Choline chloride
Choline chloride suppliers and sourcing guide
Choline chloride is the chloride salt of choline, a quaternary ammonium compound. It is made synthetically by reacting trimethylamine with ethylene oxide and hydrochloric acid (or trimethylamine hydrochloride with ethylene oxide), then crystallizing or concentrating the product. It is a white, very hygroscopic crystalline powder that is about 75% choline by weight, giving it a higher choline share than choline bitartrate; it is also sold as an aqueous solution, mainly for feed and industrial use.
- Category
- Specialty nutrients
- Also known as
- (2-Hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium chloride · Choline HCl · CAS 67-48-1
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of choline chloride
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Food or USP crystalline grade
High-purity crystals or powder for supplements, infant formula and fortified foods.
Aqueous solution
Concentrated solution, commonly around 70 to 75%, used mainly in feed and some liquid food applications.
Carrier-adsorbed grades
Choline chloride dried onto silica or other carriers to make a free-flowing powder; feed grades on corn cob are not for human food.
Coated or encapsulated
Particles coated with fat or other materials to limit moisture pickup and odor in premixes.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Assay
- Choline chloride content by titration per the Food Chemicals Codex or USP, with choline calculated.
- Water
- Water by Karl Fischer or loss on drying; the salt is deliquescent, so this is checked closely.
- Residue on ignition
- Inorganic residue, which flags carrier or salt contamination.
- Trimethylamine and odor
- Free trimethylamine or a fishy-odor check, since breakdown releases trimethylamine.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, and pathogen absence for food grades.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Choline chloride absorbs moisture from air until it liquefies, so keep it in tightly sealed, moisture-proof containers in a cool, dry place and reseal opened bags immediately. Blends containing it should be packed with low headspace humidity. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, with retest of assay and water for older stock.
Lots and expiry dates
Record assay and water for each lot and check for caking or a fishy odor on receipt. Dose from the actual choline content, which depends on purity and water.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
21 CFR 182.8252 lists choline chloride as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) when used in accordance with good manufacturing practice.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists choline chloride (CAS 67-48-1) with the technical effect "nutrient supplement" and cites 21 CFR 182.8252.
Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iv) sets the Reference Daily Intake for choline at 550 milligrams for adults and children 4 years and older.
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.
Choline chloride suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking choline chloride 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 choline chloride? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of choline chloride can brands buy?
Common forms include food or USP crystalline grade, aqueous solution, carrier-adsorbed grades and coated or encapsulated. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for choline chloride include?
Expect assay, water, residue on ignition, trimethylamine and odor, heavy metals and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should choline chloride be stored?
Choline chloride absorbs moisture from air until it liquefies, so keep it in tightly sealed, moisture-proof containers in a cool, dry place and reseal opened bags immediately. Blends containing it should be packed with low headspace humidity. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, with retest of assay and water for older stock.
What is the regulatory status of choline chloride?
21 CFR 182.8252 lists choline chloride as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) when used in accordance with good manufacturing practice. FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists choline chloride (CAS 67-48-1) with the technical effect "nutrient supplement" and cites 21 CFR 182.8252. 21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iv) sets the Reference Daily Intake for choline at 550 milligrams for adults and children 4 years and older.
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