Editing Marshmallow (section)

== Dietary preferences ==
[[File:Mousse with marshmallows.jpg|thumb|Toasted vegan marshmallows served with [[chocolate mousse]]]]
The traditional marshmallow recipe uses powdered [[Althaea (plant)|marshmallow root]], but most commercially manufactured marshmallows instead use [[gelatin]] in their manufacture. [[veganism|Vegans]] and [[Vegetarianism|vegetarians]] avoid gelatin, but there are versions that use a substitute non-animal gelling agent such as [[agar]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.peta.org/living/food/gelatin-alternatives/|title=Gelatin Alternatives|work=PETA|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024154216/https://www.peta.org/living/food/gelatin-alternatives/|archive-date=2017-10-24}}</ref> In addition, marshmallows are generally not considered to be [[kashrut|kosher]] or [[halal]] unless either their gelatin is derived from kosher or halal animals or they are vegan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ok.org/ja/kosherspirit/tishrei5780/closer-look-gelatin/|title=A Closer Look - Gelatin - Kosher Spirit|website=OK Kosher Certification|language=ja|access-date=2019-12-31}}</ref>

[[Marshmallow creme]] and other less firm marshmallow products generally contain little or no gelatin, which mainly serves to allow the familiar marshmallow [[confectionery|confection]] to retain its shape. They generally use [[egg white]]s instead. Non-gelatin, egg-containing versions of this product may be consumed by [[ovo vegetarianism|ovo vegetarians]]. Several brands of vegetarian and vegan marshmallows and [[marshmallow fluff]] exist.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.peta.org/living/food/vegan-gelatin-free-marshmallow-brands/|title=These Gelatin-Free Marshmallow Brands Will Have You Ready for Vegan S'mores Season|work=PETA|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024153903/https://www.peta.org/living/food/vegan-gelatin-free-marshmallow-brands/|archive-date=2017-10-24}}</ref>
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