Jello is a gelatinous dessert that is primarily made up of gelatin, a protein extracted from the skins and bones of certain animals, often cows and pigs. The hides and bones of these animals are boiled, dried, treated with a strong acid or base, and finally filtered until the collagen is extracted. The collagen is then dried, ground into a powder, and sifted to make gelatin. While gelatin is what gives jello its wiggly texture, packaged jello mixes also contain sweeteners, flavoring agents, and colorings. Sweeteners used in jello are typically aspartame, an artificial calorie-free sweetener, or sugar. Jello can also contain natural or artificial food colorings. Brand-name Jell-O is not vegetarian, but there are vegan alternatives such as agar agar, which is derived from seaweed.