Please rest assured that each batch of Gut Restore that we send out is indeed fresh, regardless of the color of the capsule. The lightness or darkness of the capsule color comes from the conditions of harvesting the Reishi Mushroom Powder in the formulation. Factors could be the time of year, temperature, and more, during the manufacturing process. Therefore, the color of the capsule has no impact on the quality or effectiveness of Gut Restore, noron the probiotics and prebiotics included.