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1:10 pm
Expert
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Fri 9-Sep-11
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Does anyone know what is meant by 'gelling agent' contained in shop bought jams please?
I was asked this recently at a Craft Fair and could only answer that I thought it must refer to the Pectin content but the lady said no - it was listed separately and that pectin was also listed. I took a look for myself and she is right they are both listed. So if gelling agent isn't natural fruit pectin - then what is it 
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
5:57 pm
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Mon 23-May-11
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I had a quick look on t'internet and found this: http://www.understandingfoodadditives.org/pages/ch2p4-2.htm
It looks as though a gelling agent can be all manner of things. I'm sure Martin will be able to shed some light on your question.
9:50 pm
Supreme Being
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Tue 22-Sep-09
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Sorry, no idea Maura! would it be gelatine or something, or maybe citric acid, which can be used instead of lemon juice.
8:00 am
Supreme Being
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Sun 2-Oct-11
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Sounds like another good reason for only eating home made. I have recently been given a big jar of quince jelly made by a friend I am looking forward to starting!
Trying to enjoy life as it is
4:29 pm
Supreme Being
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Mon 3-Oct-11
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Hi everyone - been away in the sun- by gum its cold here today, 25 degrees less than it was in the sun where I was yesterday!
In answer to the description of gelling agent it is probably written in brackets after the word pectin - all it is is telling you that pectin is a gelling agent- simples when you know the answer.
And yes there are many gelling agents, but most are natural like pectin is.
Are we having fun yet? I am!
9:43 am
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Fri 9-Sep-11
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Thanks Martin for clearing that up. I thought commercial labelling was meant to be clearer now for the public to understand but there are no brackets (on the labels I have looked at) so I can totally understand why it appears to look like there is a gelling agent and pectin added - especially as there are quite a few types of gelling agent.
Oh well - I guess some of them are trying to avoid putting the proper names of the GA on the label for fear of putting people off.
Lucky you - grabbing some Winter sunshine - but how hard is it to return to the awful cold damp dark November days. I often wished we could leg it over to Spain for about 6 months of the year to get the best of both worlds but I am so glad we didn't buy out there when we were tempted a few years ago. Sometimes the grass isn't alwas greener is it 
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
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