Skip to content
SupplyList
Menu

Beta-cyclodextrin

Beta-cyclodextrin suppliers and sourcing guide

Beta-cyclodextrin is a ring of seven glucose units made from starch with the enzyme cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase, then separated, crystallized and dried. The ring has a water-repelling cavity that can hold flavor molecules, oils and other small compounds, forming inclusion complexes. It is sold as a white crystalline powder in food and pharmaceutical (betadex) grades and is used to carry and protect flavors, mask off-notes and help poorly soluble ingredients disperse in water.

See suppliersWhat to ask for on the COA
Also known as
Betadex · Cycloheptaamylose · E459 · CAS 7585-39-9
Facts checked
November 2026

Forms and grades of beta-cyclodextrin

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

  • Food grade

    Crystalline powder for flavor encapsulation, off-note masking and dry mixes.

  • Pharmaceutical grade

    Betadex meeting USP/NF or Ph. Eur. monographs, used as an excipient in tablets and capsules.

  • Pre-formed inclusion complexes

    Suppliers sell ready-made complexes of beta-cyclodextrin with flavors or other ingredients as free-flowing powders.

  • Derivatives

    Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin and other modified forms are separate ingredients with different specifications and regulatory status.

What to check on the COA

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

Identity
IR or HPLC retention time compared with a reference standard.
Assay and related cyclodextrins
Beta-cyclodextrin content by HPLC, with alpha- and gamma-cyclodextrin and other related substances reported.
Water
Water by Karl Fischer or loss on drying; the crystals carry a substantial amount of water of hydration, so check it against the grade limit.
Residual solvents
Residual complexing agents or solvents by GC, where the manufacturing process uses them.
Reducing sugars and color of solution
Limits for reducing sugars and for the clarity and color of a solution, which show how well the product was purified.
Microbiology
Total plate count, yeast and mold, coliforms or E. coli, and Salmonella, which matter most when the ingredient goes uncooked into powders, capsules or tablets.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Store in closed containers in a dry, cool area away from strong odors, since the cavity can pick up volatile compounds. The powder is stable when kept dry; shelf life or retest date comes from the supplier, and aged stock is retested for water and assay.

Lots and expiry dates

Water content and particle size can vary between lots and affect dosing on a dry basis and dissolution. Record assay and water per lot and calculate inclusion-complex ratios on a dry basis.

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.

Beta-cyclodextrin suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking beta-cyclodextrin 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 beta-cyclodextrin? Request a listing

Frequently asked questions

What forms of beta-cyclodextrin can brands buy?

Common forms include food grade, pharmaceutical grade, pre-formed inclusion complexes and derivatives. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for beta-cyclodextrin include?

Expect identity, assay and related cyclodextrins, water, residual solvents, reducing sugars and color of solution and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should beta-cyclodextrin be stored?

Store in closed containers in a dry, cool area away from strong odors, since the cavity can pick up volatile compounds. The powder is stable when kept dry; shelf life or retest date comes from the supplier, and aged stock is retested for water and assay.

What is the regulatory status of beta-cyclodextrin?

GRN 74 (beta-cyclodextrin, notified by Wacker Biochem Corp. for use as a flavor carrier or protectant in listed foods) closed on Oct 25, 2001 with FDA having no questions. FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists beta-cyclodextrin with the technical effects flavoring agent or adjuvant and formulation aid. Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists betadex (beta-cyclodextrin) with non-medicinal purposes of encapsulating agent, sequestering agent and stabilizing agent. The same database entry sets an upper limit of 5 mg/kg body weight daily for betadex, citing the JECFA 1995 acceptable daily intake.

More starches, carriers and excipients

All 37 starches, carriers and excipients

Sell ingredients to brands?

Request a free listing for the ingredients you make or distribute. No paid placement.

Request a listing