HPMC capsules — why we never use gelatin

The capsule is half the question

When customers ask "is this halal?" they usually mean "are the ingredients halal?" — and that is the right first question. But the capsule shell is a substantial component of any oral supplement, and many otherwise-halal-claimed products use capsule shells that compromise the claim.

The Barakah Pill uses HPMC capsules exclusively. There is no gelatin of any kind in any part of the product.

What HPMC is

HPMC stands for Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose — a plant-derived polymer manufactured from cellulose (the structural compound that makes up plant cell walls). The cellulose source is typically wood pulp (often softwood, sustainably forested) or cotton.

Manufacturing HPMC involves reacting cellulose with propylene oxide and methyl chloride to produce a soluble polymer that forms strong, flexible capsule shells when dried. The final HPMC is:

- Plant-derived - Halal-compatible by default - Kosher-compatible - Vegan-compatible - Pharmaceutical-grade (HPMC is also used in tablet coatings for many prescription drugs) - Hypoallergenic (no animal protein, no common allergens)

The shells we use are sourced from Capsugel (now part of Lonza), the largest and most-audited capsule manufacturer in the world. The specific product is the Vcaps Plus line — designed for ingredient stability and a relatively low residual moisture profile.

What gelatin is — and why brands still use it

Gelatin capsules are made from bovine (cow) or porcine (pig) collagen-derived protein. The animal hide and bone are processed through acid or alkali treatment to extract collagen, which is then purified and dried into the powder that forms capsule shells.

Porcine gelatin is unambiguously haram. No scholarly opinion permits it.

Bovine gelatin is conditional. Halal-compatible bovine gelatin requires the source cow to be slaughtered to halal protocol, and the entire processing chain to remain free of contamination. In practice, most bovine gelatin used in UK supplements comes from conventional (non-halal-slaughter) sources. Whether such gelatin retains halal status is a question with diverging scholarly opinions — but at minimum, brands using bovine gelatin should be able to provide the halal-slaughter documentation. Most can't.

Brands still use gelatin because: - It's cheaper than HPMC (~£0.005 per capsule vs £0.012 for HPMC) - It's the historical default in the pharmaceutical industry - Most contract manufacturers maintain gelatin capsule infrastructure that long predates HPMC alternatives

For a supplement targeting Muslim consumers in 2026, none of these reasons are compelling. The cost difference at our 120-capsule bottle scale is marginal. We pay it.

Other capsule types

A few others exist:

- Pullulan capsules — derived from fermented tapioca. Plant-based, halal-compatible. Good alternative to HPMC but more expensive and less widely available. - Soft gel capsules — fish gelatin, bovine gelatin, or carrageenan-based vegetarian alternatives. Used primarily for oil-based ingredients. The Barakah Pill is a dry-blend formulation, so soft gels aren't relevant for us. - Alginate capsules — derived from seaweed. Plant-based but less established in the supplement industry.

We chose HPMC over pullulan because HPMC has the largest published track record for stability with the specific ingredients in our formulation (our clinically characterised ashwagandha extract, our clinically characterised fenugreek extract, our clinically characterised saffron extract, branded raw materials), and HPMC is the form Capsugel can guarantee consistent supply for at the scale we'll be producing.

The HFA audit covers the capsule

Our HFA own-brand halal audit (in final review at time of writing) explicitly covers the capsule shell. The audit confirms:

- The HPMC source (plant-derived, no animal inputs) - The manufacturing process (no haram solvents or processing aids) - The colourants and opacifiers if any (we use clear capsules with no colour — minimising audit surface area) - The supply chain documentation from Capsugel

The cert number, once awarded, will appear on every bottle and verify against the HFA database.

A note on capsule openability

The Barakah Pill capsules are designed to be swallowed whole, but for customers who prefer to open the capsule and mix the contents with food or water, this is possible. The contents are powder — bitter (because of the standardised botanical concentration) but not unmanageable. We recommend mixing with a tablespoon of honey, yoghurt, or fruit juice to mask the bitterness.

This isn't an officially-supported usage and we don't market it, but it's possible for customers who genuinely struggle with capsules.

What you should check on other halal supplements

If you're evaluating any halal supplement brand, three things to check on the capsule:

These three checks alone will tell you whether the halal claim is rigorous or skin-deep.

---

Sources: Capsugel/Lonza Vcaps Plus product documentation; HFA capsule-shell audit guidelines (halalfoodauthority.com); Sherry et al. 2010 (Capsule Manufacturing Review).