A statement released by US-based Hindu religious leader Rajan Zed read, “When the source of gelatine is not listed and if it is beef, it is a serious non-disclosure affecting the Hindu devotees and would severely hurt their feelings when they would come to know that they were inadvertently consuming beef-laced popular food products.”
The cow is considered a sacred animal in Hinduism and many Hindus do not eat beef.
Zed, who is President of the Universal Society of Hinduism, said in a statement issued from Nevada (USA), “It would be shocking for the Australian Hindu community to learn that some of the popular food products, which they might have been unknowingly eating for years, might contain beef as part of the gelatine while beef was not explicitly mentioned under the ingredients listed on the boxes/packages to caution them."
Zed urged Australian Governor-General Peter Cosgrove, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Health Minister Greg Hunt and FSANZ CEO Mark Booth to “seriously and urgently look into this issue affecting Hindu-Australians, who had made a lot of contributions to the nation and society.”
Many Hindus in Australia also feel that such listings of Gelatine source are necessary.
Rajendra Pandey, a Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader in Australia, says that many a time Aussie-Hindus avoid products where gelatine to reduce chances of eating beef-based products inadvertently.
FSANZ sets food labeling standards in the Food Standards Code. These standards are enforced by the Australian states and territories and, in New Zealand, by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
In a written response to SBS Hindi, FSANZ said that there are currently no proposals or applications before them (in the FSANZ Work Plan) regarding the listing of gelatine sources on food labels.
Gelatine is usually used as a thickening or gelling agent in food such as jelly.
It can be from cows, fish, pigs, chicken or other animals. Some cereals, yogurts, cakes, puddings, lollies, and more contain gelatine as an ingredient.
Rajan Zed has sent similar appeals to several governments around the world, including India.
Recently, a video for the promotion of lamb meat featuring Hindu deity Ganesha left members of the Hindu community in Australia and overseas fuming.
The advertisement has since been banned.
