Gelatin on Bastille Day

Today, July 14th, is Gelatin Day ゼラチンの日 in Japan. It is a commemoration created by the Japan Gelatin & Collagen Industry Association. The purpose: to highlight the many uses of gelatin in food and beyond.

The date was chosen because gelatin is essential in French confectionery and cuisine, so the association selected Bastille Day, France’s national holiday, as the symbolic anniversary. It also happens to be the time of year when gelatin and jelly consumption naturally increases in Japan’s summer heat. 

Gelatin is made by heating and extracting collagen from animal skin, bones, and connective tissue, resulting in a protein‑rich ingredient used in everything from jelly desserts to industrial, medical, and photographic applications.