Reading a CLA glyceride powder specification, line by line
What we settle before a CLA specification sheet goes out. Most CLA enquiries arrive with a competitor label quoting a single percentage, so the first thing we establish is the basis: 60% as glycerides is our standard grade, and a quotation written against free fatty acid cannot be compared against it. We then confirm the mesh, 80 standard or 100 on request, and whether the buyer needs OEM packing, because that changes the drum and label work rather than the powder. Before the sheet goes out we also ask our manufacturing partner for the most recent lot COA to send alongside it, because the sheet states limits while the COA states results, and on a marginal lot those are two different documents. If the buyer needs an alternative assay, mesh size or carrier system, we confirm feasibility and lead time with the partner within one business day rather than quoting blind.
A CLA glyceride powder specification is a short sheet, and it is read in the wrong order more often than any other document in the sports-nutrition category. Buyers open it looking for a single potency percentage, find “60% CLA as glycerides”, and are not sure what to negotiate. This article reads the CLA glyceride powder specification in the order that matters: what the assay line actually says, the physical lines that decide whether the powder works in your process, and what the batch COA adds on top. The commercial side — how quotations are compared and what a first order looks like — is covered in our CLA glyceride powder sourcing guide.
What the source and process lines tell you
The standard material is a powder form of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a conjugated form of linoleic acid derived from safflower or sunflower oil, produced by conjugation, esterification and powder embedding. Two details matter more than they look. First, the source: oil-derived rather than dairy-derived, which is what makes the material work for plant-based label positioning. Second, the process: embedding is what turns an oil into a free-flowing powder that blends into powders and shakes without oily handling, and that is the single biggest practical difference between this material and a softgel fill.
The CLA glyceride powder assay line: 60% as glycerides
The standard assay is 60% CLA as glycerides, verified by GC. This is the line that decides whether a quotation is comparable to yours, and it is the line most often misread. A 60% glyceride assay and a 60% free fatty acid assay are different materials with different handling behaviour, and a quotation written against one cannot be compared against the other. Before comparing conjugated linoleic acid powder specifications from different suppliers, settle which basis each sheet is written on:
- Glyceride basis (60%, GC) — the standard grade: a white to off-white free-flowing powder suited to shakes, powder blends and encapsulation.
- Free fatty acid basis — an oil at room temperature, relevant only if your process handles liquids.
- Alternative assays — other potency levels can be produced to your specification; confirm feasibility and lead time before comparing prices.
The physical lines: mesh, appearance and limits
Below the assay line, the sheet states the physical specification: a white to off-white free-flowing powder with characteristic odour and taste, 80 mesh standard with 100 mesh on request, loss on drying at or below 5.0% and total ash at or below 5.0%. The mesh line is the one that changes with your process:
| Line | Standard grade |
|---|---|
| Source | Safflower / sunflower oil derived linoleic acid |
| Process | Conjugation, esterification and powder embedding |
| Assay (as glycerides) | 60% (GC) |
| Appearance / odour & taste | White to off-white free-flowing powder / characteristic |
| Particle size | 80 mesh standard, 100 mesh on request |
| Loss on drying / total ash | ≤ 5.0% / ≤ 5.0% |
| Packing / shelf life | 25 kg fibre drum, double PE liner / 24 months unopened |
Eighty mesh is the right default for shakes, powder blends and direct encapsulation; 100 mesh is worth requesting where a finer mouthfeel or faster dispersion matters, such as sachets and stick packs with short mixing cycles.
What the batch COA adds
The specification sheet states limits; the COA states results. Every lot ships with a batch COA, and on a marginal lot the two documents differ: an assay result slightly above the 60% limit is a pass, while one slightly below is not. When you compare CLA powder suppliers, ask each one for the most recent lot COA alongside the sheet, because the sheet tells you what the material is held to and the COA tells you what the last lot actually achieved. Storage is cool and dry, away from direct sunlight, and shelf life is 24 months in unopened original packing.
The fastest way to compare two CLA glyceride powder quotations: check the assay basis first (glycerides or free fatty acid), then the mesh, then ask each supplier for the latest lot COA. Packing, MOQ and lead time are negotiation; those three lines decide whether the materials are even comparable.
Packing is a 25 kg fibre drum with a double polyethylene liner as standard, with 1 kg and 5 kg foil bags for samples and pilot runs, and MOQ starts at 1 kg. In-stock items are ready in about 2 days; bulk production takes 3 to 5 working days after deposit for standard grades. Transit runs Xi'an to Shenzhen consolidation in about 3 days, then about 6 days by air to major U.S. and EU airports, or 18 to 25 days by sea. Where the powder goes once it arrives — shakes, meal replacements, capsules and softgels — is covered in our CLA glyceride powder applications article.
Frequently asked questions
What is CLA glyceride powder standardised to?
The standard assay is 60% CLA as glycerides, verified by GC, from safflower or sunflower oil derived linoleic acid. Alternative assays can be produced to your specification; tell us your target and we will confirm feasibility and lead time.
What should I check when comparing CLA powder specifications?
Check three lines in this order: the assay basis (60% as glycerides is the standard grade; a free fatty acid basis is a different material), the mesh (80 mesh standard, 100 mesh on request), and the latest lot COA from each supplier. Loss on drying and total ash are each limited to 5.0% or less on the standard sheet.
What mesh size and packing does CLA glyceride powder come in?
The powder is 80 mesh as standard, with 100 mesh available on request. Packing is a 25 kg fibre drum with a double polyethylene liner, and 1 kg and 5 kg foil bags are used for samples and pilot runs. MOQ is 1 kg.
Related reading
Related: CLA Glyceride Powder — full specification, grades and documentation.