NOW Foods Empty Capsules Gelatin Double 00" 750 gel caps"

What it is

This is a pouch of approximately 750 empty gelatin capsule shells from NOW Foods, in the double “00” size. The shells arrive unfilled and separated into two halves, ready for you to fill with your own powdered ingredients and close by hand. The front of the pack states the size as Double “00”, describes the material as Bovine Sourced, and gives a net weight of 89 g (3.14 oz.). The pouch is a resealable stand-up bag with a zip closure and a clear window, so the shells can be stored in the same bag they arrive in.

An empty capsule is a container, not a supplement. There is no vitamin, mineral, herb or active ingredient inside these shells, and nothing on this pack is sold as a dietary supplement. Whatever nutritional content a finished capsule ends up having comes entirely from the powder you put into it. You will find this item alongside the rest of our capsules and supplies range rather than with finished formulas.

What the shell is made of

The complete ingredient list printed on the pack is Bovine Gelatin and Water — two items, and nothing else. Gelatin is a protein obtained from animal collagen; the bovine designation printed on the front of this pouch means the collagen source is cattle rather than pork or fish. It has been used as a capsule-shell material for well over a century because it forms a firm, glossy shell that holds its shape when dry.

Because gelatin comes from an animal, this particular pack is not suitable for vegetarian or vegan use. NOW states on the back panel that it also supplies vegetarian capsules in the “0” and “00” sizes, along with gelatin capsules in the “1”, “3”, “0” and “000” sizes, if a different material or a different capacity suits you better. This pouch carries a Non-GMO mark on the front. It does not carry a kosher or halal certification mark of any kind, which is worth knowing if certification matters for your purposes.

The shells in the window of this pack are colorless and translucent. The NIH maintains a searchable Dietary Supplement Label Database of label panels, useful background if you are reproducing something you have seen elsewhere.

Product Specifications

Filling and storing them

The pack states a capacity of 700 – 900 mg of most vitamin or mineral powders per capsule, and that range is the single most useful number here. It is a range rather than a fixed figure because capsules are filled by volume while powders are measured by weight: a dense mineral powder will reach 900 mg well before the shell looks full, and a light, fluffy herb powder may only reach the bottom of that range even when packed. Weighing a few test capsules on a scale is the only reliable way to know where your particular powder sits.

This pouch prints no filling directions, no storage instructions and no cautionary text, so none is invented here. For how much powder belongs in a serving, follow the label of the powder you are filling. As for the shells themselves, ordinary dry-goods sense applies: keep them in the sealed pouch, somewhere cool and dry, and away from humidity, since gelatin is a moisture-sensitive material.

The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements publishes a plain-language guide on what to know about dietary supplements, and an index of fact sheets on individual nutrients, if you want background on an ingredient before you measure it into a capsule. Neither source refers to this product.

Who it's for

This size and count suits someone already filling capsules regularly rather than someone trying it for the first time. Seven hundred and fifty shells is a working supply rather than a sample quantity — enough to fill in batches, put the pouch away sealed, and come back to it repeatedly without reordering. If you fill capsules only occasionally, a smaller count is the more sensible buy.

The double “00” size is the one people usually reach for when the powder is bulky and they would rather not swallow three capsules where one will do. It is a substantial capsule to get down, and that is the honest trade-off against its capacity — a smaller shell is easier to swallow but you need more of them to hold the same amount of powder.

The material is the other half of the decision, and it is the part that rules this pack in or out. Gelatin is the long-established shell for home filling. Anyone avoiding animal-derived ingredients, whether for dietary, ethical or religious reasons, needs the vegetarian version instead. Browse related health and wellness items if you are still deciding.

Good to know

The back panel carries a full allergen statement: not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, corn, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients, and produced in a GMP facility that also processes other ingredients containing those allergens. That second clause matters to anyone with a severe allergy, because shared-facility production is not the same as an allergen-free line.

The pack also prints a reference list of the powder categories NOW offers for home encapsulation — amino acid powders, herb powders, green super foods, mineral powders, vitamin C powders, vitamin B powders and a general category. That list describes what the company sells separately. None of those powders is included with this pack; you are buying empty shells only.

These are for adults. Keep them out of reach of children, who can mistake an empty capsule for candy, and keep filled capsules clearly labeled so nobody in the household takes one without knowing what is in it. The FDA's questions and answers on dietary supplements covers the general ground rules that apply to anything you make at home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these capsules vegetarian?

No. These are gelatin capsules and the front of the pack states Bovine Sourced, meaning the gelatin is derived from cattle. The full ingredient list is Bovine Gelatin and Water. NOW notes on the back panel that it supplies vegetarian capsules in the “0” and “00” sizes for anyone who needs a plant-based shell.

How much powder does one double “00” capsule hold?

The pack states 700 to 900 mg of most vitamin or mineral powders. Where your powder falls in that range depends on its density, so a heavy mineral powder reaches the top of the range sooner than a light herbal one. Weigh a filled capsule if you need an exact figure.

What is actually in the capsule shell itself?

Bovine Gelatin and Water, and that is the complete list printed on the pack. There is no dye, no preservative and no active ingredient in the shell, and the shells in this pouch are colorless and translucent.

Does the pouch include instructions for filling the capsules?

No. This pack prints no filling directions, no storage guidance and no warning text of any kind. For how much of a given powder belongs in one capsule, follow the label of that powder rather than a general rule.

How is this order packaged for delivery?

Orders ship in plain, unbranded outer packaging. It will not show the Gear Isle name. You can also find this pouch listed under supplements on our site.

Product information compiled and reviewed by the Gear Isle product team. We transcribe product specifications directly from manufacturer packaging. Found an error? Tell us.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For adults 18 and over. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before use, especially if you have a medical condition or a known allergy to any listed ingredient. Keep out of reach of children.