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Soy lecithin

Soy lecithin suppliers and sourcing guide

Soy lecithin is a mixture of phospholipids with soybean oil and other lipids, isolated as the gum that separates when crude soybean oil is hydrated during degumming. The gums are dried into fluid lecithin, which may be bleached, de-oiled with acetone into powder, or enzyme-modified. It is the most widely used food lecithin and is sold in conventional, non-GMO identity-preserved and organic grades.

See suppliersWhat to ask for on the COA
Also known as
soya lecithin · E322 · Glycine max lecithin · soybean phospholipids
Facts checked
November 2026

Forms and grades of soy lecithin

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

  • Fluid (standard) lecithin

    Viscous liquid with about 62% or more acetone-insolubles; the rest is mostly soybean oil.

  • De-oiled powder or granules

    Acetone-extracted to about 95% or more acetone-insolubles for dry mixes and tablets.

  • Bleached and unbleached

    Bleached grades are lighter in color; unbleached grades are darker.

  • Enzyme-modified or hydroxylated

    Modified grades with better water dispersibility for oil-in-water emulsions.

  • Non-GMO IP and organic

    Identity-preserved non-GMO soy or certified organic grades, with documentation of the seed supply.

What to check on the COA

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

Acetone-insoluble matter
Phospholipid measure by AOCS or FCC method.
Acid value and peroxide value
Titration methods that track hydrolysis and oxidation.
Moisture and hexane-insolubles
Karl Fischer moisture and insoluble matter, per FCC limits.
Viscosity and color
Viscosity at 25 °C for fluid grades and Gardner color.
Residual solvents
Hexane and acetone by headspace gas chromatography.
GMO testing
PCR testing for genetically modified soy DNA, for non-GMO grades.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Keep fluid lecithin in closed containers at room temperature, out of light and heat, which darken and oxidize it; warm gently before pumping. Store powders sealed and dry. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, with peroxide value as the usual retest point.

Lots and expiry dates

Record acetone-insolubles, viscosity and color per lot, plus non-GMO documentation if your label depends on it. Soy is a major food allergen in the US, so keep lot records and label checks consistent.

Regulatory status

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

  • 21 CFR 184.1400 describes commercial lecithin as isolated as a gum from solvent-extracted soy, safflower or corn oils and allows its use in food with no limitation other than current good manufacturing practice.

    Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)

  • 7 CFR 205.606 lists de-oiled lecithin among nonorganic agricultural products allowed in products labeled organic when the organic form is not commercially available.

    Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)

  • Health Canada's List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents includes lecithin.

    Source: canada.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.

Soy lecithin suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking soy lecithin 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 soy lecithin can brands buy?

Common forms include fluid (standard) lecithin, de-oiled powder or granules, bleached and unbleached, enzyme-modified or hydroxylated and non-GMO IP and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for soy lecithin include?

Expect acetone-insoluble matter, acid value and peroxide value, moisture and hexane-insolubles, viscosity and color, residual solvents and gMO testing, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should soy lecithin be stored?

Keep fluid lecithin in closed containers at room temperature, out of light and heat, which darken and oxidize it; warm gently before pumping. Store powders sealed and dry. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, with peroxide value as the usual retest point.

What is the regulatory status of soy lecithin?

21 CFR 184.1400 describes commercial lecithin as isolated as a gum from solvent-extracted soy, safflower or corn oils and allows its use in food with no limitation other than current good manufacturing practice. 7 CFR 205.606 lists de-oiled lecithin among nonorganic agricultural products allowed in products labeled organic when the organic form is not commercially available. Health Canada's List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents includes lecithin.

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