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Sodium citrate

Sodium citrate suppliers and sourcing guide

Sodium citrate, as sold for food, is usually trisodium citrate, the sodium salt of citric acid. It is made by neutralizing citric acid with sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate and crystallizing it, most often as the dihydrate. It is a white granular or powdered salt with a salty-tart taste, used as a buffer and emulsifying salt in processed cheese, drinks, dairy products and powdered mixes.

See suppliersWhat to ask for on the COA
Also known as
trisodium citrate · trisodium citrate dihydrate · E331 · citric acid trisodium salt
Facts checked
November 2026

Forms and grades of sodium citrate

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

  • Trisodium citrate dihydrate

    The standard form, sold in granular, fine granular and powder grades.

  • Anhydrous trisodium citrate

    Water-free form for tablets and moisture-sensitive dry mixes.

  • Monosodium and disodium citrate

    Partly neutralized citrates that are more acidic, used for buffering at lower pH.

  • USP grade

    Sodium citrate made to USP specifications for supplements and pharmaceutical-style products.

What to check on the COA

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

Assay
Sodium citrate content on an anhydrous basis, typically by perchloric acid titration, against the FCC or USP range.
Water
Water by Karl Fischer or loss on drying, which confirms dihydrate or anhydrous form.
pH or alkalinity
pH of a solution or an alkalinity test, which shows whether the salt is fully neutralized.
Impurity tests
Oxalate, sulfate and tartrate limit tests per FCC or USP.
Lead and heavy metals
Lead and other metals by ICP-MS.
Particle size
Sieve analysis for granular and powder grades.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Sodium citrate is stable but can cake in humidity, so it is kept in sealed bags in a cool, dry place. Anhydrous grades pick up moisture faster once opened. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, with retest for older stock.

Lots and expiry dates

Record the form (dihydrate or anhydrous) and particle size for each lot, since a swap changes dose and dissolution. Rotate FEFO.

Regulatory status

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

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.

Sodium citrate suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking sodium citrate 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.

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Frequently asked questions

What forms of sodium citrate can brands buy?

Common forms include trisodium citrate dihydrate, anhydrous trisodium citrate, monosodium and disodium citrate and uSP grade. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for sodium citrate include?

Expect assay, water, pH or alkalinity, impurity tests, lead and heavy metals and particle size, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should sodium citrate be stored?

Sodium citrate is stable but can cake in humidity, so it is kept in sealed bags in a cool, dry place. Anhydrous grades pick up moisture faster once opened. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, with retest for older stock.

What is the regulatory status of sodium citrate?

21 CFR 184.1751 affirms sodium citrate as GRAS for use in food with no limitation other than current good manufacturing practice. 7 CFR 205.605(b) lists sodium citrate among synthetic substances allowed in products labeled organic. Health Canada's List of Permitted Acidity Regulators and Acid-Reacting Materials includes sodium citrate.

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