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Tomato powder

Tomato powder suppliers and sourcing guide

Tomato powder is dried, ground tomato made from ripe red tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum). Most commercial powder is made by concentrating tomato pulp to paste and then spray-drying or drum-drying it; other grades are made by dehydrating or freeze-drying tomato pieces and milling them. Brands buy it for seasonings, snack coatings, soups, sauces and dry mixes, often with a small amount of anticaking agent or carrier.

See suppliersWhat to ask for on the COA
Also known as
Dehydrated tomato powder · Spray-dried tomato powder · Tomato solids · Solanum lycopersicum
Facts checked
November 2026

Forms and grades of tomato powder

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

  • Spray-dried

    Fine, free-flowing powder made from tomato paste; dissolves readily and is the usual choice for seasonings and dry mixes.

  • Drum-dried or flakes

    Dried on heated drums and milled or left as flakes; darker color and a more cooked flavor.

  • Freeze-dried

    Brighter red color and fresher flavor at a higher cost; very hygroscopic.

  • Organic

    Made from certified organic tomatoes, offered by several large tomato processors.

  • With anticaking agent or carrier

    Many grades contain a small amount of silicon dioxide or a carrier such as maltodextrin, which must appear on your ingredient statement.

What to check on the COA

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

Moisture and water activity
Loss on drying or Karl Fischer moisture plus water activity; tomato powder cakes quickly once moisture rises.
Color
Instrumental color (for example Hunter a/b) or lycopene content by spectrophotometry or HPLC, used to match lots.
Acidity and pH
Titratable acidity as citric acid and pH, which affect flavor and the acidity of finished sauces.
Mold and microbiology
Mold count (for example Howard mold count on the reconstituted product), yeast and mold, total plate count, coliforms and Salmonella.
Heavy metals and pesticides
Lead and cadmium by ICP-MS and a multi-residue pesticide screen, or organic certification.
Particle size and solubility
Sieve analysis and a reconstitution or solubility test, which matter for coatings and instant mixes.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Tomato powder is very hygroscopic, so keep it in sealed, lined containers in a cool, dry area, and use desiccants or reseal opened packs right away. Heat and light darken the color and dull the flavor over time. Follow the supplier's stated shelf life and storage conditions, and retest moisture and color before using older stock.

Lots and expiry dates

Color, acidity and flavor vary with tomato variety, harvest season and drying method, and some lots contain added anticaking agent or carrier. Record the ingredient statement, moisture and color result for each lot and keep a retained sample for color matching.

Regulatory status

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

  • 21 CFR 101.12 sets a reference amount customarily consumed of 5 g for dried vegetables, a category that names dried tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes.

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

  • 21 CFR 172.480 permits silicon dioxide as an anticaking agent in foods where it has been shown to have an anticaking effect, at not more than 2 percent by weight of the food.

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

  • 21 CFR 73.585 separately lists tomato lycopene extract and tomato lycopene concentrate as color additives; the concentrate is a powder made from the extract using ethyl acetate.

    Source: ecfr.gov (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.

Tomato powder suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking tomato powder 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 tomato powder? Request a listing

Frequently asked questions

What forms of tomato powder can brands buy?

Common forms include spray-dried, drum-dried or flakes, freeze-dried, organic and with anticaking agent or carrier. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for tomato powder include?

Expect moisture and water activity, color, acidity and pH, mold and microbiology, heavy metals and pesticides and particle size and solubility, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should tomato powder be stored?

Tomato powder is very hygroscopic, so keep it in sealed, lined containers in a cool, dry area, and use desiccants or reseal opened packs right away. Heat and light darken the color and dull the flavor over time. Follow the supplier's stated shelf life and storage conditions, and retest moisture and color before using older stock.

What is the regulatory status of tomato powder?

21 CFR 101.12 sets a reference amount customarily consumed of 5 g for dried vegetables, a category that names dried tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes. 21 CFR 172.480 permits silicon dioxide as an anticaking agent in foods where it has been shown to have an anticaking effect, at not more than 2 percent by weight of the food. 21 CFR 73.585 separately lists tomato lycopene extract and tomato lycopene concentrate as color additives; the concentrate is a powder made from the extract using ethyl acetate.

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