What Are Metabolics Hard Shell Capsules Made From?Updated 2 months ago
This article explains what the hard shell capsules used for most Metabolics food supplements are made from, and how this differs from the soft gel capsules used for certain oil-based products. It is designed to help you quickly check whether a product is vegetarian/vegan-suitable and understand allergen, GMO and preservative status.
Hard shell capsules (vegetarian cellulose)
Most Metabolics capsule products (for example Children’s Formula and many vitamins and minerals) use a hard, two‑piece vegetarian capsule shell. On product pages and labels this appears in the ingredients list as “Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (capsule)”.
Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) is a purified form of cellulose derived from plant sources such as wood pulp. This means these hard shell capsules do not contain gelatine and are suitable for vegetarians; they are also suitable for vegans where the rest of the formula is free from animal-derived ingredients.
Cellulose used inside the capsule
Alongside the capsule shell itself, some Metabolics formulas include cellulose inside the capsule as a simple plant-based bulking or carrier ingredient. Where this is used, it will appear in the ingredient list, for example: “Cellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (capsule), [active ingredient(s)]”.
This internal cellulose is also derived from wood pulp and contains no animal products. It helps to keep the active ingredients evenly distributed while maintaining Metabolics’ focus on minimal, clean excipients.
Allergen, GMO and preservative status (hard shells)
The cellulose and HPMC used in Metabolics hard shell capsules are not known to contain any of the 14 major allergens that must be highlighted under UK food law (including gluten, milk, soya, nuts, etc.). If any of these allergens are present from other ingredients in the formula, they will always be clearly declared and highlighted on the product label and on the metabolics.com product page.
Metabolics does not add preservatives to its hard shell capsule materials and does not use irradiation on the capsule shells. These capsule ingredients are also specified as non‑GMO, in line with Metabolics’ commitment to high-quality formulations with as few unnecessary additives as possible.
Soft gel capsules (gelatine-based products)
Some oil-based supplements, particularly within the fatty acids and fish oils range, are supplied in soft gel capsules that contain gelatine. For example, Petabolics Omega 3, 6, 9 softgels list their capsule shell as “gelatin, glycerin, water”, meaning they are not vegetarian or vegan.
Other omega and oil products may also use soft marine gelatine capsules, which is always stated clearly in the ingredients (for example, “soft marine gelatine capsule”). If you avoid gelatine for dietary, religious or ethical reasons, please check each product’s ingredient list carefully before purchasing.
How to check your product
To confirm which capsule type is used for a specific Metabolics supplement, please check the ingredient list on the product page or the bottle label. Look for the following wording:
Vegetarian hard shell capsule: “Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (capsule)” (cellulose-based, no gelatine).
Soft gel with gelatine: wording such as “capsule shell: gelatin, glycerin, water” or “soft marine gelatine capsule” (not vegetarian/vegan).
If you follow a vegetarian, vegan, halal, kosher or other restricted diet, Metabolics strongly recommends reviewing the full ingredient list for each product, as suitability can vary depending on the active ingredients as well as the capsule shell.
Guidance for customer service replies (Gorgias)
When a customer asks “What are your capsules made from?” or similar, support agents can use the following structure in Gorgias:
Clarify capsule type
Ask whether they are enquiring about a specific product and, if needed, whether they are interested in vegetarian capsules only or also soft gels.
Example macro opening:
“Thank you for your message. I can certainly clarify what our capsules are made from. To give you the most accurate information, could you confirm which product you are looking at, or whether you are asking generally about our hard shell capsules or our soft gel capsules?”
Hard shell (default explanation)
If the query is general or about standard capsule products:
“Most of our capsule products use a vegetarian hard shell made from plant-based cellulose. On the label this is listed as ‘Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (capsule)’. This material is derived from wood pulp, is non‑GMO and is not known to contain any of the 14 major UK allergens. It does not contain gelatine.”
Soft gels (if relevant)
If the product is in the oils / fatty acids category or clearly shows a soft gel:
“Some of our oil-based products, particularly in the fatty acids and fish oils range, use soft gel capsules that contain gelatine. This is always shown in the ingredients, for example ‘capsule shell: gelatin, glycerin, water’ or ‘soft marine gelatine capsule’, so these particular products would not be suitable for vegetarians or vegans.”
Invite product-specific check
Compliance reminders for agents
Do not add any non‑authorised health claims when explaining capsule composition (for example, do not state that HPMC capsules ‘detox’ or ‘improve health’). Stick to factual statements about composition, suitability (vegetarian/vegan) and allergens, in line with FSA/MHRA guidance on food supplements.
Where there is any doubt about allergens or dietary suitability, ask the customer to provide the batch number and consult internal quality information or senior technical staff before confirming in writing.
These points can be built into a Gorgias macro titled, for example, “Capsule ingredients – hard shell vs soft gel”, to ensure consistent and compliant replies.
Need more help?
If you are unsure whether a specific Metabolics product is suitable for your dietary needs, or you require written confirmation of capsule ingredients, the team is happy to help.
Phone: +44 (0) 1380 812799 (Mon–Thu 8:30–17:30, Fri 8:30–17:00, UK time)
Email: [email protected]
Please include the product name, and if possible a clear photo of the label and batch number, so that Metabolics can provide product‑specific confirmation.