Hemp seeds

Hemp seeds suppliers and sourcing guide

Hemp seeds are the seeds of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) varieties grown for seed and fiber, mainly in Canada, China and Europe. The whole seed has a hard shell, so most food use is hulled (dehulled) seed, often called hemp hearts, made by cracking and separating the shell. Pressing hulled or whole seed yields hemp seed oil and a cake that is milled into hemp protein powder.

See suppliers What to ask for on the COA

Category: Food staples and powders
Also known as: Cannabis sativa seed · hulled hemp seed · hemp hearts · dehulled hemp seed
Facts checked: November 2026

Forms and grades of hemp seeds

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

Hulled seed (hemp hearts)
Shell removed, soft kernels used in bars, cereals, toppings and plant-based milks.
Whole seed
Seed with the shell intact, sold for toasting, crunch or further processing; some markets require it to be non-viable.
Milled or seed flour
Whole or partially defatted seed ground to a flour for baking and snack blends.
Organic
Certified organic hulled seed, widely offered by Canadian processors.

What to check on the COA

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

THC: Delta-9-THC and THCA by HPLC or LC-MS/MS, reported as total THC in ppm, since seeds can pick up traces from plant material during harvest.
Shell content and foreign material: Residual shell fragments and foreign matter for hulled seed, measured by weight against the grade.
Moisture and oil quality: Loss on drying plus peroxide value and free fatty acids, because hulled seed is high in unsaturated oil.
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.
Heavy metals: Lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury by ICP-MS, reported against the supplier's specification or the buyer's own limits.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Hulled seed is oily and goes rancid at room temperature over time, so keep it cool (often refrigerated after opening) in sealed, oxygen-barrier packaging away from light. Shelf life is set by the processor's specification, and older lots are retested for peroxide value and odor before use.

Lots and expiry dates

Total THC, shell content and oil quality vary by variety and processing run, so keep each lot's THC result and certificate on file. Rotate first in, first out and check older lots for rancid odor.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

GRN 765, for dehulled hemp seed notified by Fresh Hemp Foods Ltd., closed on Dec 20, 2018 with FDA having no questions.
Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)
FDA states that hulled hemp seed, hemp seed protein powder and hemp seed oil can be legally marketed in human foods for the uses described in those GRAS notices, provided they meet all other requirements.
Source: fda.gov (opens in a new tab)
FDA states that hemp seeds do not naturally contain THC or CBD, and that the GRAS-notified ingredients contain only trace amounts.
Source: fda.gov (opens in a new tab)
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database states that hemp seed (Semen Cannabis) used as a natural health product ingredient must not contain more than 10 parts per million THC.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (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.

Hemp seeds suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking hemp seeds 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.

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Frequently asked questions

What forms of hemp seeds can brands buy?

Common forms include hulled seed (hemp hearts), whole seed, milled or seed flour and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for hemp seeds include?

Expect tHC, shell content and foreign material, moisture and oil quality, microbiology and heavy metals, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should hemp seeds be stored?

What is the regulatory status of hemp seeds?

GRN 765, for dehulled hemp seed notified by Fresh Hemp Foods Ltd., closed on Dec 20, 2018 with FDA having no questions. FDA states that hulled hemp seed, hemp seed protein powder and hemp seed oil can be legally marketed in human foods for the uses described in those GRAS notices, provided they meet all other requirements. FDA states that hemp seeds do not naturally contain THC or CBD, and that the GRAS-notified ingredients contain only trace amounts. Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database states that hemp seed (Semen Cannabis) used as a natural health product ingredient must not contain more than 10 parts per million THC.

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