Collagen Peptides
Collagen peptides are short protein chains made by breaking down collagen with enzymes. The raw material is usually bovine hide or bone, pig skin, or fish skin and scales; it is cleaned and pretreated, the collagen is extracted in hot water (much as in gelatin making), hydrolyzed to a target molecular weight, filtered, concentrated and spray-dried. Unlike gelatin, the peptides dissolve in cold water and do not gel.
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
From cattle hides or bones, sometimes sold as grass-fed or pasture-raised. Bovine material comes with origin and processing documentation because of US rules on cattle-derived materials.
From pig skin. Common in Europe and Asia; not suitable for halal or kosher products.
From fish skin or scales, often from wild-catch or aquaculture by-products. Fish is a major food allergen in the US, so the finished label must declare it.
Specified by average molecular weight in daltons; low-molecular-weight grades enriched in di- and tripeptides are sold for specific formulations.
Granulated grades that disperse without clumping in cold water, for powdered drink mixes.
Trademarked peptide profiles from a single producer, sold with that producer's documentation and co-branding terms.
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
Collagen peptides are hygroscopic and cake if exposed to humid air, so keep containers tightly closed in a cool, dry place and reseal opened bags promptly. The dry powder is otherwise stable. Shelf life and retest dates come from the supplier's specification and COA.
Record the animal species and country of origin for every lot; bovine lots need documentation for cattle-material rules, and marine lots trigger fish allergen labeling. Molecular weight, hydroxyproline and protein results move slightly between lots, so compare each COA with the approved spec. Use FEFO.
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
21 CFR 189.5 bars prohibited cattle materials (such as specified risk materials) from human food; gelatin and hides are excluded from that definition.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)Under 21 CFR 189.5(c), makers and processors of human food containing cattle material must keep records showing it is free of prohibited cattle materials.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
Manufacturer · Eberbach, Germany
Sells it as PEPTIPLUS
German family-owned collagen protein maker with more than 20 production sites; sells collagen peptides under several brands, including PEPTIPLUS and VERISOL, alongside gelatin.
Manufacturer · Morrisville, NC
Sells it as Replenwell
North American arm of Japan’s Nitta Gelatin group, supplying bovine, porcine and fish gelatin and collagen peptides to food, supplement and pharmaceutical makers.
Manufacturer
Sells it as SOLUGEL
Gelatin and collagen peptide producer, part of Tessenderlo Group, with plants on four continents; sells SOLUGEL collagen peptides in bovine (including certified grass-fed) and fish grades.
Distributor · Itasca, IL
Global ingredient distributor and premix maker that supplies supplement and food brands with proteins and other bulk ingredients, including whey and pea proteins, collagen peptides and creatine monohydrate.
Manufacturer
Sells it as Peptan
Gelatin and collagen producer owned by Darling Ingredients; its Peptan collagen peptides are made from bovine, porcine and fish raw materials at its own plants.
Manufacturer
Sells it as Naticol
French gelatin producer that makes Naticol marine collagen peptides from fish, along with pork and fish gelatins.
Suppliers are in alphabetical order and none pays to appear. Each claim is checked against the supplier’s own website on the date shown. Ask for the specification sheet and a recent COA before you order, and confirm details with the supplier.
Common forms include bovine, porcine, marine or fish, molecular weight grades, instantized or agglomerated and branded peptides. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
Expect protein content, hydroxyproline, molecular weight distribution, species identification, heavy metals, microbiology and moisture, ash and pH, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
Collagen peptides are hygroscopic and cake if exposed to humid air, so keep containers tightly closed in a cool, dry place and reseal opened bags promptly. The dry powder is otherwise stable. Shelf life and retest dates come from the supplier's specification and COA.
21 CFR 189.5 bars prohibited cattle materials (such as specified risk materials) from human food; gelatin and hides are excluded from that definition. Under 21 CFR 189.5(c), makers and processors of human food containing cattle material must keep records showing it is free of prohibited cattle materials.
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