Recent advances in animal origin identification of gelatin-based products using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods: A mini review

Abstract Gelatin, a natural functional material obtained from animal connective tissues, has been broadly applied in health-related products such as food, pharmacy, and cosmetic. But unclear labelling and false information of animal origin of gelatin in those products would violate religious rules and increase public health risks. Recently, animal origin identification of gelatin-based products has drawn more and more concerns. Among various identification methods, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has specifically become a research hotspot for animal origin identification and quantitative analysis of gelatin-based products due to its superior reliability, selectivity, and sensitivity. The main desideratum of the current treatise is to review the recent progress on this subject with respect to: (1) the identification of animal in halal gelatin-based products, (2) the determination of the authenticity of gelatinous medicines from animal, especially from the highly homologous family species, and (3) the quantification of gelatin in gelatin-based products, using LC-MS method. We hope that this review could provide theoretical guidance and advanced strategies for developing animal origin identification technologies for gelatin-based products.