How to read a GABA specification, line by line

A GABA specification is one of the shortest sheets we issue, and buyers misread it more often than any other amino-acid sheet for a simple reason: the market sells very different materials under the three letters GABA. This article reads the specification in the order that matters — what the source and process lines tell you, what the assay and physical lines actually commit to, and what the batch COA adds on top. The commercial side — MOQ, samples, lead time — is covered in our GABA powder sourcing guide.

What the source and process lines tell you

The source line reads fermentation, Lactobacillus route, and the process line reads fermentation → purification → crystallisation. Two details matter more than they look. First, the source: GABA produced by fermentation is a non-synthetic route, which is the line clean-label buyers care about and the reason the material qualifies for ferment-derived positioning rather than synthetic-amine positioning. Second, the process: crystallisation is what turns the fermentate into a white crystalline powder with the clean taste that food and gummy applications need. If a sheet you are comparing does not state its route, ask — the source line is the first thing that separates two materials sold under the same name.

The assay line: what 99%% or higher (HPLC) commits to

The assay line states GABA at 99%% or higher, by HPLC. That is the single most useful filter in the category, and it is also the line most often quoted without its method. A sheet that reads “99%%” by HPLC and a sheet that reads the same number by a different technique are not describing the same material, so the first question to any GABA supplier is which method the percentage is measured by — and ours is stated on the sheet, not only in an email. On a typical production lot the batch COA reads 99.2%% by HPLC. Alternative assay grades can be produced to your specification; we confirm feasibility and lead time with our manufacturing partner before quoting rather than after.

The assay line is a commitment, not a result. The sheet states what the grade commits to; the batch COA states what the lot tested.

The physical lines: mesh and loss on drying

Two physical lines decide whether the powder works in your process:

• Particle size. 80 mesh is the standard grade. It blends into gummy and dry-blend processes without a separate milling stage; where a process needs a different particle size, alternatives are available on request and we confirm the lead time before the quotation.
• Loss on drying. Limited to 5.0%% or less — on a typical lot it reads 0.6%%. This is the free-moisture line, and it is the one that matters most for flow in filling equipment and for shelf life in unopened packing.

The appearance line — white crystalline powder — is what you check against the sample rather than against the sheet, and for GABA it is worth checking: a clean white crystal with a clean taste is what keeps evening-drink and confectionery formats workable.

Packing, shelf life and what the batch COA adds

Line	Standard grade
Packing	25 kg fibre drum, double polyethylene liner
Sample and pilot packing	1 kg and 5 kg foil bags
Shelf life	24 months in unopened original packing
Storage	Cool, dry
MOQ	1 kg

Every lot ships with a batch COA. On a typical lot it reads: assay 99.2%% (HPLC), loss on drying 0.6%%, lead below 1 ppm, total plate count below 1,000 cfu/g, with E. coli and Salmonella negative. The sheet states limits; the COA states results, and on a marginal lot those are two different documents — which is why we ask buyers to compare the lot COA that would ship with their order rather than a generic sample.

How we read a GABA specification against a quotation

When a buyer sends us a competitor sheet, we read four things in this order: the assay and its method, the source line, the mesh, and the documentation offered. Where the competitor sheet quotes a bare percentage, we ask for the lot COA behind it. Where the buyer needs OEM packing under their own brand, we treat that as drum and label work, not as a change to the powder. One compliance point we put in writing on every GABA quotation: the material is supplied as a raw ingredient for manufacturing, we make no therapeutic claims for it, and label compliance in the destination market is the buyer’s responsibility. The formats the powder is bought for — gummies, capsules, evening drinks and confectionery — are covered in our GABA powder applications breakdown.

Frequently asked questions

What is GABA powder standardised to?
The standard assay is GABA at 99% or higher by HPLC, produced by fermentation on the Lactobacillus route through fermentation, purification and crystallisation. The powder is white and crystalline with a clean taste, at 80 mesh as standard, and alternative mesh sizes can be produced on request. Loss on drying is limited to 5.0% or less.

What should I check when comparing GABA specifications?
Check the assay method first: ours states GABA at 99% or higher by HPLC, and sheets measured by different methods cannot be compared line by line. Then the source line (fermentation, Lactobacillus route - non-synthetic), the mesh line (80 mesh standard), and the physical limits (loss on drying at 5.0% or less). Ask each supplier for the lot COA that would ship with your order rather than a generic sample.

What packing and shelf life does GABA powder come in?
Standard packing is a 25 kg fibre drum with a double polyethylene liner, with 1 kg and 5 kg foil bags for samples and pilot runs. Shelf life is 24 months in unopened original packing, stored cool and dry. MOQ is 1 kg, and every lot ships with a batch COA - on a typical lot the assay reads 99.2% by HPLC and loss on drying 0.6%.

Related reading

• This is where GABA powder earns its place in a formula
• How to source GABA powder without guessing the purity grade

Related: Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) — full specification, grades and documentation.