We make most of our tablets and capsules right here in Tauranga and some common questions are below.
Q. Why do you use capsules rather than tablets?
A. Capsules are often used when the taste of the ingredient is unpleasant. Capsules are easier to take and protect the ingredients better. However, capsules are not recommended for children due to choking so we do make tablets for children.
Tablets usually require tableting aides to make the product bind together. This reduces the amount of active ingredient we can supply, so we prefer to use capsules.
Q. What are capsules made of?
A. Most capsules are made from gelatin. Gelatin is a mixture of water-soluble proteins derived primarily from collagen, a naturally-occurring protein of connective tissue. Gelatin is widely used in food products such as puddings, desserts, marshmallows, chewable lollies, glazes, whipped toppings and dips.
Q. What about soft gel capsules?
A. Softgel capsules are also made from a single, one piece layer of gelatin, to which softeners have been added to maintain flexibility. The inner section of a softgel contains a liquid as the main ingredient.
Q. What happens to the capsule inside my body?
A. Water-soluble gelatin or vegecaps dissolve in stomach acid, releasing their contents generally within a few minutes of swallowing.
Q. Why do you not use vegetarian capsules?
A. Vegecaps are made of cellulose, a cotton-like fibre derived from the pulp of a soft-wood pine tree. Although vegecaps are viewed as natural they are in fact highly processed and manufactured from Gellan Gum and Methyl Cellulose. If you are vegetarian and don’t want the gelatin you might consider opening the capsules. (Maybe mix with food to disguise the taste).
Q. Are gelatin capsules free of BSE (‘Mad Cow Disease’)?
A. Yes, capsules from all the major manufacturers are certified BSE free. Our gel
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