E235 · CAS 7681-93-8

Natamycin

Natamycin is a tetraene macrolide antifungal compound used as a surface preservative on cheese rinds and dried, cured sausages. It is produced by submerged fermentation of the soil bacterium Streptomyces natalensis.

The molecule carries the formula C₃₃H₄₇NO₁₃ with a CAS number of 7681-93-8. It binds ergosterol in fungal cell membranes and acts against a broad range of yeasts and moulds without affecting bacteria, so it leaves desirable lactic and ripening cultures intact.

We source bulk Natamycin from top China manufacturers for our partners, working with several of them. The manufacturers are mostly in Henan, Shandong and Jiangsu. A smaller requirement can ship in a combined container with other ingredients.

Please send the grade you need, the volume and your destination port, and we will come back with a solution and a price.

or call +86-21-6858 0751

Packaging: 20 kg fibre drum with double PE liner

ISO 9001
HACCP
Halal
Kosher

Specifications

Item	Specification
Appearance	Pale yellow crystalline powder
Assay (HPLC, dry basis)	≥ 95.0%
Loss on drying	≤ 8.0%
Residue on ignition	≤ 0.5%
pH (1% suspension)	5.5 to 7.5
Heavy metals (as Pb)	≤ 20 mg/kg
Arsenic	≤ 3 mg/kg
Total plate count	≤ 100 cfu/g
Yeast and mold	≤ 100 cfu/g

Common Markets Grades

Five common formats of natamycin reach the trade, sorted by active content and carrier.

The high-purity 95 percent crystalline grade carries no carrier and is reserved for pharmaceutical formulation and aqueous suspension dips. The 50 percent grades use food-compatible carriers chosen to suit the matrix the preservative will enter.

The glucose-carrier grade is the standard grade for dry blends in bakery and confectionery dosing. The lactose-carrier grade is favoured for cheese plants where lactose blends into the dairy matrix without flavour change. The sodium-chloride carrier grade is matched to cured-meat brines and cure mixes.

All commercial grades are pale cream to off-white powders with low water solubility, typically 30 to 50 ppm at neutral pH.

Applications

Surface treatment of hard and semi-hard cheese rinds by dipping or spraying to suppress mould growth during ripening
Coating of dried, cured, and fermented sausages such as salami and chorizo casings
Yogurt and fresh cheese surfaces in markets where in-product use is permitted
Cottage cheese, sour cream, and cream cheese as a yeast-spoilage barrier
Bakery fillings, frostings, and tortillas in markets that permit broader use
Fruit juice and wine processing in jurisdictions that allow oenological use
Pharmaceutical eye drops for fungal keratitis (5 percent ophthalmic suspension)
Topical antifungal creams and lotions
Salad dressings and dips with low-acid yeast challenge
Cured fish surface treatment in some markets
Pet treats and semi-moist pet foods to control surface mould
Animal feed silage and forage preservation

Brands Using Natamycin

Widely-distributed consumer products that list Natamycin on the ingredient label.

Brand names, product names and logos are the property of their owners. They appear here as published evidence that the ingredient is used, taken from the brand's own label or website. Their appearance is not an endorsement, and it does not mean the brand buys from us or from any manufacturer listed on this site.

China Manufacturers of Natamycin

Top Natamycin manufacturers in China.

Company names and logos are the property of the manufacturers themselves. They are listed here because our own directory records them as producing this ingredient. A listing is not an endorsement by them, and we do not represent them or speak on their behalf.

How We Help Source Natamycin

Direct Factory Sourcing
We run the whole process: selecting the manufacturer from the top Chinese food ingredient producers, negotiating the price, verifying quality, and coordinating the logistics. You deal with us instead of with several factories at once.
Original Packaging and Documents from the Manufacturer
The manufacturer sends your Natamycin out of its own factory in the original packing, through to your destination port. The COA, COO, MSDS, TDS and any certifications reach you from the manufacturer as well.
Free Samples and Lead Time
We send 100 to 500 g free for your own laboratory to test and you cover only the courier, usually within 2 to 3 working days. ETD is usually within 7 to 15 days once the order is confirmed, and we check that date against the factory's own manufacturing schedule before we give it to you.
Combined Shipment
We can load Natamycin together with other ingredients such as Calcium Propionate, Sodium Diacetate and Sodium Propionate into one 20' FCL. If your quantity is small, we can also ship LCL.

Regulatory Status

Natamycin is approved as a food preservative under tight matrix restrictions in most markets.

In the European Union it carries the number E235 and is permitted under Annex II of Regulation 1333/2008 only as a surface treatment of hard, semi-hard, and semi-soft cheese and of dried, cured sausage. The maximum residue limit is 1 mg per dm² of surface area, with no detectable residue more than 5 mm deep.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates natamycin as a food additive under 21 CFR 172.155, permitted as an antimycotic on the surface of cuts and slices of cheese at up to 20 mg per kg. The substance is also approved for ophthalmic use as Natamycin Ophthalmic Suspension USP.

JECFA has evaluated natamycin as a veterinary and food substance. Pharmacopoeial monographs appear in the United States Pharmacopeia, the European Pharmacopoeia, and the British Pharmacopoeia.

Manufacturing Process

Natamycin Manufacturing Process

Loading process diagram…

Natamycin is produced industrially by aerobic submerged fermentation of Streptomyces natalensis on a glucose, soy, and yeast-extract medium.

The bacterium was isolated in 1955 from soil collected near Pietermaritzburg in the Natal province of South Africa, which gave the molecule its name. Fermentation typically runs four to seven days at controlled pH and dissolved oxygen.

After fermentation the broth is filtered to remove biomass. The antifungal partitions into a polar solvent such as methanol, then crystallises out on cooling and pH adjustment.

The crude crystals are washed and recrystallised to reach pharmacopoeia-grade purity. Food-grade material is then standardised by blending with a chosen carrier such as glucose, lactose, or sodium chloride to reach 50 percent activity.