Many well-known nutritional supplements and health foods on the market use hard capsule dosage forms. Hard capsules are divided into two types: gelatin capsules and vegetable capsules. Gelatin capsules are also called animal capsules in the industry.

Currently, the price of vegetable capsules is three to five times that of gelatin capsules. Therefore, for most manufacturers, considering cost, they generally prefer to use gelatin capsules. So why do many high‑end health foods still choose vegetable capsules? For example, Thera Veda’s Ajay-Allergy Support Formula by Organix South, NMN10000 β‑nicotinamide mononucleotide NAD+ supplement by Meiji Pharmaceutical, and Align Daily Probiotic Supplement Capsule by Procter & Gamble – all of them use vegetable capsules.

What exactly leads them to make this choice? Let’s take a look at the professional analysis.

Vegetable capsules are not prone to bacterial growth
Common ordinary capsules, such as the 999 Ganmaoling many of us have taken, have capsule shells made of gelatin, glycerin, and water. Gelatin is generally hydrolyzed from the collagen parts of animal skin, tendons, and bones, and is a protein‑like substance. Therefore, gelatin capsules are also called animal capsules.

As we all know, boiled eggs left for a long time become inedible because protein easily breeds bacteria, mold, and other pathogenic microorganisms. Gelatin is a protein‑like substance and easily breeds bacteria; with any improper handling, the bacterial count may exceed the limit. Vegetable capsules do not have this problem. Their main raw material is plant cellulose, an inert, inactive natural polymer. Thus, vegetable capsules not only are not prone to bacterial growth but also inhibit bacterial growth. According to industry insiders, the best gelatin is bone gelatin, and the cost of good bone gelatin is almost the same as that of vegetable capsules. For high‑end health food manufacturers, when costs are comparable, they naturally prefer vegetable capsules.

Gelatin capsules are prone to bacterial growth – so what to do? In the production process, manufacturers usually adopt two methods to inhibit the growth of bacteria and microorganisms: adding preservatives and using ethylene oxide sterilization.

As we all know, disposable masks are also sterilized with ethylene oxide gas. Do you also have the habit of shaking a mask before use to shake off possible carcinogenic residues? Vegetable capsules do not carry this risk. They require neither ethylene oxide sterilization nor the addition of any preservatives. Such products indeed give consumers much more peace of mind.

Vegetable capsules have no risk of heavy metal content
The “poison capsule incident” that broke out in China more than a decade ago shocked the nation and involved many parties. Unscrupulous manufacturers used industrial gelatin extracted from leather to pass off as medicinal gelatin, causing excessive levels of heavy metal chromium in capsule shells, which harmed many consumers.

Vegetable capsules are made from raw materials extracted from cotton and starch, reducing the risk of heavy metal content exceeding the limit. A major factor why high‑end health food manufacturers choose vegetable capsules is their safety, giving consumers more confidence in their purchase.

Vegetable capsules have strong sealing properties, enhancing the activity of active ingredients
Hard capsule shells are containers for health foods. Although they themselves have no efficacy, they protect the contents. Health foods interact with the capsule as temperature and humidity change, reducing the activity of their active ingredients and consequently lowering the absorption rate in the human body.

Because the main component of gelatin capsules is animal protein, the moisture content of the capsule shell is relatively high. The characteristics of its raw material determine that it has strong moisture permeability. The contents are easily affected by moisture, microorganisms, etc. in the air, and cross‑linking reactions may occur, leading to deterioration. Vegetable capsules, relying on their own plant inertia, have high chemical stability and are not easily affected by changes in environment and temperature. They better protect the contents, reduce contact with air and moisture, and effectively extend the shelf life.

Vegetable capsules expand the range of applicable populations
Vegetarians and people with religious beliefs such as Muslims have unique choices regarding food ingredients. For high‑end health food manufacturers, this market cannot be ignored. Vegetable capsules are extracted from plants, thus have a wider range of applicable populations and pose no religious risk. For forward‑looking high‑end health food enterprises, they are the most ideal choice.

In summary, compared with traditional gelatin capsules, vegetable capsules have five major advantages: they are not prone to bacterial growth; they contain no preservatives; they have no risk of heavy metal content; they have strong sealing properties, enhancing the activity of active ingredients; and they expand the range of applicable populations. These are important considerations for high‑end health foods. A good capsule gives consumers more peace of mind and makes health foods safer.