NOW Foods Empty Capsules Gelatin Single 0" 1000 gel caps"

What this is

This is a pouch of approximately 1,000 empty gelatin capsule shells from NOW Foods, in the size the pack calls Single “0”. They arrive empty. Nothing is inside them, and no powder is supplied with them — you fill them yourself with whatever powdered vitamin, mineral or herb you already have. The front of the pouch prints the two facts that define the item: Approx. 1000 Empty Gelatin Capsules and NET WT. 96 g (3.39 OZ.).

The packaging is a stand-up pouch with a zip-top closure and an oval window across the lower front, so the shells are visible before you open it. Through that window they read as colorless and translucent. This listing sits in Capsules & Supplies, the part of the store that stocks the empty shells, and it is a supply item rather than something taken on its own.

What the shells are made of

The complete ingredient list printed on the back panel is Bovine Gelatin and Water. That is the whole formula — two items. The front panel states Bovine Sourced directly beneath the product name, so the gelatin is of cattle origin rather than porcine or fish.

Gelatin is a protein derived from collagen, and it is the long-established shell material for two-piece capsules. NOW also supplies vegetarian shells in “0” and “00”, and the back panel says so, for anyone who needs to avoid an animal-derived material.

The back panel carries an allergen statement, quoted here as printed: “Not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, corn, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.” A small Non-GMO mark appears on the front panel; the certifying scheme beside it is not legible in the product photography, so no scheme is named here.

Product Specifications

How much a size “0” shell holds

The back panel gives one capacity figure for this size: these single “0” gelatin capsules can hold 400 – 600 mg of most vitamin or mineral powders. It is printed as a range rather than a single number, and the reason is that a capsule is a fixed volume while a dose is a weight. A dense mineral powder settles into that volume at a heavier weight than a light, fluffy herb powder does, so the same shell lands at different ends of the range depending on what goes into it. Weigh the powder if the exact amount matters to you; the shell itself cannot measure it.

The back panel also lists the rest of the range NOW supplies — gelatin in “1”, “3”, “00” and “000”, plus vegetarian shells in “0” and “00” — if this size turns out to be the wrong fit for your powder. The “00” and “000” shells hold more than this one; the “1” and “3” hold less.

The pouch is Filled by Weight, which is stated on the front panel, and the count is given as Approx. 1000 for that reason. The net weight of 96 g (3.39 oz.) is the figure the pack is measured against.

What goes in them

Anything you can measure as a dry powder and choose to encapsulate. The back panel of this pouch prints a reference list of the powder ranges NOW offers for the purpose, grouped under seven headings: amino acid powders, herb powders, green super foods, mineral powders, vitamin C powders, vitamin B powders, and a general “more powders” group. None of those powders is included with this pack — the list is there to tell you what exists, and each of them is bought separately. You can browse the wider supplements range for the powders themselves.

If you are new to filling your own, the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements consumer guide to dietary supplements gives general background on what supplements are and how they are regulated, and the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database lets you look up how commercial products state their own amounts. The FDA questions and answers on dietary supplements covers the regulatory side. None of those bodies has reviewed or endorsed this product; they are background reading on the category.

Who it suits

This pack suits someone who has already settled the two questions it answers. The first is the size: you need shells that take 400 to 600 mg, not the ones that take more or less. The second is the material: you are content with a bovine gelatin shell, because at approximately 1,000 units that is a decision you are making once and living with for a long stretch. Anyone who needs to avoid animal-derived ingredients should look at the vegetarian shells NOW makes in this same “0” size instead, which are a separate listing.

It is a resupply quantity rather than a first try. Filling a thousand shells is a lot of repetitions by hand, so it fits someone already set up for the job — working through a bulk powder, or using a capsule filling tray — better than it fits a first experiment. It is for adults 18 and over.

Good to know

This pouch carries no directions, no storage instruction and no caution panel — there is no such text anywhere on the packaging, because an empty shell has nothing to dose. Follow the directions, cautions and storage guidance on the label of whatever powder you put inside, and speak to a licensed healthcare professional before starting any supplement, particularly if you take prescription medication or have a medical condition. The NCCIH overview of dietary and herbal supplements is a reasonable starting point for general safety background.

The zip-top closure means the pouch reseals after opening, so the shells you have not used yet can stay in the pack they came in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these capsules vegetarian?

No — these shells are made from bovine gelatin and are not suitable for a vegetarian or vegan diet. The front panel states “Bovine Sourced” and the ingredient list reads Bovine Gelatin and Water. The back panel notes that NOW also supplies vegetarian capsules in “0” and “00” sizes, which are a separate listing.

How much powder does a size “0” capsule hold?

A size “0” shell holds 400 to 600 mg of most vitamin or mineral powders, as printed on the back of this pouch. Where a given powder falls inside that range depends on its density, since the capsule is a fixed volume rather than a fixed weight.

Does this pack come with anything to fill the capsules with?

No. This pack contains empty capsule shells only, with no powder of any kind supplied. The powders named on the back panel are a reference list of products sold separately; none of them is in this pouch.

What exactly are the shells made of?

Bovine gelatin and water, and nothing else — that two-item list is the complete printed ingredient statement. The pack also states that the shells are not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, corn, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients, and that they are produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing those allergens.

How is this order packaged for delivery?

Your order ships discreetly — the outer packaging will not show the Gear Isle name.

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.