| Product Identity | Trehalose dihydrate; CAS No. 6138-23-4; food-grade material | Identity confirmation by validated laboratory testing, supported by product specification | Technical Data Sheet (TDS), product specification, and Certificate of Analysis (COA) | Confirm whether the quoted material is dihydrate or anhydrous trehalose before comparing prices. |
| Assay | Not less than 99.0% on a dry basis | HPLC or another validated quantitative method | Batch-specific COA showing result, method, test date, and specification limit | The basis of calculation should be clearly stated because moisture can affect the reported result. |
| Moisture / Loss on Drying | Typically not more than 1.5% for a high-quality food-grade powder, unless the agreed specification states otherwise | Loss on drying or Karl Fischer moisture analysis | COA with numerical result and analytical method | Moisture control supports powder flowability, storage stability, and accurate formulation. |
| Appearance | White to off-white crystalline powder; free-flowing and substantially free from visible foreign matter | Visual inspection under controlled conditions | Approved product specification and retained sample procedure | Color, caking, and foreign-particle requirements should be agreed before shipment. |
| Solubility | Readily soluble in water, with no abnormal insoluble residue under the specified test conditions | Supplier’s validated solubility test at an agreed concentration and temperature | Specification sheet and, when required, pre-shipment test report | Solubility performance may vary with temperature, concentration, and particle size. |
| pH of Aqueous Solution | Commonly controlled within approximately 4.5–6.5 for a defined aqueous test solution | pH measurement using a calibrated pH meter | Test conditions, concentration, temperature, and result on the COA | Do not compare pH results unless the solution concentration and test conditions are identical. |
| Total Ash | Preferably not more than 0.1% for refined food-grade powder, subject to the agreed specification | Incineration or gravimetric ash determination | COA with specification limit and measured value | A low ash value helps indicate effective purification and low inorganic residue. |
| Heavy Metals | Must comply with the importing market’s food regulations; lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury should be specifically controlled | ICP-MS, ICP-OES, or another validated elemental analysis method | Recent heavy-metal report and applicable regulatory compliance statement | Limits differ by jurisdiction and product category, so the destination market must be specified. |
| Microbiological Quality | Total aerobic microbial count, yeast and mold, and specified pathogens controlled according to the destination-market standard | Recognized food microbiology methods, such as ISO, USP, or national equivalents | Batch microbiology report and pathogen-control statement | Salmonella absence is commonly required for food ingredients; other criteria depend on intended use and regulation. |
| GMO Status | Non-GMO status documented when required by the buyer or destination market | Raw-material traceability review and, where applicable, analytical verification | Non-GMO declaration and supply-chain traceability records | A declaration should identify the covered product, manufacturing site, and validity period. |
| Food-Safety Certification | A valid GFSI-recognized food-safety certification is preferred, such as FSSC 22000, BRCGS, or SQF | Certification-body audit and surveillance process | Current certificate showing legal entity, manufacturing site, scope, and expiry date | The certificate scope should explicitly include the relevant food-ingredient manufacturing activity. |
| Quality Management | Documented GMP, HACCP, and quality-management procedures with controlled batch release | Internal audits, third-party audits, and documented HACCP verification | Audit summary, HACCP plan availability, deviation and corrective-action procedures | Certification alone does not replace review of change control, complaints, and recall procedures. |
| Traceability | Full traceability from incoming raw materials to finished-product batch and shipment | Mock recall or traceability exercise | Batch coding example, traceability statement, and recall procedure | The lot number on the bag, COA, invoice, and shipping documents should be consistent. |
| Packaging | Food-contact-compliant inner liner with sealed outer packaging, suitable for protection from moisture | Packaging inspection and food-contact compliance review | Packaging specification, material declaration, net-weight tolerance, and photos or samples | Packaging configuration should be selected according to shipment duration, climate, and warehouse conditions. |
| Shelf Life and Storage | Shelf life commonly stated as 24 months when stored unopened in a cool, dry place and protected from moisture | Stability program under defined storage conditions | Shelf-life statement, storage requirements, manufacturing date, and retest policy | The actual shelf life must be confirmed by the supplier’s stability data and approved specification. |
| Documentation Package | COA, TDS, SDS, allergen statement, GMO statement, origin information, and regulatory declarations available before shipment | Document review and consistency check | Controlled documents matching the product name, batch number, site, and shipment | Documents should be in English or accompanied by an accurate English translation for international procurement. |
| Pre-Shipment Verification | Sample approval and independent or buyer-authorized testing for the first commercial order | Third-party laboratory testing against the agreed purchase specification | Approved sample, signed specification, inspection report, and retained shipment sample | Independent verification is especially valuable for new suppliers, new production sites, or high-volume orders. |