NOW Foods Empty Capsules Gelatin Single 0" 250 gel caps"

What these are

These are empty gelatin capsule shells in size Single “0”, approximately 250 of them, in a resealable NOW Foods stand-up pouch. There is no vitamin, mineral or herb inside them — the pouch holds capsule halves and nothing else, and the powder that goes in is whatever you decide to put there. The front of the pack states the size, the approximate count, “Bovine Sourced”, “Filled by Weight” and a net weight of 24 g (0.85 oz.), and carries the pack code CODE 5156 V2.

They sit in our Capsules & Supplies range, alongside the other shell sizes and materials, rather than among finished formulas.

What they are made of

The complete ingredient list on the back panel is Bovine Gelatin and Water. That is the whole formula — two items. Gelatin is a protein obtained from animal collagen, and the front of this pouch prints “Bovine Sourced” to say which animal it came from.

This matters for two groups of buyers, so it is worth being direct about it. A bovine-gelatin shell is not vegetarian and not vegan. This pouch also carries no kosher symbol, unlike some other packs in the NOW capsule range. If either point rules the product out for you, the back panel notes that NOW supplies vegetarian capsules in “0” and “00” sizes as a separate item.

Product specifications

How much a size “0” shell holds

The back panel gives the figure directly: 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 being filled with materials of different densities. A dense mineral salt reaches the top of the same shell at a higher weight than a light, fluffy botanical powder does, so the same shell can honestly be described as a 400 mg capsule for one material and a 600 mg capsule for another. If you are matching a shell to an amount you already know, weigh a filled one rather than assuming a figure.

The same panel lists the other shell sizes NOW supplies: “1”, “3”, “00” and “000”. The “00” and “000” shells take more powder per capsule than a “0”; the “1” and “3” shells take less.

How the pouch is filled

The front of the pouch prints “Filled by Weight”, which describes how the pack is made up: to a target net weight of 24 g rather than by counting shells one at a time. The pack's own two figures show why weight is the practical measure here — 24 g spread across about 250 shells works out at roughly a tenth of a gram each, which is a very small unit to count against. Filling to a stated weight is the usual method for items this light.

How to use them

This pouch carries no directions, no storage instruction and no caution panel. The practical guidance you need belongs to the powder rather than to the shell: follow the serving size, the directions and the warnings printed on the label of whatever you are filling these with, and keep to that product's stated amounts.

What the pack does tell you is physical. There is a tear notch marked “Tear here” along the top and a press-seal closure below it, so the pouch can be opened and closed again between sessions rather than decanted into another container.

Who these are for

These suit someone who already buys powdered vitamins, minerals or herbs and wants to put them into capsules at home, at the scale of a single formula rather than a production run. A 250-count pouch is a reasonable way to work through one powder, or to find out whether hand-filling is something you want to carry on doing, without committing to one of the bulk pouches.

It is worth being equally clear about who these are not for. They are not for anyone who needs a vegetarian, vegan or kosher-certified shell. They are not a finished supplement and contain no active ingredient. And filling capsules by hand is repetitive work: 250 shells is 250 separate operations unless you use a filling tray.

Good to know

The back panel prints 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 processes other ingredients containing these allergens. That second clause is part of the statement and is there for a reason — shared equipment is disclosed rather than left unsaid.

The pack is distributed and quality tested by NOW Foods of Bloomingdale, Illinois, and the front carries a small Non-GMO mark. For general background on reading the labels of the powders you plan to fill, the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements consumer guide and the FDA's questions and answers on dietary supplements are useful starting points, and the NIH maintains a full index of nutrient fact sheets if you want to check an amount. None of those pages refers to this product.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these capsules vegetarian?

No — these are gelatin capsules, and gelatin is an animal protein. The ingredient list is Bovine Gelatin and Water, and the front of the pouch prints “Bovine Sourced”. The back panel notes that NOW supplies vegetarian capsules in “0” and “00” sizes if you need a plant-based shell instead.

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

A size “0” shell holds 400 to 600 mg of most vitamin or mineral powders, according to the figure printed on the back panel. The range exists because the shell holds a fixed volume, so a dense powder fills it at a higher weight than a light one does.

Are the capsules counted or weighed?

They are weighed — the front of the pack prints “Filled by Weight” along with a net weight of 24 g (0.85 oz.) and a quantity of approximately 250. Filling to a stated weight is the standard method for an item this small and light.

Does the pouch include any powder or a filling tool?

No. The pouch holds empty capsule shells only, and the complete ingredient list is Bovine Gelatin and Water. Any powder you want to encapsulate, and any filling tray or tamper, are bought separately.

How is this order packaged for delivery?

Your order ships in discreet packaging. It 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.