tablets and kashrut

Raj Thomas (raj@gco.apana.org.au)
Sat, 16 Nov 1996 07:29:08 GMT

Most tablets contain titanium dioxide, talc and varying quantities of
binding agents. These are often gelatin or other animal derivatives.

Some medicines are animal products ( eg: bovine and porcine
insulin in the old days , now replaced by recombinant insulin grown in
genetically modified yeast , growth hormone )

Cardiac valves are sometimes made of animal ( eg: porcine ) material.

Any comments about the kosher status of these and similar products ?