Sunflower Lecithin
Sunflower Lecithin is a phospholipid emulsifier extracted from the seeds of Helianthus annuus during sunflower oil processing. It carries the European food additive number E322 and serves as the principal non-GMO, non-allergen alternative to soy-derived lecithin.
The material is a viscous golden-amber liquid composed of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidylethanolamine. The phosphatidylcholine fraction is generally higher than in soy lecithin, often falling between 24 and 35 percent.
We source bulk Sunflower Lecithin from top China manufacturers for our partners, working with several of them. The manufacturers are mostly in Tianjin, Anhui and Beijing. 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
- 250 kg plastic drum or 1,000 kg IBC tote
- ISO 9001
- HACCP
- Halal
- Kosher
Specifications
Grades / Types Available: Food Grade, Pharmaceutical Grade, Feed and Industrial Grade
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Amber viscous liquid or pale yellow powder |
| Acetone Insolubles | ≥ 60% |
| Hexane Insolubles | ≤ 0.3% |
| Acid Value | ≤ 36 mg KOH/g |
| Peroxide Value | ≤ 10 meq/kg |
| Moisture | ≤ 1.5% |
| GMO Status | Non-GMO / Soy-free |
| Heavy Metals (as Pb) | ≤ 2 mg/kg |
| Purity (Food Grade) | ≥ 95% |
| Viscosity | 1000-3000 mPa.s |
| Moisture/Loss on Drying | ≤ 0.5% |
| pH | 6.0 - 7.0 |
| Particle Size/Mesh | ≥ 100 mesh |
| Ash | ≤ 1.0% |
| Lead | ≤ 1 ppm |
| Arsenic | ≤ 0.5 ppm |
| Total Plate Count | ≤ 1000 cfu/g |
| Yeast & Mold | ≤ 100 cfu/g |
Common Markets Grades
Sunflower Lecithin sells in fluid, powdered, and granulated formats.
Standard fluid grades carry an acetone-insoluble value of 60 to 64 percent and a free-flowing viscosity at room temperature. Bleached fluid grades use mild peroxide treatment to reduce colour for pale-end applications.
Deoiled powder and granule grades hold phospholipid content above 95 percent and are produced by acetone defatting of the wet gums. These dry formats serve infant nutrition, dry beverage mixes, and nutritional supplements.
Most commercial sunflower lecithin is produced with non-GMO and IP (Identity Preserved) documentation by default, because sunflower seed remains a non-genetically modified crop in all major growing regions.
Applications
- Allergen-free infant formula and clinical nutrition products in place of soy lecithin
- Premium and clean-label chocolate where soy and palm derivatives are excluded
- Bakery doughs and batters for crumb softening and shelf-life extension
- Instant cocoa, malt, and protein powders for cold-water dispersibility
- Margarines, spreads, and culinary fats as a water-in-oil stabiliser
- Dietary supplements as a phosphatidylcholine source and softgel filler
- Ice cream and frozen desserts for fat structure control
- Pan release sprays and bakery release agents
- Plant-based meat analogs and dairy alternatives as a binder and texture modifier
- Cosmetic creams, serums, and natural-positioning skincare
- Vegan capsules and gummies as an animal-free emulsifying carrier
- Pet food treats marketed as soy-free or allergen-conscious
Brands Using Sunflower Lecithin
Widely-distributed consumer products that list Sunflower Lecithin on the ingredient label.
- Justin'sDark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups ↗Listed: Organic Dark Chocolate (... Organic Sunflower Lecithin [Emulsifier] ...) plus Organic Sunflower Lecithin in the filling.Label verified 2026-05-24
- Justin'sDark Chocolate Cashew Butter Cups ↗Listed: Organic Sunflower Lecithin [Emulsifier] in the dark chocolate and Organic Sunflower Lecithin in the filling.Label verified 2026-05-24
- Annie'sWhite Cheddar Microwavable Mac & Cheese Cup ↗Listed: 'Sunflower Lecithin' in ingredient list.Label verified 2026-05-24
- Annie'sGluten Free Birthday Cake Chewy Granola Bars ↗Listed: Confectionery Coating* (cane sugar*, palm kernel oil*, sunflower lecithin*, vanilla extract*, sea salt); also Sunflower Lecithin* as separate ingredient.Label verified 2026-05-24
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 Sunflower Lecithin
Top Sunflower Lecithin manufacturers in China.
Anqing Zhongchuang ENG.Co., Ltd.9 ingredients in the directory
Beijing Chinaholder Biotech Co., Ltd.7 ingredients in the directory
Boshuai Biotechnology (Tianjin) Co., Ltd.2 ingredients in the directory- Hebei Desong Biotech Co., Ltd.6 ingredients in the directory
Tianjin Hexiyuan Lecithin Technology Co., Ltd.3 ingredients in the directory
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 Sunflower Lecithin
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 Sunflower Lecithin 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 Sunflower Lecithin together with other ingredients such as Polyglycerol Esters of Fatty Acids, Non-Dairy Creamer and Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids into one 20' FCL. If your quantity is small, we can also ship LCL.
Regulatory Status
The European Union approves Sunflower Lecithin as a food additive under E322, and the United States Food and Drug Administration lists it as Generally Recognized as Safe under 21 CFR 184.1400.
Because Helianthus annuus is not classified as a major allergen in the European Union, the United States, Canada, Japan, or Australia, sunflower lecithin carries no mandatory allergen declaration in those markets.
JECFA reviewed lecithins as a single class and concluded that a numerical intake limit was not required. Non-GMO Project Verified, Kosher, Halal, and organic certifications are routinely available.
The material complies with the Food Chemicals Codex specifications for lecithin and with the European Pharmacopoeia monograph for soya lecithin where the same identity tests apply.
Manufacturing Process
Sunflower Lecithin is recovered from crude sunflower oil by water degumming, the same general process used for soy.
Dehulled sunflower seeds are pressed and then solvent-extracted with hexane to release the crude oil. The crude oil carries 0.5 to 1.5 percent phospholipids, a lower fraction than soybean oil.
Hot water at 70 to 80 degrees Celsius is mixed into the oil to hydrate the gums. A disk-stack centrifuge then separates the hydrated phospholipids from the refined oil stream.
The recovered gums are vacuum-dried to below 1 percent moisture and standardised for acid value, colour, and viscosity. Powdered and granulated formats are made by cold acetone defatting of the dried gums followed by drying and milling under inert atmosphere.
