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Plant sterols

Plant sterols suppliers and sourcing guide

Plant sterols are cholesterol-like compounds, mainly beta-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol, found in vegetable oils, nuts and grains. Commercial sterols are recovered from the deodorizer distillate left after refining soybean, rapeseed or corn oil, or from tall oil, a by-product of pine pulping. They are sold as free sterol powder or flakes, esterified with fatty acids into sterol esters for fat-based foods, or hydrogenated into stanols.

See suppliersWhat to ask for on the COA
Also known as
Phytosterols · Beta-sitosterol · Plant sterol esters · Tall oil phytosterols · Plant stanols
Facts checked
November 2026

Forms and grades of plant sterols

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

  • Free sterol powder or flakes

    Purified sterols at a stated total sterol content, for capsules, tablets and powders.

  • Sterol esters

    Sterols esterified with vegetable oil fatty acids, a liquid or paste that mixes into spreads, dressings and softgels.

  • Stanols and stanol esters

    Hydrogenated sterols, sold free or esterified.

  • Water-dispersible grades

    Micronized or emulsified sterols for drinks and dairy-style products.

  • Non-GMO grades

    Sterols from non-GMO soybean or rapeseed, or from tall oil.

What to check on the COA

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

Total sterols (GC)
Total and individual sterols and stanols by gas chromatography.
Ester-specific tests
For esters, degree of esterification, free fatty acids and peroxide value.
Moisture
Loss on drying or Karl Fischer, against the specification.
Residual solvents
Solvents from purification and crystallization, against USP <467> or the buyer's limits.
Heavy metals
Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS, checked against the supplier specification and the buyer's own limits.
Microbiology
Total plate count, yeast and mold, coliforms or E. coli, and Salmonella, against the supplier specification.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Store free sterols sealed in a cool, dry place. Sterol esters are prone to oxidation, so keep them cool, protected from light and air, often under nitrogen, and use opened containers promptly. Shelf life and retest date come from the supplier, with peroxide value repeated at retest for esters.

Lots and expiry dates

Record total sterol content, sterol profile and source (vegetable oil or tall oil) for each lot, since label amounts are based on sterol content. For esters, record peroxide value at receipt and rotate first-expiry-first-out.

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.

Plant sterols suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking plant sterols 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 plant sterols? Request a listing

Frequently asked questions

What forms of plant sterols can brands buy?

Common forms include free sterol powder or flakes, sterol esters, stanols and stanol esters, water-dispersible grades and non-GMO grades. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for plant sterols include?

Expect total sterols (GC), ester-specific tests, moisture, residual solvents, heavy metals and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should plant sterols be stored?

Store free sterols sealed in a cool, dry place. Sterol esters are prone to oxidation, so keep them cool, protected from light and air, often under nitrogen, and use opened containers promptly. Shelf life and retest date come from the supplier, with peroxide value repeated at retest for esters.

What is the regulatory status of plant sterols?

21 CFR 101.83 sets the conditions under which food labels may carry the authorized health claim about plant sterol/stanol esters and coronary heart disease. FDA's GRAS Notice Inventory lists GRN 61 for plant sterols and plant sterol esters, notified by Archer Daniels Midland Company; it closed on April 18, 2001 with FDA having no questions. Health Canada's free plant sterols monograph lists sources including peanut, rapeseed, soybean, sunflower, olive, rye, wheat and corn. The monograph sets a dose of 0.74 to 3 grams of free plant sterols per day for adults 18 years and older.

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