Trehalose
Trehalose suppliers and sourcing guide
Trehalose is a non-reducing disaccharide made of two glucose units joined at their reducing ends, found naturally in mushrooms, yeast and some plants and insects. Commercial trehalose is made from starch with a series of enzymes that convert liquefied starch to trehalose, followed by purification and crystallization. It is sold mainly as trehalose dihydrate, a white crystalline powder with roughly half the sweetness of sucrose, used as a mild sweetener, bulking agent and texture stabilizer.
- Category
- Sweeteners
- Also known as
- α,α-trehalose · trehalose dihydrate · mycose · CAS 6138-23-4 (dihydrate)
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of trehalose
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Dihydrate crystalline
The standard commercial form, used in baked goods, confectionery, frozen desserts and dry mixes.
Fine powder
Milled dihydrate for coatings, dusting and dry blends that need fast dissolving.
Anhydrous
Dehydrated trehalose for low-water systems such as chocolate and fat-based fillings.
High-purity grades
Grades made to pharmacopeial monographs for pharmaceutical and biotech use, with tighter limits such as endotoxin.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Assay (HPLC)
- Trehalose on an anhydrous basis by HPLC, with glucose and other saccharides reported.
- Water (Karl Fischer)
- Water by Karl Fischer, judged against the range for the dihydrate or anhydrous form.
- pH and solution color
- pH and color of a standard solution, which flag processing residues or degradation.
- Heavy metals
- Lead and arsenic by ICP-MS against the supplier or compendial limit.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, and pathogens; endotoxin for pharmaceutical grades.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Store trehalose sealed in a cool, dry area; the dihydrate is stable, while anhydrous grades pick up water and should be kept tightly closed. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, with retest of water, assay and micro for aged stock.
Lots and expiry dates
Record the form (dihydrate or anhydrous) and water result for each lot, since this changes how much trehalose each kilogram delivers. Keep the grade on the lot record if both food and pharmaceutical grades are in the same warehouse.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
FDA's GRAS Notice Inventory lists GRN 45 for trehalose, notified by Hayashibara International Inc. for use in foods in general and closed with FDA having no questions.
Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists trehalose dihydrate with the technical effect "flavoring agent or adjuvant".
Source: hfpappexternal.fda.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.
Trehalose suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking trehalose 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 trehalose? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of trehalose can brands buy?
Common forms include dihydrate crystalline, fine powder, anhydrous and high-purity grades. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for trehalose include?
Expect assay (HPLC), water (Karl Fischer), pH and solution color, heavy metals and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should trehalose be stored?
Store trehalose sealed in a cool, dry area; the dihydrate is stable, while anhydrous grades pick up water and should be kept tightly closed. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, with retest of water, assay and micro for aged stock.
What is the regulatory status of trehalose?
FDA's GRAS Notice Inventory lists GRN 45 for trehalose, notified by Hayashibara International Inc. for use in foods in general and closed with FDA having no questions. FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists trehalose dihydrate with the technical effect "flavoring agent or adjuvant".
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