Bovine or porcine gelatin verified; vegetarian HPMC alternatives advised.
Gelatin and glycerin shell components verified to source.
Magnesium stearate and fill excipients verified to source.
With capsules and softgels, the delivery form is itself an ingredient. The shell that holds the active is most often built from gelatin — one of the single most significant concerns in kosher certification — along with glycerin as a plasticizer and various flow and release agents. A brand can source an impeccable active and still end up with a non-kosher product entirely because of the shell it is encapsulated in. That is why the review has to weigh the shell as heavily as the fill. Our supplements certification is built to verify both sides of a capsule — the material that surrounds the dose and the dose itself.
Most softgels and many two-piece capsules use gelatin, and its kosher status depends entirely on its source, since standard gelatin is derived from animal collagen. We confirm the source and certification of the gelatin, or verify the plant-based alternatives — HPMC, pullulan, or starch shells — when a product is built without it. Our note on whether gelatin is kosher explains why the shell is usually the first and most decisive question in this category.
Softgel shells are made flexible with glycerin, and glycerin can be produced from animal fat, vegetable oil, or petrochemical sources. Because it is central to every softgel, we verify the origin and certification of the glycerin and any other plasticizers or humectants in the shell. Our explainer on whether glycerin is kosher covers why this one plasticizer has to be traced to its source.
The active fill has its own status — oils, herbal extracts, vitamins, and their suspending agents — and marine or animal-derived oils are common in softgels. We verify the fill and every carrier suspended with it, so that neither the shell nor the contents becomes an unchecked gap.
Encapsulation relies on flow agents and lubricants such as stearates, and shells are often colored or opacified with pigments that can include carmine or titanium dioxide. We confirm each of these, since a stearate or a colorant can carry a status issue even in the small quantities a capsule requires.
Encapsulation and softgel lines run many products, and residue can carry between runs. We review your cleaning and run sequencing, and because knowing what happens during a kosher inspection helps you prepare, we walk you through the records and equipment the visit will examine.
Certifying a capsule or softgel with Pure K means the gelatin or alternative shell, the glycerin, the fill, and the flow agents are all documented, so the symbol on the bottle reflects a review of both the shell and its contents. We understand encapsulation and keep the process rigorous without slowing your line. When you are ready, request a free, no-obligation quote.
