Flaxseed
Flaxseed suppliers and sourcing guide
Flaxseed is the seed of Linum usitatissimum, grown mainly in Canada, Russia and Kazakhstan, in brown and golden varieties. It is sold whole, or cold-milled into flax meal, which exposes the oil and makes the product more prone to rancidity. Partially defatted flax flour (the press cake left after oil extraction) is also sold, and the seed coat carries a mucilage that thickens water.
- Category
- Food staples and powders
- Also known as
- Linum usitatissimum · linseed · flax seed · flax meal
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of flaxseed
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Whole seed
Brown or golden seed cleaned to a stated purity, used as a topping and in breads, cereals and bars.
Milled flax meal
Whole seed cold-milled to a meal, usually packed under nitrogen or in barrier bags because the exposed oil oxidizes.
Partially defatted flour
Press cake ground after oil removal, lower in fat and higher in protein and fiber than whole meal.
Golden versus brown
Golden types are chosen for light-colored products; brown seed is the more common commodity type.
Organic
Certified organic seed and meal from the same main growing regions.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Purity and foreign material
- Dockage, weed seeds and other grains, reported as a percentage by weight; the trade sells by purity grade such as 99.5 percent.
- Moisture
- Loss on drying, kept low to prevent mold and heating in storage.
- Oil quality for meal
- Peroxide value and free fatty acids by titration, to show that milled product has not begun to oxidize.
- Cadmium and heavy metals
- Cadmium, lead and arsenic by ICP-MS; flax can take up cadmium from soil, so cadmium is worth specifying.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, coliforms or Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli and Salmonella; low-moisture foods that are eaten without a cooking step need a negative Salmonella result per lot.
- Cyanogenic glycosides
- Total cyanide potential (HCN) when the buyer's market or specification calls for it, since flax contains linamarin.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Whole seed keeps well sealed in a cool, dry place; milled meal should be kept cold or at least cool, in oxygen- and light-barrier packaging, and used soon after opening. Shelf life is set by the supplier, typically much shorter for meal than for whole seed, and older meal is retested for peroxide value and odor.
Lots and expiry dates
Oil content, color and cadmium vary by variety and growing region, so record origin and crop year per lot. Rotate milled meal strictly by mill date and check peroxide value on any lot near the end of its shelf life.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's flaxseed natural health product monograph lists the dry seed of Linum usitatissimum (flax, flaxseed, linseed) as the source material.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists Linseed Dry (Linum usitatissimum seed) as a non-medicinal ingredient with the purpose flavour enhancer.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)The EU Novel Food Catalogue entry for Linum usitatissimum records member state use of linseed oil and seeds as foods.
Source: ec.europa.eu (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.
Flaxseed suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking flaxseed 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 flaxseed? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of flaxseed can brands buy?
Common forms include whole seed, milled flax meal, partially defatted flour, golden versus brown and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for flaxseed include?
Expect purity and foreign material, moisture, oil quality for meal, cadmium and heavy metals, microbiology and cyanogenic glycosides, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should flaxseed be stored?
Whole seed keeps well sealed in a cool, dry place; milled meal should be kept cold or at least cool, in oxygen- and light-barrier packaging, and used soon after opening. Shelf life is set by the supplier, typically much shorter for meal than for whole seed, and older meal is retested for peroxide value and odor.
What is the regulatory status of flaxseed?
Health Canada's flaxseed natural health product monograph lists the dry seed of Linum usitatissimum (flax, flaxseed, linseed) as the source material. Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists Linseed Dry (Linum usitatissimum seed) as a non-medicinal ingredient with the purpose flavour enhancer. The EU Novel Food Catalogue entry for Linum usitatissimum records member state use of linseed oil and seeds as foods.
More food staples and powders
- Cocoa powderCocoa · Cacao powder
- Chocolate liquorCocoa liquor · Cocoa mass
- Cocoa nibsCacao nibs · Cracked cocoa
- Roasted coffeeCoffea arabica · Coffea canephora
- Instant coffeeSoluble coffee · Instant coffee powder
- MatchaMatcha green tea powder · Powdered green tea
- Black teaCamellia sinensis · Thea sinensis
- Nonfat dry milkNFDM · Skim milk powder
- Whole milk powderDry whole milk · WMP
- Sweet whey powderDry sweet whey · Dried whey
- Buttermilk powderDry buttermilk · Dried sweet cream buttermilk
- Dried whole eggDried eggs · Whole egg powder
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