Are Thankfully Nourished Collagen Peptides grass-fed and finished?
Thankfully Nourished collagen is derived from the hides of Australian beef cattle that are free range and 100% grass fed for the duration of their life on the farm. Grains are not a part of their diet at all. Under this broader definition, it is "grass finished". However, to be absolutely strict on the claim "grass finished" it means the cattle are not to be fed grains ever.
In the case of Thankfully Nourished Australian collagen, the journey the cattle take from the farm to the abattoir may be a few days and in that time they are very likely to be fed some GMO-free grain since they are not grazing and they need to eat!
In our opinion, this does not change the ethical treatment of the cattle nor does it affect the finished collagen in any way. However, in order to be absolutely transparent, because there is that small window of time not on grass, we do not claim grass-finished. To the best of our knowledge there is no one yet making Australian collagen that is 100% grass-fed and grass-finished.
Why is Thankfully Nourished Collagen a slightly different colour than before?
In November 2024 we transitioned over to a new Australian collagen because we were delighted to find one that was less heavily processed and better than what we had! You can read more about it here.
As you can imagine, making a beef product white and tasteless involves a lot of heavy processing and when we discovered a new Australian producer who is making collagen that is fresher and less processed we knew this was a superior product.
Our improved Collagen is uniquely made on the same day (and even the same location) as the cattle are processed, with a short processing time of just 8 hours. It is the extensive processing of collagen that makes it pure white (think white sugar vs raw sugar!). This shorter duration of processing time results in a lower environmental impact and a fresher product which is light beige in colour.
Locally sourced in NSW, with exceptional traceability from farm to plate, we are so proud to partner with another Australian business making the best in the world!
What is the difference between Bovine Collagen and Marine Collagen?
Bovine collagen is obtained from beef cattle hides and is rich in Type I and Type III collagen (good for both skin, joints and bones). Marine Collagen is obtained from fish skin and is exclusively Type I (good for skin, hair and nails). Both dissolve easily in hot and cold liquid with very little taste.
Does your collagen and gelatin contain sulphur dioxide residue?
Sulphur dioxide is a volatile gas (the smell of volcanos, burning matches & fireworks) and is not measured as a residue in gelatin. In the process of making gelatin, sulphites are produced. Our certificate of analysis confirms there is only 18mg/kg. However when substances containing sulphites are both in an aqueous environment and acidic environment (eg. orange juice) then some of the sulphites will be converted to sulphur dioxide and water.
Some companies may add sulphites as a preservative, but in Thankfully Nourished gelatin and collagen there are no sulphites added.
Some companies (Wine manufactures especially) add sulphur dioxide to the final packaging before sealing to act as a biocide to prevent spoilage, Thankfully Nourished does not use this process in packaging.
Collagen vs Gelatin
The main difference between collagen and gelatin is in their molecular weight. Collagen is lower in weight and size than gelatin and can easily be mixed into both hot and cold liquid (so you can add collagen to herbal teas etc. and it will dissolve beautifully). Gelatin is derived from collagen and has the ability to congeal liquids, making it perfect for making homemade jelly (but don't add this one to your cup of tea or as it cools you will get thick gelatinous tea!)
