Capsule personalization can play a big part in this. With capsule personalization you can create truly unique products that support your brand recognition efforts.

Here are some of the many options available to you…

Add a premium touch with special capsule finishes

Available for both gelatin capsules and HPMC capsules, special capsule finishes can really make your product stand out. Become known as the brand whose capsules always have one of the following:

• Pearl or pearlized finish
• Metallic finish
• Bright finish
• Iridescent finish

Choose a unique combination of capsule colors

Whether or not you use a premium finish, your brand recognition efforts can also be supported by the use of unique colors or color combinations.

All of the major capsule manufacturers make their two-piece hard capsules available in a wide range of standard capsule colors. Some products, such as K-CAPS^® HPMC capsules and G-CAPS^® gelatin capsules, can even be ordered in Pantone colors. That’s right, you can match your capsules to the exact PMS colors associated with your brand! 

If you add banding to your two-piece hard capsules, you can choose up to three different colors: one for the capsule cap, one for the capsule body and one for the band. Or you can go with a two-tone or monotone color scheme. Either way, as we’ve written about before, be sure to consider the importance of choosing the correct capsule colors for your brand. Brand recognition is heavily dependent on capsule colors—and studies have shown that different colors are likely to elicit different emotional responses.

Combine capsule colors and finishes for an even stronger impact

For example, cheerful bright yellows are known to be an excellent choice for antidepressants. One option would be to take things a step farther by putting a bright finish on the bright yellow capsule for your antidepressant product. Similarly, a pearl finish or pearl pigments might be good choices for products that are meant to have a calming effect.

Consider using natural colorants for a more “natural” product

In some product categories, consumers have such a strong preference for “natural,” “clean label” products that they want to see that the coloring agents used in making the capsule are natural, too. While most capsules are made with synthetic coloring agents, K-CAPS^® HPMC capsules are also available with natural colorants. This can be an excellent product personalization option.

Take advantage of custom printing options

While pharmaceutical products require custom printing to meet regulatory requirements, both pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals can benefit from custom printing done purely for branding purposes. 

You can have your capsules printed with your logo, product name or other information or images (including cartoon characters for pediatric applications). K-CAPS^® HPMC capsules and G-CAPS^® gelatin capsules can be printed on the capsule body and/or the capsule cap, in one or two colors, using pharmaceutical grade ink in a variety of colors. Furthermore, this printing can be radial or axial, rectified or non-rectified.

Personalization also supports compliance

Most people associate their medicines and supplements with the product’s appearance. They take the “shiny green pill” for one thing and the “small yellow pill” for another. Because of this, when your product has a unique appearance, people are more likely to remember to take it. In this way, personalization is not just about brand recognition, it’s also about compliance.

Align your capsules with your brand aesthetic

If you want to increase your sales by ensuring that your products support your brand recognition efforts, personalization lets you take branding and differentiation to a whole new level. Design your capsule according to your brand aesthetic and market trends in order to create a product that is unique, memorable and easy to recognize.

Brand recognition is heavily dependent on capsule colors

Especially in today’s age of direct-to-consumer marketing that is common even for prescription medications, unique capsule colors or color combinations quickly become associated with particular brands. In fact, the association between colors and products is so strong that many makers of generic medications choose to mimic the colors of the original branded drug.

In addition to the broad range of standard color choices, some manufacturers of gelatin and HPMC two-piece capsules also offer pantone matching. This means that your two-piece capsules can be manufactured in the exact PMS color or colors associated with your brand. With pantone matching your capsules and packaging can all present the same unique color or color combination.

When choosing capsule colors, be aware that up to three different colors can be used. You can select one color for the capsule cap, a second color for the capsule body and a third color for the banding (which, in most cases, is optional). You can also use special finishes to further differentiate your product. Bright, metallic, luminescent, iridescent and pearlized finishes are all available.

Natural colorants can support a brand’s “natural” promises

In the nutraceuticals space, many consumers are specifically looking for safer and more natural products. To support this, some HPMC two-piece capsules, such as K-CAPS^®, are available in a range of colors made from completely natural colorants. While traditional colorants come from synthetic sources, these natural colorants and pigments are made from natural sources such as flowers and algae. 

Capsule color helps prevent medication errors

Research has shown that the primary way consumers identify their medication is via the product’s color. More than the product name, or the dosage shape, size or form, color is how people mentally catalog their pills. It is likely that they also associate the dosage quantity with the color. “I take two of the yellow capsules in the morning with breakfast,” they might report, “and then the green one and the blue one before I go to bed.” 

From the patient standpoint, associating a medication or supplement with its color helps prevent errors by (a) serving as a reminder to take the pill and (b) making mix-ups visually apparent.

This color differentiation is also useful for others as well. Color helps prevent errors during production or packaging. Pharmacists can use color as another thing to double-check before dispensing the product, and staff members at hospitals and care facilities who must dispense multiple pills to multiple people also find it useful. Sometimes different colors are used to distinguish between different strengths of the same medication—another way to prevent often-dangerous medication errors.

Consumers have an emotional response to color

One of the most interesting reasons why choosing the correct capsule color is so important is one that has been studied for decades, in a variety of contexts: emotional response to color. It’s an established fact that different colors are associated with different emotions (although the details can vary from one culture to another). Beyond that, people will have an emotional response regarding the medication’s likely effectiveness based on the capsule color, with different colors associated with different medical properties. 

For example, in many cultures:

• Blue and green are both associated with a tranquilizing effect. Blue in particular has been shown to be a good color to choose for sedatives and sleep aides, while green is an excellent choice for anti-anxiety medications.
• White is associated with pain reduction.
• Red, yellow and orange are seen as stimulants.
• Cheerful bright yellows make the most effective antidepressants.

Although this often takes place at a subconscious level, many consumers will look at a product’s color and make a judgment call regarding whether or not it will work based on that color. Furthermore, these preconceived color-based beliefs regarding whether or not a product will work as claimed are so strong that they can have a placebo effect—either positive or negative. A product can literally be more or less effective simply because the product’s color makes the consumer believe this will be the case. 

Interestingly, these color effects are often amplified by brighter colors and embossed brand names. This means that the use of finishes that can make a color “pop,” combined with printing the brand name on the HPMC or gelatin capsule itself, can result in a stronger emotional response.

For best results, you’ll want to choose a color that matches the intended outcome of your product, not the most-common symptoms…and avoid colors associated with the opposite impact. So, for example, avoid using bright red two-piece capsules, which would be seen as stimulants, for sleeping aides or diarrhea treatments. 

References

 ¹Lowery, M., “Tablet and Capsule Colors: Multifunctional Purpose,” Nutritional Outlook, June 3, 2013.

²De Craen, AJ, Roose, PJ, et al, “Effect of colour of drugs: systematic review of perceived effect of drugs and of their effectiveness,” BMJ, December 1996.

The Formal Introduction of Gelatin Capsules in America

Capsules received a formal introduction to the American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA) in August, 1896 in a presentation given by APhA member WM. C. Alpers. While capsules had been used by pharmacists and physicians for over fifty years, they were not yet listed in the US Pharmacopeia. For the annual meeting, Alpers prepared a historical background of the development of capsules and presented it as a means of formalizing the recognition of capsules as a dosage form.

Alpers’ related the history of Mr. A. Mothes of Paris, France, the inventor of the first patented gelatin capsules in 1834. The first capsules were used to successfully mask the taste and odor of balsam of copaiba without the use of excipients.

The method of manufacturing used a small leather pouch that was filled with mercury; these together created a mold. The mercury-filled pouch resembled the shape and size of a small olive. The mold was dipped into a solution made of one part gelatin and three parts water. A rotary motion helped to distribute the gelatin over the pouch, with additional dipping done as needed to form a consistent outer layer. Once the gelatin capsule layer was firm, the mercury was emptied from the leather and the collapsed skin was removed from the outer shell. The small neck opening of the capsule was trimmed, and it was then filled with copaiba oil (the medicine) by syringe. A small drop of gelatin was applied to the remaining hole, and the capsule was sealed.

While the new dosage form gained popularity for its successes, Mothes, and his partner DuBlanc were protective of their new product and for a time would not supply empty capsule shells for filling by other pharmacists. Similarly, competing pharmacists were protective of their custom formulations, and did not want to supply these to Mothes and DuBlanc for filling. This gave way to the exploration of alternative methods of using gelatin to hide the taste and smell of medications.

Alpers shared the case of a Parisian pharmacist, Mr. Garot, who in 1838 engineered a related but different method. Garot would use the active ingredients to form a mass, like a dough, and cut these into small pills. A needle was used to stab and pick up the pill, where it could then be immersed in the gelatin solution and then dried. Once dried, the needle was carefully warmed over a candle until the instrument could be removed. A spatula with a small amount of gelatin sealed the hole made by the needle. Great care was exercised to not allow the active ingredients to contact the outside of the gelatin shell so that taste-masking was as effective as possible. (original source: Journal de Pharmacie, 1838 p. 78)

Further methods were described in various places using molds such as wood (Bucharest), sheep intestine (London), and iron (France, Germany and the United States).

Particular to the United States, Alpers quotes the American Journal of Pharmacy in 1835 wherein Alfred Guillou (Philadelphia College of Pharmacy) described the following method:

“Provide a suitable number of narrow tin dishes, about 18 or 20 in length, ½ in. deep, and about 2 in. in width. In the length of these and in a line, plant or solder at a distance of one inch from each other a number of smoothly formed metallic knobs of an ovoid shape, whose apex having been somewhat lengthened out, forms a thin neck by which they are attached to the tin dishes. This neck may be about ½ of an inch in length. Procure a sheet of tin and perforate with round holes, of which the diameter will be equal to the thickness of the knobs. Having greased the knobs well with lard, so as not only to prevent any adhesion to them, but also the adhesion of the inner sides of the capsules to each other after casting, pour melted glue (the most transparent having been selected) upon them and allow it to become tolerably stiff. If you think the shell is too thin, a second coat may be poured upon the first. The capsule having been coated, this cast is allowed to cool down to the ordinary consistency of India rubber, and having run a knife around the neck, you twist it briskly around and pull it upwards off the knob. It will immediately collapse and lose the form imparted to it on the mould, but if laid aside to dry, will by the time it has hardened have regained the desired rotundity. Place it upon your perforated plate or “filler”, and you can thus conveniently fill it with the article prescribed, and close the opening with a piece of gold-beaters skin.”

Eventually empty two-piece capsules were manufactured and sold. This was a difficult process, as small variations in capsule wall thickness made the capsule joining process inconsistent. Automation would lead to greater consistency and lead to success for two-piece capsule manufacturing.

F.A. Hubel of Detroit, Michigan is credited by Alpers as securing the first patent for an automated machine to make empty two-piece capsules. Like manual manufacturing, the process involved dipping mold pins into a gelatin solution, and drying the gelatin, and cutting and stripping the two-part shells off the molds. In Hubel’s early machines, the capsule parts were then inspected and joined manually.

Albers quoted from a letter of “The Merz Capsule Company” of Detroit describing the difficulties:
“In order to make capsules properly and sufficiently cheap it requires a large amount of complicated and expensive machinery, and constant attention to small details, in as much as the one-thousandth of an inch difference, more or less, in the thickness of a capsule will either make it a loose-joining or a tight-joining capsule.”

As empty two-piece capsules became more available through mass production, their popularity and use soared. Another inventor, Mr. Heineman summed up several benefits as follows:
“By means of these (capsules) the druggist is enabled himself to fill elastic capsules as occasion may require, perfectly and without loss of time, doing the work as well as the capsule manufacturer himself could do the same in the factory. The convenient shells will keep almost indefinitely, are always ready for use, and enable the druggist not alone to avoid carrying a large stock of filled capsules, but enable him to dispense freshly made capsules containing an almost indefinite variety of formulas with whatever variations physicians may be pleased to give them from time to time, as the needs of the patient may require.”

So you reach out to a gelatin capsules manufacturer located in your hemisphere—and learn that although they’re located here, their raw materials supply is not. The same geopolitical situation is affecting their ability to source the raw gelatin needed to make their gelatin capsules. Not surprisingly, they’re putting long-standing customers at the front of the line for the two-piece capsules that they are able to produce.

All of this means that your supply of gelatin capsules will soon run out and your production will come to a screeching halt.

Sound far-fetched? It’s not. This is exactly the type of supply chain challenges that many manufacturers faced when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. While many buyers have always recognized that there are risks associated with relying on overseas suppliers, many failed to consider the impact that trade wars, political upheaval, lax quality control standards and global pandemics could have on their “local” supplier’s ability to source the raw ingredients they need.

What’s the solution?

There are many things to consider when choosing a gelatin capsules supplier. Does their product have the appropriate third-party certifications? Does the cost fit your budget? Does the quality meet your standards? What are their lead times? Can they provide next-day delivery of off-the-shelf products? Do they provide technical support? Do they offer the ability to customize your capsule in terms of colors, sizes, printing and more? Can they provide stability testing?

Perhaps most importantly, though, you need to look at whether or not a gelatin capsules supplier has the ability to ensure that they will be able to provide the long-term, reliable supply that you need. After all, cost, quality, technical support and other factors are irrelevant if the company’s inability to fulfill orders is shutting down your production line!

For gelatin capsules, the solution to the “reliable supply” issue is gelatin vertical integration. As an added bonus, vertical integration addresses cost and quality issues as well.

What does gelatin vertical integration mean for you?

Gelatin is an animal product, made from collagen derived from the bones and connective tissues of cows and pigs. Used to make both hard and soft capsules, gelatin is a key ingredient in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturing. Beyond that, gelatin is also used in a variety of food and cosmetic products. Even without event-driven supply chain shocks, growing demand in all of these areas has been straining gelatin supply for a number of years.

Gelatin vertical integration means that your gelatin capsules supplier owns its entire gelatin supply chain, starting with the raw materials (i.e., the raw gelatin). In other words, they produce their own gelatin, so their ability to obtain the gelatin they need to make capsules is not impacted by trade wars, political upheaval, etc.

G-CAPS® gelatin capsules, for example, are made in North America by a company that has complete vertical integration of its gelatin supply. This means that brands that choose G-CAPS® enjoy a reliable, uninterrupted long-term supply of superior-quality gelatin capsules, with complete traceability of the capsule ingredients.

Vertical integration also refers to the finished product

Owning its source of raw materials gives a vertically-integrated capsule manufacturer a safe and dependable source of gelatin. In addition, a company with complete vertical integration also controls its production, warehousing, customer service and technical service. It’s a huge benefit if your capsule supplier has the capability of providing you with formulation and regulatory assistance as well.

Don’t underestimate the importance of your capsule supplier

Because your gelatin capsules supplier is a fundamental partner that can either support or impede your company’s success, choosing a supplier is both a practical and strategic decision. A supplier that has gelatin vertical integration has control over their capsule’s cost and quality, as well as the reliability of their ongoing supply. All of this, in turn, can give you a significant strategic advantage in your marketplace.

Gelatin capsule components

To understand the gelatin capsule manufacturing process, it is helpful to first understand the different components involved:

The ingredients

The main ingredient in gelatin capsules is, of course, gelatin. Gelatin is a protein made from animal products, specifically from collagen derived from the bones and connective tissues of cows and pigs.

It should be noted that the quality of the gelatin used can have a significant impact on the quality of the finished capsules. For this reason, choosing a vertically-integrated capsule manufacturer that owns and has complete control over its gelatin supply can be quite advantageous. Vertical integration also ensures that the manufacturer will have a continuous supply of gelatin, even in the face of today’s gelatin supply challenges.

In addition to gelatin, gelatin capsules can also contain water, plasticizers such as glycerin and polyhydric alcohol, colorants and opacifying agents such as titanium dioxide. Gelatin capsules made in manufacturing facilities that follow Good Manufacturing Practice guidelines do not require preservatives. For that reason, you should consider it a “red flag” if a gelatin capsule contains paraben esters—the manufacturing facility might not meet basic standards.

The design of the capsule shell

Hard gelatin capsules are made up of two parts: the capsule body and the capsule cap. Together these two cylindrically-shaped parts comprise the capsule shell.

The capsule body is designed to hold the material that will ultimately be encapsulated in the finished capsule. The capsule body has two air vents that allow air to escape from the capsule during the filling process. Its tapered rim and slightly smaller diameter enable it to fit perfectly into the capsule cap.

The capsule cap, which is about half the length of the capsule body, is designed to fit over and lock together with the capsule body. It features elongated dimples that help it maintain its precise, round diameter during the capsule joining process.

Since the two parts of the capsule shell must be separated before the fill material can be inserted, you might think that two-piece gelatin capsules are delivered in two separate pieces. Interestingly, they’re not. The capsule bodies and caps are joined together as part of the capsule manufacturing process and then separated by the capsule filling machine. This equipment is used to insert the fill material into the capsule body and then join the two parts back together again.

Gelatin capsules manufacturing process

Hard gelatin capsules are made using a 7-step dip-coating process:

Step #1: The gelatin solution is prepared by dissolving gelatin in demineralized water, heating it to a specified temperature, removing any air bubbles and then adding any desired colorants or pigments.

Step #2: Pairs of steel pins are dipped into the gelatin solution to form the capsule shells. Half the pins make the capsule bodies, while the other half, which are smaller, make the capsule caps.

Step #3: The gelatin-coated pins are rotated to ensure that the gelatin solution is evenly distributed over each pin.

Step #4: The gelatin is dried in stages until it achieves the desired level of moisture content.

Step #5: The capsules are removed from the pins and precision-trimmed to the proper length.

Step #6: The capsule bodies and caps are joined together, but only to a “pre-closed” position using a “pre-lock” mechanism.

Step #7: If desired, the finished capsules are custom printed for branding and/or product identification purposes.

Gelatin capsules customization options

Some gelatin capsules manufacturers offer a broad range of customization options, including:

Color

Both standard and custom colors are available, including the ability to match Pantone colors for branding purposes. Choose one color for the capsule body and another for the capsule cap, or make the entire capsule shell the same color. Once the capsules are filled, colored banding can also be applied.

Size

Hard gelatin capsules come in a range of standard sizes. As you can see on the chart below, size numbers are inverse to capsule size: a large capsule is size 000, while a small capsule is size 5.

Print

Custom printing can be done during the capsule manufacturing process. Depending on the capabilities of the capsule manufacturer, print options include printing on the capsule cap, the capsule body or both, either horizontally or vertically (referred to as “axial” and “radial”) on the capsule, in one, two or multiple colors.

Quality considerations

As with most products, there are significant quality differences between different manufacturers’ gelatin capsules. Everything from the quality of the raw gelatin to the humidity in the equipment room and the design of the capsule shell itself can play a part in the finished product’s quality.

Why does quality matter? Because poor-quality capsules may not hold up or work properly on your capsule filling machines, thereby causing waste and re-work. An excellent way to test the quality of a particular brand of gelatin capsules is to schedule a manufacturing trial and see for yourself how the capsules perform.

Gelatin capsules are made from gelatin, an animal product derived from the bones and connective tissues of cows and pigs. HPMC capsules are vegetarian, plant-based capsules. They are made from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, which is produced through the chemical modification of cellulose, a natural polymer and fiber.

Which is best for your nutraceutical product—gelatin or HPMC two-piece capsules? To answer this question it is helpful to understand the similarities and differences between these choices.

How gelatin and HPMC two-piece capsules are similar

Safe

Both gelatin and HPMC have received the “Generally Recognized as Safe for human consumption” (GRAS) designation from the world’s regulatory authorities. In addition, both have a low likelihood of allergenicity.

Natural

Both gelatin and HPMC are natural products.

“Clean Label” Friendly

Unlike tablets and softgels, the fill material for two-piece capsules can be formulated without binders. This can also make your product easier to digest, as many common binders and excipients can cause digestive problems.

Flexible

Gelatin capsules and HPMC two-piece capsules both work with a broad range of applications, formulations and fill types, including powders, granules, beads, tablets, liquids or even a mix of filling materials. Both have an easy filling process, and both do a good job masking the unpleasant taste and odor of the encapsulated material.

Long-lasting

Under proper storage conditions, both options give you a shelf life of about five years.

Customizable

Both types of two-piece capsules are available in a wide range of sizes and colors, can be made with a variety of finishing options, and can include custom printing on the capsule’s body and/or cap.

How gelatin and HPMC two-piece capsules differ

Consumer preference

HPMC capsules are vegetarian; gelatin capsules are not. This is a more important distinction in the nutraceuticals industry, where many health-conscious consumers are specifically looking for vegetarian products than it is in the pharmaceuticals industry, where many consumers will simply take the medication prescribed without inquiring about its ingredients.

For this reason, all else being equal, HPMC capsules are often the best choice for a nutraceutical product.

Certifications

Whether they are gelatin or HPMC, top quality capsules should be certified cGMP, non-GMO, Kosher and Halal. They should also come with a Composition Certification showing they are free of starches and preservatives. For the European market it is also important that the capsules do not contain titanium dioxide as a colorant.

If you choose HPMC capsules, be sure to choose a brand, such as K-CAPS®, that have received Vegan Registration from the Vegan Society.

If you are using gelatin capsules, be sure to choose a brand, such as G-CAPS®, that is free of BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as “mad cow disease”), as well as TSE (transmissible spongiform encephalopathies) and prion diseases. Prion diseases are a family of progressive neurodegenerative disorders that affect both animals and humans.

Ability to meet API challenges

Moisture content is an important contributor to the stability of many nutraceutical products, such as probiotics and amino acids. With their lower moisture content, HPMC capsules are more suitable for moisture-sensitive or hygroscopic formulations. HPMC capsules are also less prone to problems with brittleness than gelatin two-piece capsules are.

Another technical advantage of HPMC capsules is that they are resistant to cross-linking.

Cost

Because they cost less to produce, gelatin two-piece capsules cost less than HPMC two-piece capsules. Plus, the cost of HPMC capsules has increased due to increased demand.

Machinability

If you do not use a top-quality HPMC capsule, HPMC capsules can be a little harder to run on your filling machines than gelatin capsules. To overcome this issue you need to choose an HPMC two-piece capsule made from high-quality raw materials and pay close attention to the design of the capsule itself. Look for an HPMC capsule with a strong dome, excellent separation properties, and consistent quality.

Storage and handling conditions

HPMC capsules will tolerate higher levels of heat and humidity than gelatin capsules will. For gelatin two-piece capsules the recommended temperature range is 59°-77° Fahrenheit / 15°-25° Celsius, and the recommended relative humidity is between 35 and 65%. In contrast, HPMC capsules can tolerate temperatures of 59°-86° Fahrenheit / 15°-30° Celsius and relative humidity between 35 and 70%.

Which type of two-piece capsule is best for your product?

While there is no “one size fits all” answer and there are many factors to consider, the vegetarian HPMC capsules are an increasingly popular choice in the nutraceuticals world.

In addition to these factors, checking to see if a company’s gelatin capsules have received important third-party certifications is one of the essential product differentiators to consider when choosing a capsule to use for your product.

Why are gelatin capsules certifications important?

The quality and integrity of your encapsulated product depend on the quality and integrity of the ingredients used to make it—including the capsule itself. Third-party certifications provide assurance that your gelatin capsules meet stringent standards.

These certifications are also important because they help make it possible for you to obtain similar certifications for your end product. In the dietary supplements market, for example, many consumers look specifically for products that display various certification icons on the product packaging. In the pharmaceutical industry, there is a growing awareness that medications must meet the dietary needs of a broad swath of people in order to succeed in the global marketplace.

Which gelatin capsules certifications should you look for?

It is recommended that you only use gelatin capsules that are:

Certified Non-GMO

Many people believe that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are or may be harmful, and therefore only purchase products that do not contain any GMOs. The Non-GMO Project is the only organization in North America that provides third-party verification and labeling for non-GMO foods and products. In the dietary supplements market, Non-GMO Certification is especially important to consumers who seek out “clean” or “natural” products.

Certified Kosher

Gelatin capsules that have received Kosher Certification meet the strict rules of Jewish dietary laws, which are known as “Kashrut.” For gelatin capsules a key aspect of this is that the gelatin cannot come from porcine (i.e., pork) sources. The gelatin must be derived from animals such as cattle that can be consumed under Kosher dietary laws, and these animals must have been killed according to the laws of Kashrut.

In addition, every ingredient used to make the gelatin capsules must be Kosher, and all derivatives, tools and machines used to make the capsules must not contain any trace of non-Kosher substances.

Certified Halal

“Halal” is an Arab word that means “permissible” or “lawful.” Gelatin capsules that have received Halal Certification are permissible for those who follow Islamic dietary laws. Halal products cannot contain any prohibited ingredients, including pork and alcohol, or include any forbidden procedures in its manufacturing or processing.

Because of the prohibition of pork products, most gelatin capsules that are certified Halal are made from bovine (i.e., cattle) gelatin. These cattle must have been slaughtered using a single cut, and the gelatin cannot have come in contact with products from animals slaughtered using other methods. Furthermore, to receive Halal certification, the capsules must have been processed and manufactured using equipment that was cleansed according to Islamic law.

Certified free of allergens, preservatives, and starches

Because capsules are consumed, it is important to ensure that they are free of common food allergens. According to FARE, a national food allergy organization, “although nearly any food can trigger an allergic reaction, there are nine foods that cause the majority of reactions.” These nine allergens are: milk, egg, peanut, tree nut, soy, wheat, shellfish, fish and sesame. Look for gelatin capsules that are free of preservatives and starches as well as these common allergens.

The best way to ensure that your gelatin capsules meet these standards is to only work with manufacturers that provide a complete Composition Certification. This third-party certificate of analysis documents all of the ingredients used to make the capsules.

G-CAPS^® meet all of these standards and more

G-CAPS® gelatin capsules are certified Kosher, Halal and non-GMO, free of allergens, preservatives and starches, and made in a cGMP certified facility. In addition, G-CAPS® are the only gelatin capsules made by a company that owns its entire gelatin capsule supply chain, starting with the raw materials. This vertical integration ensures consistent high quality and the reliability of long-term supply.