What material is the capsule shell made of?

The common raw material for capsule shells is not only gelatin. Common materials for two-piece hard hollow capsules include gelatin, HPMC (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), pullulan, and starch materials.

Four common types of raw materials for capsule shells:

Gelatin: a protein material obtained by partial hydrolysis of animal collagen;

HPMC: Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is the main film-forming material;

Prulan: a polysaccharide material obtained through microbial fermentation;

Starch based materials: modified starch or other starch based film-forming routes.

What are the differences between gelatin and HPMC, two common materials?

The core difference between gelatin and HPMC lies in the difference in the main film-forming materials. Gelatin comes from animal collagen, while HPMC belongs to cellulose derivatives. Both can be made into two-part hard hollow capsules composed of a cap body and a body, but the glue preparation, gel or film forming method, drying control and shell moisture logic are different.

What other components may be contained in the capsule shell besides the main material?

The capsule shell usually also involves water, as well as colorants, shading materials, gel agents, gel additives, surface active or lubrication related processing additives used according to product needs. Capsule printing also involves ink. The specific composition depends on the material route, product specifications, and supplier formula, and cannot be judged solely based on "gelatin capsules" or "plant capsules".

When conducting label, allergen, religious, or non animal source audits, the official composition information and declaration of the current product should be requested, and the color and printing materials should be confirmed. When there is no file support, it is not advisable to automatically expand "plant-based" to include vegetarian certification, halal certification, or other market conclusions.