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Potassium chloride

Potassium chloride suppliers and sourcing guide

Potassium chloride is a white, odorless salt with a saline taste, prepared from mineral sources such as sylvinite ore and potash brines by fractional crystallization or flotation, then purified for food use. It is about 52% potassium. Brands buy food-grade crystals, granules or fine powder for electrolyte drinks, supplements and reduced-sodium salt blends, where it partly replaces sodium chloride.

See suppliersWhat to ask for on the COA
Also known as
KCl · E508 · Sylvite · Muriate of potash
Facts checked
November 2026

Forms and grades of potassium chloride

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

  • Food-grade crystals

    Fine or medium crystals similar to table salt, used in seasoning blends and salt substitutes.

  • Fine powder

    Milled grades for dry drink mixes, premixes and capsules.

  • Granular and agglomerated

    Coarser grades for topical salting and better flow.

  • Taste-modified blends

    Potassium chloride combined with flavor-masking ingredients or sodium chloride to reduce bitterness in salt-reduction products.

  • USP grade

    Grade tested to the USP monograph, often required for supplements.

What to check on the COA

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

Assay
Potassium chloride on the dried basis by argentometric titration, against a Food Chemicals Codex or USP specification.
Loss on drying
Moisture, which should be low; higher values cause caking.
Sodium
Sodium content by flame photometry or ICP-OES, which matters for reduced-sodium label claims.
Bromide and iodide
Limit tests for halides from mineral sources.
Lead, arsenic and other metals
Heavy metals by ICP-MS.
Particle size and anticaking agent
Sieve analysis and identity and level of any added anticaking agent.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Store potassium chloride in closed bags in a dry area off the floor; it is stable but cakes when it absorbs moisture. Keep it away from metal equipment that can corrode with salt dust. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification and is usually long; retest moisture and flow on aged stock.

Lots and expiry dates

Record assay, sodium and particle size for each lot, and note any anticaking agent, since it must be declared where required. Keep the same particle size grade for blends to avoid separation.

Regulatory status

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

  • 21 CFR 184.1622 affirms potassium chloride as GRAS for uses including flavoring agent, nutrient supplement, pH control agent and stabilizer or thickener, and allows its use in infant formula.

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

  • 7 CFR 205.605(a) lists potassium chloride among the nonsynthetic substances allowed in or on processed products labeled organic.

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

  • Health Canada's Multi-Vitamin/Mineral Supplements monograph for natural health products lists potassium chloride among the source ingredients for potassium (Table 2).

    Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)

  • The same Health Canada monograph requires a contraindication statement on products providing 100 mg or more of potassium a day, about not taking other potassium-containing salt substitutes or supplements.

    Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (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.

Potassium chloride suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking potassium 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 potassium chloride? Request a listing

Frequently asked questions

What forms of potassium chloride can brands buy?

Common forms include food-grade crystals, fine powder, granular and agglomerated, taste-modified blends and uSP grade. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for potassium chloride include?

Expect assay, loss on drying, sodium, bromide and iodide, lead, arsenic and other metals and particle size and anticaking agent, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should potassium chloride be stored?

Store potassium chloride in closed bags in a dry area off the floor; it is stable but cakes when it absorbs moisture. Keep it away from metal equipment that can corrode with salt dust. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification and is usually long; retest moisture and flow on aged stock.

What is the regulatory status of potassium chloride?

21 CFR 184.1622 affirms potassium chloride as GRAS for uses including flavoring agent, nutrient supplement, pH control agent and stabilizer or thickener, and allows its use in infant formula. 7 CFR 205.605(a) lists potassium chloride among the nonsynthetic substances allowed in or on processed products labeled organic. Health Canada's Multi-Vitamin/Mineral Supplements monograph for natural health products lists potassium chloride among the source ingredients for potassium (Table 2). The same Health Canada monograph requires a contraindication statement on products providing 100 mg or more of potassium a day, about not taking other potassium-containing salt substitutes or supplements.

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