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Collagen casing

Collagen casing suppliers and sourcing guide

Collagen casings are sausage casings made from collagen, usually from the corium layer of beef hides and sometimes from pork skin. The hides are cleaned, treated, ground and swollen in acid into a dough-like gel, which is extruded into a tube, set, dried and shirred into sticks. Small-caliber edible casings are used for fresh and cooked sausages, and collagen gel can also be co-extruded around the meat on continuous lines.

See suppliersWhat to ask for on the COA
Also known as
Regenerated collagen casing · Edible collagen casing · Collagen gel (co-extrusion)
Facts checked
November 2026

Forms and grades of collagen casing

Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.

  • Edible small-caliber shirred casings

    Thin casings supplied as shirred sticks for fresh, smoked and cooked sausages.

  • Large-caliber casings

    Thicker casings for salami, bologna and similar products, some meant to be peeled.

  • Co-extrusion collagen gel

    Collagen gel applied around the meat as it is extruded, for continuous sausage production.

  • Colored or smoke-ready casings

    Casings with caramel or other approved color, or made to take smoke evenly.

  • Species-declared casings

    Bovine or porcine source declared, which matters for labeling and religious diets.

What to check on the COA

Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.

Caliber and length
Inflated or stuffed diameter and length per stick against the order specification.
Mechanical strength
Burst pressure or tensile strength, which predicts breakage on stuffing and linking.
Moisture and glycerol
Moisture and humectant levels, which affect flexibility.
Collagen or protein content
Protein content as a check on the casing material.
Microbiology
Total plate count, yeast and mold, and pathogens per the supplier's specification.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Store collagen casings in their sealed packaging in a cool place, usually at controlled temperature and humidity stated by the supplier, away from direct sun. Once opened, use cartons promptly or reseal them, since casings dry out and become brittle. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification.

Lots and expiry dates

Caliber, moisture and strength can vary between lots and change stuffing performance, so record them and the species source on each lot record. Keep species documentation for labels.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

  • 7 CFR 205.605(b) lists collagen gel, as casing, among synthetic substances allowed in products labeled organic, only when organic collagen gel is not commercially available.

    Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)

  • FSIS's 2001 final rule on labeling of natural or regenerated collagen sausage casings (66 FR 40843) requires labels of sausage products in regenerated collagen casings to disclose the use of the casing.

    Source: federalregister.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.

Collagen casing suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking collagen casing suppliers now

Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.

Sell collagen casing? Request a listing

Frequently asked questions

What forms of collagen casing can brands buy?

Common forms include edible small-caliber shirred casings, large-caliber casings, co-extrusion collagen gel, colored or smoke-ready casings and species-declared casings. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for collagen casing include?

Expect caliber and length, mechanical strength, moisture and glycerol, collagen or protein content and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should collagen casing be stored?

Store collagen casings in their sealed packaging in a cool place, usually at controlled temperature and humidity stated by the supplier, away from direct sun. Once opened, use cartons promptly or reseal them, since casings dry out and become brittle. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification.

What is the regulatory status of collagen casing?

7 CFR 205.605(b) lists collagen gel, as casing, among synthetic substances allowed in products labeled organic, only when organic collagen gel is not commercially available. FSIS's 2001 final rule on labeling of natural or regenerated collagen sausage casings (66 FR 40843) requires labels of sausage products in regenerated collagen casings to disclose the use of the casing.

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