Best Collagen & Gelatin Sans Lead--Live Well with Collagen Peptides

Collagen and gelatin have been hailed as superfoods that can bring you a health benefit, but is this true? Which brands are the best sources of collagen & gelatin? You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like the safest cookware, best organic mattresses, and best probiotics, now join us as we cover collagen & gelatin, its benefits, some things to watch out for, and our favorite brands.

SEMNL contains other products and information you need, so please check it out.

Disclosure: This post was fact-checked by Rebecca Elizabeth Sherrick Harks, RN/BSN. This post also contains affiliate links and we receive a small commission on your purchases. 

Collagen: The Largest & Most Abundant Protein in the Human Body

Whether you are adding it to smoothies, your coffee, other beverages, or your cereal, collagen is the largest and most abundant protein in your body that provides a structure for your bones, muscles, skin and other types of connective tissues. The easiest analogy for collagen is that it is a “glue” that holds your whole body together.

In fact, 75% of our skin (the biggest organ in our bodies) is made up of collagen; 90% of our bone mass is comprised of collagen, our joint cartilage is 70% collagen, and our tendons are a whopping 85% collagen. When you have ample collagen, your skin, bones, connective tissues, cartilage, joints, and gut barrier all rely on collagen to be strong, flexible, and healthy.

While often confused or used interchangeably, collagen peptides and gelatin differ in the ways that they behave in food, but their health benefits are nearly the same – gelatin is cooked collagen. It’s the cooking that provides the different textures between the two. It’s also naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and non-GMO (if sourced from grass-fed bovine that was not fed genetically modified grains).

As we age, natural collagen production slows down, and eventually, the collagen begins to deplete itself. Other ways we inadvertently impact our body’s collagen stores include our genetics, exposure to smoke, excessive exposure to pollution and the sun, as well as unexpected nutritional deficiencies.

What Are The Differences Between Gelatin & Collagen?

When it comes to collagen vs gelatin, a great many of us are confused: what’s the difference between collagen and gelatin? Gelatin and collagen peptides are created from the collagen protein molecule that is found in humans and animals alike; both collagen and gelatin have very similar nutritional properties.

The difference between collagen and gelatin is fairly small and it results in the way these two are processed, which leads them each to have different applications in each’s nutritional applications and in the culinary world. Collagen peptides have weaker molecular structures which allow them to quite easily dissolve into any type of liquids: hot or cold. Gelatin, however, has a stronger molecular makeup and requires heat to dissolve and as we know from delicious treats like Jell-O when it cools down, gelatin gelatinizes.

Gelatin is a clear, tasteless protein used to thicken food made from bones, connective tissue, and skin of mostly pigs & cattle. If you’ve ever had Jello, you’ve enjoyed it as a gelatin dessert. Gelatin is also found in personal care products, cosmetics, supplement capsules, candy, and bone broth.

Different Types of Collagen

As of this writing, there exist at least 16 types of collagen, each with a semi-different purpose, though the main types are I, II, III, and IV. Let’s explore the ways these types of collagen are used in our body:

1. Collagen Type I is the most abundant form of collagen in our bodies as it amounts to about 90% of your body’s collagen. Type I Collagen  is full of densely packed fibers that provides structure to the teeth, skin, bones, tendons, connective tissue, and even fibrous cartilage,
2. Collagen Type II is comprised of more loosely packed fibers that are found in elastic cartilage, which cushions our joints when we move.
3. Collagen Type III supports some of the most important parts of our bodies the structure of our veins and arteries, the structure of our organs, as well as the structure of our muscles.
4. Collagen Type IV is found in the layers of our skin and works to filter toxins out of our bodies.

Mad Cows Disease Prompted New Rules By FDA Before Collagen Craze

Top-Selling Collagen Peptide Products Test Positive for Heavy Metals

The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) and Clean Label Project (CLP) released a report revealing some of the most popular collagen peptide products contain measurable amounts of heavy metals. Animals in factory farms are exposed to heavy metals via animal feed grown with pesticides and fertilizers and water contamination. Thus, the ingredients they are exposed to are transferred to the collagen and raise the levels of heavy metals.

Using Environmental Protection Agency Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (EPA A, ) at 8 parts per billion, they discovered the following from 28 brands that were evaluated:

• 64% tested positive for measurable levels of arsenic
• 37% tested positive for measurable levels of lead
• 34% tested positive for trace levels of mercury
• 17% tested positive for measurable levels of cadmium

We made sure to include the results from this report in our overall findings below on collagen protein powders & best collagen supplements, but note that Ancient Nutrition, Bulletproof, Orgain & Preferred Elements had levels of lead above what the State of California recommends as safe. Ancient Nutrition, Correxiko, Orgain, Organixx, Reserveage Nutrition, & Vital Proteins had trace amounts of mercury. Bulletproof tested high for Cadmium.

Mamavation’s Investigation of Collagen & Gelatin Brands

Our editorial team at Mamavation investigated over 40 different collagen and gelatin brands for quality. (We did not look at fish collagen because we are saving that for our upcoming seafood investigation.) Instead, we looked closely at whether the animals were pasture or grass-fed or were given antibiotics. Additionally, we looked closely at levels of lead contamination and contacted some customer service platforms to get information that they would normally give customers directly. We were a bit concerned by the degree to which some of these brands went to evade questions about the amount of lead in their products. California guidelines on heavy metals are very clear, however, some brands are not forthcoming with their Prop. 65 status. And finally, we looked into processing as best we could.

We are showing you our top recommended brand first at the beginning and the end so it’s not lost at the bottom.

MOST RECOMMENDED BRAND: Perfect Supplement’s Hydrolyzed Collagen

• We independently tested this brand for phthaltes at very low levels and it passed!
• We independently tested this brand for indications of PFAS “forever chemicals” and it passed!
• No Prop. 65 warning required. We checked their current labs.
• Only bovine collagen brand to have “Glyphosate Residue-Free” Certification from The Detox Project
• Pasture raised cows & Grassfed certified
• 97% bioavailable
• Disolves in hot or cold liquids
• The only brand that offered all laboratory data openly

Perfect Supplements offers Mamavation Readers a Special Discount. Click here to redeem 10% off Hydrolyzed Collagen and Free Shipping on orders over $99. Use “Mamavation” at checkout. Perfect Supplements also has Type II Collagen, which is also certified “glyphosate residue-free” here.

Bad Brands of Collagen & Gelatin

These brands could be using animal sourcing from a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO), where animals are in cramped conditions. This makes them more likely to get sick, which later increases the need for more antibiotics. These cramped situations are also known as “factory farms” when discussed. Experts say that the increase of antibiotic use in animals is linked to a rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria which is infecting millions of Americans every year. Brands that did not respond to our inquiries on social media about lead levels also went here.

• Ancient Nutrition Multi-Collagen Peptides: tested for trace levels of mercury
• Beachbody Collagen Peptides
• BioSil Advanced Collagen Generator
• Bulletproof Collagen Protein Chocolate: Has levels of lead and cadmium above what the State of California says is safe.
• Correxiko Marine Collagen, Unflavored: has tested for trace amounts of mercury
• Isopure Unflavored Collagen Peptides
• Orgain Grassfed Pasture Raised Collagen Peptides: This brand tested for lead amounts above what the State of California says is safe. And also had trace amounts of mercury via labs mentioned.
• Organixx Collagen: This brand tested for trace amounts of mercury via labs
• Picnik Collagen Creamer
• Perfect Keto Collagen Peptides
• Modere Collagen Peptides
• Reserveage Nutrition Collagen Replenish Powder: Tested for trace amounts of mercury
• Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides: This brand tested for trace amounts of mercury. After analyzing the California Attorney General’s office we noticed that Vital Proteins has numerous 60-day notices from consumer & consumer groups to the Attorney General. These notices are a precursor to a lawsuit.
• Vital Proteins Beef Gelatin Powder
• Youtheory Collagen Advanced Formula Tablets:  has between 0.5 ug/day and 15 ug/day of lead per their prop. 65 warning (lower lead warning)

Better Brands of Collagen & Gelatin

These brands are paying more attention to animal welfare and avoiding the need to give them antibiotics by utilizing grassfed and pastured animals. They have improved conditions so antibiotics are not needed. However, they do have lead in amounts above the public health goal in California of 0.5 ug/day. Any brand that has above 0.5 ug/day would need a Prop.65 Warning. More on Prop.65 warnings on supplements here. Some brands tested very clean but were not grassfed. We linked up brands that were very clean via testing but didn’t get the highest mark.

• BioTrust Nutrition Ageless Multi-Collagen Protein: Played coy when it came to transparency. Sent me a long response and another and another. But after several attempts to evade my question, they finally admitted to having a Prop. 65 warning label warning you of reproductive toxins and carcinogens. That means they have over 15 ug/day of lead in their products.
• BUBS Naturals Pasture-Raised Grassfed Collagen Peptides
• Bulletproof Collagen Protein Unflavored: Has between 0.5 ug/day and 15 ug/day of lead per their prop. 65 warning. (lower level of lead) (Chocolate variety tested for high levels of cadmium)
• Organika Unflavored Collagen Peptides: Does not sell in California so we can’t assess their lead levels. They won’t share labs with us either so we put them here.
• Puori CP1 Pure Collagen Peptides: Does not claim to be grassfed, but tested very clean!
• Garden of Life Unflavored Collagen Peptides with Probiotics: Says they do not need a prop. 65 warning sign, however their parent company, Nestle, had a Prop. 65 violation in . We put them here because of added “junk” in their formulation because we could not find a simple collagen product.
• MAV Nutrition Collagen Peptides & Probiotics: didn’t make top spot because it contains more than just collagen, however, it tested very clean!
• SkinnyFit Super Youth Multi Collagen with Peptides: does not claim to be grassfed but tested very clean!
• Sports Research Collagen Peptides: does not claim to be grassfed but tested very clean!

Best Brands of Collagen & Gelatin

These brands are made from grass-fed animals on pasture and raised without the use of antibiotics. They also have below 0.5 ug/day of lead and require no Prop. 65 Warning for California. We have some extensive notes to read with some specific companies down here as well to pay attention to. We linked up the brands we had verified by seeing labs. Make sure to ask your doctor if taking collagen is right for you and do not replace this with your medications unless otherwise instructed by your doctor. Mamavation also prefers pure collagen to a blend that may incorporate soy. Use only as directed and do not take more of a dose than recommended.

• Perfect Supplements Collagen Peptides: tested very clean! We also independently tested this brand for low levels of phthalates and it passed! We also tested this brand for indications of PFAS “forever chemicals” and it passed too! It also has “Glyphosate Residue Free” Certification from the Detox Project making this our favorite! (Use “Mamavation” at checkout for 10% off your order of $99 or more.)
• Code Age Multi Collagen Peptides, Unflavored: tested under levels for Prop. 65
• Designs for Health Unflavored Collagen Peptides
• Dr. Amy Meyers Unflavored Collagen Peptides
• Dr. Amy Meyers Gelatin
• Further Foods Unflavored Collagen Peptides: tested under levels for Prop. 65
• Great Lakes Gelatin CompanyUnflavored Collagen Peptides: tested under levels for Prop. 65
• Great Lakes Gelatin Company Gelatin
• Native Path Grass-Fed Collagen Peptides
• Neocell Unflavored Collagen Protein Peptides: tested under levels for Prop. 65
• NuNaturals Unflavored Collagen Peptides
• NuNaturals Unflavored Gelatin
• Perfotek Hydrolized Collagen + Peptides, Unflavored
• Primal Kitchen Unflavored Collagen Peptides: chocolate version tested very clean! Because chocolate versions usually have higher levels of lead & cadmium and this one didn’t, we are passing the unflavored as well.
• ProCaps Laboratories Andrew Lessman Collagen Powder
• Root Vitality Collagen Powder, Unflavored
• Thrive Market Collagen Peptides: has the Prop. 65 warning on their site. When I asked them about it, they said this product was under 0.5 ug/day but they put that warning on everything to be compliant. ????‍♀️
• Zammex Hydrolized Collagen Peptides, Pure Unflavored: tested very clean!
• Zint Collagen: tested very clean!

It may come as a scoop of white powder to add to a latte or smoothie, promising to help achy joints and sagging skin.

Or, as an ingredient in face masks and moisturizers, claiming to offer a youthful glow.

It's marine collagen, a buzzword in beauty and supplement circles, often derived from fish skin, scales and bones, or other animals like sponges and sea cucumbers, depending on the product. 

The global market for marine collagen is already estimated at more than $1 billion US and growing, driven by demand to look and feel younger.

It's promoted as an alternative to traditional sources of collagen supplements, derived from land animals like cows and pigs, which some avoid for religious or other reasons.

Many marine collagen products also market themselves as natural or eco-friendly, featuring images of waves and fish and references to "cold, clean" ocean waters.

But with overfishing and climate change already threatening global ocean wildlife, is this a sustainable place to turn for anti-aging hope?

It depends, according to those watching this emerging conservation issue, on where the collagen is coming from — something that might not be clear at all when you pick up the product.

"With these marine collagen products, shoppers are buying a black box of marine ingredients," said Kelly Roebuck, sustainable seafood campaigner with the Canadian marine conservation group Living Oceans Society, in an to CBC News.

Where collagen comes from

Our bodies naturally make collagen, which provides elasticity and strength to our skin, tendons, bones and other tissues. We make less as we age.

But it's widely found in the animal kingdom — even in the 68-million-year-old bone of a T. rex — so people have turned to collagen supplements derived from other creatures.

Health Canada licenses more than 2,000 natural health products containing hydrolyzed collagen as a medicinal ingredient, and more than 1,000 with collagen from marine sources. 

Bovine collagen, from cows, has led that industry. But last year, an investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, The Guardian and others linked cattle ranches producing collagen, leather and beef to tropical rainforest loss in the Brazilian Amazon.

The investigation traced the collagen supply chain to major companies, including the Nestle-owned brand Vital Proteins promoted by Jennifer Aniston. (Nestle has said it is taking steps to ensure products are deforestation-free by .)

Enter marine collagen, which was already being hailed by researchers as abundant and sustainable, with lower risk of disease transfer than collagen from mammals, and with chemical differences that could make it easier to absorb.

For more hydrolyzed fish collagen manufacturersinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

"It's going boom," said Azizur Rahman, director of the University of Toronto's Centre for Climate Change Research, who recently published a scientific review of marine collagen's effects on skin aging and heads a spin-off company researching and developing marine collagen products.

"Over the past decade or so, there has been a remarkable rise in market demand for marine-based cosmetics especially, driven by growing consumer interest in natural and sustainable ingredients."

Another demand on fish

But sustainability is far from guaranteed when it comes to a new demand on marine creatures.

More than a third of the world's fish stocks are overfished — harvested at levels that can't be biologically sustained — and that number is rising, according to the latest global report from the UN's Food and Aquaculture Organization. 

Most of the rest are also maxed out — classified as fished to their biologically sustainable maximum.

"If you look at global seafood production from the oceans, particularly from captured fisheries, it peaks in the s," said William Cheung, director of the Institute for Oceans and Fisheries at the University of B.C. in Vancouver.

"What it means is we are not able to produce more fish, even though we know that there are increasing demands for seafood."

While Cheung isn't aware of any research specifically on marine collagen impacts, he says any new draw on the ocean should be considered in that context — with climate change further threatening marine life and a growing global population dependent on seafood, especially in developing and low-income countries.

Canadian scientists have also raised concerns about demands for other nutritional supplements from fish, like shark liver oil and omega-3 fatty acids.

A Nature Ecology & Evolution paper in flagged marine collagen as an emerging issue in ocean biodiversity, noting it could be a threat to species like sharks or sponges. 

But the paper notes it could also be an opportunity for sustainable resource use — if it came from skin, bone and trims from the fish-processing industry that might otherwise go to waste.

Where is your marine collagen from? 

The tricky part is marine collagen products may not say what they're made of.

Some do advertise the source. For example, Nova Scotia company Landish says its marine collagen is from wild cod, haddock and pollock caught in the North Atlantic to make fish fillets. According to the company, they use "byproducts only," namely the skin and scales. 

Toronto company Genuine Health says its marine collagen is "upcycled" from the same species caught in the "deep, cold seas of the North Atlantic." (Neither company replied to a CBC News request for more details.)

Nippi Collagen, a major player in the industry based in Burnaby, B.C., told CBC News in a statement it uses skin and scale byproducts of the seafood industry, and the source varies by grade. Lower grades are from farmed fish sourced globally, including from Thailand and Indonesia; its premium grade is from wild-caught fish scales. (Further questions on fish species weren't answered.)

But many products have no information on what animal was used, if it was wild or farmed, or what part of the world it grew in.

"Like any fishery or aquaculture product, there can be sustainable or unsustainable sources," said Roebuck of Living Oceans.

"It is impossible for consumers to know what species is being utilized and whether they are contributing to overfishing, marine degradation or even illegal activities."

Consumers can turn to eco-labels to help avoid that risk.

For example, the Marine Stewardship Council's (MSC) blue eco-label means the wild fish or seafood comes from fisheries that have been independently assessed and reach a set of sustainability requirements. (MSC's standard has faced criticism from conservation groups for not being tough enough, and is being revised.) 

Kurtis Hayne, program director for MSC in Canada, says products with the label are also audited for traceability — something that's often a challenge in global fisheries.

"So anything with that blue MSC eco-label is a way of signalling that it's from a sustainable fishery, and … there's assurance, strong assurance that it's coming from a certified fishery and not mixed up along the way." 

In , there were no marine collagen products with the MSC eco-label, but it's been "growing quickly," said Hayne, with 37 globally as of last year, primarily from MSC-certified Atlantic cod. 

The question of byproducts

While using byproducts to make marine collagen does seem to have a lower impact, it could still have consequences.

For example, critics have argued that bovine collagen and leather, which are byproducts of beef, actually help the bottom line of cattle production linked to deforestation, and thus encourage it.

On the flip side, Hayne said that when a fishery has invested money to become more sustainable, making profits from what were byproducts can encourage further improvements. 

"From our perspective, it allows us to reduce waste, but it also allows fisheries to extract more value out of this … precious wild resource," said Hayne.

Cheung calls the industrial processes that discard so much of the fish "quite wasteful," and notes that globally, many cultures depend on the whole fish for food.

"I grew up in the Chinese culture, from Hong Kong. So we eat almost every part of the fish," he said.

"We use the whole fish to make soup because I think with the fish bones that the fish soup is really rich and tasty and that actually provides a lot of nutrients."

He hopes the growing demand for marine resources like collagen will be coupled with bigger discussions about trade-offs, equity and food security. 

"We need to use the available resources wisely and manage them wisely as well."

The company is the world’s best fish collagen manufacturer supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.