High iron contribution
Ferrous Sulphate provides iron in a ferrous form. Industrial dosage should be calculated from the elemental iron content of the exact hydrate grade, not only from the gross addition rate.
Fortification Nutrients
Ferrous Sulphate
Ferrous Sulphate, also written as Ferrous Sulfate or Iron(II) sulfate, is a mineral fortification ingredient used as a source of iron in food and nutrition manufacturing. It is commonly evaluated for flour enrichment, cereal fortification, mineral premixes, nutrition powders and selected liquid or specialty applications where the product matrix can tolerate its reactivity and sensory profile. For industrial purchasing, the most important points are hydrate form, elemental iron contribution, assay, particle size, oxidation control, premix uniformity, regulatory acceptance and batch documentation.
CAS 7720-78-7
Iron(II) sulphate
FeSO4-based iron salt
Fortification nutrient
Premix-ready options
Product identity
| Product | Ferrous Sulphate |
|---|---|
| Alternative spelling | Ferrous Sulfate |
| Chemical name | Iron(II) sulfate / Iron(II) sulphate |
| Category | Fortification Nutrients |
| Function | Iron fortification nutrient / mineral enrichment ingredient / premix mineral |
| E / INS number | Confirm by destination market and supplier documentation |
| CAS / identity | 7720-78-7 for anhydrous ferrous sulphate; hydrate CAS numbers may differ |
| Formula | FeSO4 for anhydrous form; FeSO4·H2O and FeSO4·7H2O for common hydrated forms |
| Typical form | Fine powder, granule, monohydrate, heptahydrate, premix-ready dilution or solution grade |
Application fit
Potential use areas may include:
- Wheat flour, maize flour, rice, pasta and grain enrichment
- Breakfast cereals, cereal bars and dry nutrition blends
- Vitamin-mineral premixes and custom nutrient blends
- Powdered beverages, instant drinks and nutrition powders
- Dairy, cocoa, bakery and savoury systems after compatibility testing
- Infant, maternal, medical or public-health products where permitted
Industrial value for food manufacturers
Ferrous Sulphate is selected when manufacturers need an economical and bioavailable iron source for fortification. It is a reactive ferrous iron compound, which means it can be nutritionally useful but also requires careful formulation control. In sensitive matrices it may accelerate oxidation, affect colour, contribute metallic notes or interact with fats, polyphenols, sulphur compounds, vitamins and flavours. The best purchasing decision should therefore consider cost-in-use, elemental iron contribution, matrix compatibility, sensory impact, shelf-life stability and legal use in the destination market.
Established fortification use
It is commonly evaluated in staple-food fortification programmes, especially where iron deficiency reduction and cost-effective nutrient delivery are important priorities.
Premix compatibility review
Ferrous Sulphate may be blended with vitamins and minerals, but compatibility with folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin C, iodine, zinc salts, fats and colours should be confirmed before approval.
Application-specific risk control
Because ferrous iron can influence oxidation and sensory quality, product developers should validate colour, flavour, rancidity, pH, water activity and shelf-life performance in the final matrix.
Commercial grade options
Ferrous Sulphate is available in different hydrate forms and physical formats. These grades differ in elemental iron percentage, handling behaviour, solubility, stability, colour and suitability for direct addition or premix manufacturing.
| Grade type | Typical purchasing interest | Technical points to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Anhydrous Ferrous Sulphate | High elemental iron contribution and compact dosage where a dry mineral source is required. | Assay, Fe2+ content, elemental iron calculation, oxidation status, particle size, colour, purity and regulatory acceptance. |
| Ferrous Sulphate Monohydrate | Common industrial food and premix grade with higher iron density than heptahydrate and practical dry handling. | Moisture, iron assay, hydrate form, bulk density, particle size, flowability, caking risk and shelf-life stability. |
| Ferrous Sulphate Heptahydrate | Traditional blue-green crystalline hydrate form, sometimes evaluated where solubility and cost are key factors. | Lower elemental iron per kilogram, hydration water, colour, oxidation, caking, packaging barrier and storage humidity control. |
| Encapsulated or coated iron grade | Applications requiring reduced interaction with fats, vitamins, flavours or sensitive matrices. | Coating composition, release profile, heat stability, label declaration, allergen status and performance in final processing. |
| Premix-ready dilution | Food factories requiring easier dispersion, safer dosing and reduced segregation risk in large batches. | Carrier, dilution ratio, homogeneity, elemental iron per kilogram, particle compatibility and regulatory status of all carriers. |
Elemental iron and dosage calculation
Iron fortification is normally designed around elemental iron, not total Ferrous Sulphate weight. The exact value must come from the supplier specification and COA, but approximate theoretical elemental iron levels are useful during early formulation screening.
| Material form | Typical formula basis | Approximate elemental iron content | Buyer note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferrous Sulphate anhydrous | FeSO4 | About 36.8% Fe | Confirm assay and legal suitability; hydrate identity must be clear on the specification. |
| Ferrous Sulphate monohydrate | FeSO4·H2O | About 32.9% Fe | Commonly evaluated for premixes and dry fortification systems. |
| Ferrous Sulphate heptahydrate | FeSO4·7H2O | About 20.1% Fe | Higher water of crystallisation means more product is required for the same iron target. |
| Premix or dilution | Supplier-specific | Depends on carrier and dilution ratio | Use the declared elemental iron value from the premix COA. |
Technical specification checkpoints
For industrial purchasing, Ferrous Sulphate should be approved by specification and application testing. The following checkpoints help procurement, R&D and quality teams compare supplier offers.
- Hydrate form
- Confirm whether the material is anhydrous, monohydrate, heptahydrate or a formulated premix. Hydrate form changes elemental iron percentage, handling and dosage.
- Iron assay
- Request total iron content, Fe2+ level where declared, assay method and acceptance range. Use the COA value for dosage calculations.
- Identity and purity
- Confirm chemical identity, sulphate content, insoluble matter, ferric iron level where applicable and any impurity criteria defined in the buyer's standard.
- Particle size
- Particle size affects blend uniformity, dusting, segregation, solubility, colour specking and distribution in flour or dry premixes.
- Moisture and caking risk
- Ferrous Sulphate hydrates can be sensitive to humidity. Check loss on drying, free-flowing status, packaging barrier and storage conditions.
- Colour and appearance
- Food manufacturers should check whether the grade causes visible specks, colour changes or surface staining in the final food.
- Contaminants
- Review lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury and other contaminant limits according to food-grade requirements and destination-market rules.
- Microbiology
- For low-moisture mineral salts, microbiological risk may be low, but nutrition and infant-related applications may still require declared microbiological limits.
- Carrier declaration
- For coated or premix-ready forms, confirm carrier, coating, anti-caking agent and processing-aid declarations for allergen, GMO, halal, kosher, vegan and labelling review.
- Regulatory suitability
- Check whether the specific iron compound and grade are permitted for the destination market, product category and target population group.
Application guidance by food sector
Ferrous Sulphate performance must be validated in the final food matrix because iron can interact with ingredients and processing conditions. Trial design should include dosage, blend uniformity, colour, flavour, oxidation, nutrient retention, analytical recovery and label-target verification.
Flour and grain enrichment
Ferrous Sulphate may be evaluated for enriched flour, maize flour, pasta, rice and cereal systems. Uniform premix dispersion is critical because iron is added at low levels across large production batches.
Breakfast cereals and cereal bars
In cereals and bars, iron source selection should consider colour, flavour, oxidative stability, fat content, coating process, mineral interactions and final label claim.
Nutrition powders and dry blends
Powdered nutrition products require careful particle-size matching to prevent segregation. Compatibility with vitamins, flavours, cocoa, proteins and high-intensity sweeteners should be tested.
Beverages and instant drinks
Soluble iron salts can create metallic taste, colour shifts, sediment or interactions with polyphenols and acids. Finished beverages should be tested for clarity, pH, flavour and shelf-life stability.
Dairy and milk powder systems
In milk powders and fortified dairy beverages, iron can interact with proteins, fats and vitamins. Oxidation, off-flavour development and colour change should be monitored during shelf-life trials.
Infant, maternal and medical foods
These categories are highly regulated. Buyers should confirm permitted compound, purity, contaminant limits, dosage, label declaration, analytical method and all destination-market requirements before sourcing.
Processing and formulation considerations
| Technical factor | Why it matters | Practical buyer / R&D action |
|---|---|---|
| Oxidation risk | Ferrous iron can accelerate lipid oxidation and flavour deterioration in sensitive matrices. | Test peroxide value, rancidity, flavour and colour through shelf life, especially in fat-containing products. |
| Metallic taste | Soluble iron salts may create metallic or astringent notes at higher use levels. | Run sensory trials and consider coated grades, flavour masking or alternative iron compounds where needed. |
| Blend uniformity | Low-dose mineral addition can segregate in flour, cereal or powder systems if particle size is poorly matched. | Validate premix design, carrier selection, mixer load, sampling plan and analytical distribution. |
| Vitamin compatibility | Iron may influence stability of certain vitamins, especially in high-moisture or oxygen-exposed systems. | Check compatibility with folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin C and other nutrients in the complete premix. |
| Water activity and pH | Solubility and reactivity change with moisture and acidity. | Evaluate pH, water activity, hydration sequence and thermal processing under real production conditions. |
| Analytical recovery | Fortification verification depends on accurate iron testing and correct unit expression. | Agree on test method, sample preparation, reporting unit and acceptance range before commercial production. |
Comparison with related iron fortificants
Ferrous Sulphate should be compared with alternative iron sources by bioavailability, sensory impact, stability, regulation and cost-in-use. Do not substitute iron compounds without R&D, QA and regulatory approval.
| Iron source | Typical industrial reason to evaluate | Key difference to check |
|---|---|---|
| Ferrous Sulphate | Economical, soluble, widely evaluated iron source for fortification and premixes. | Can be reactive in sensitive foods; check oxidation, taste, colour and compatibility. |
| Ferrous Fumarate | Iron fortification where a less soluble source may provide improved sensory stability in some products. | Different solubility, bioavailability profile, colour and cost-in-use. |
| Ferrous Gluconate | Used in supplements, specialty foods and some colour or iron applications. | Different iron percentage, taste profile, regulatory treatment and dosage economics. |
| Ferric Pyrophosphate | Considered where lower reactivity and better sensory stability are needed. | Often lower bioavailability than soluble ferrous salts unless specially processed. |
| Electrolytic or reduced iron | Used in some flour and cereal fortification systems for low reactivity and dry stability. | Particle size and bioavailability are critical; regulations may specify acceptable grade and size. |
| Encapsulated iron | Designed to reduce interactions with fats, vitamins, flavours and sensitive matrices. | Coating material, release profile, processing heat tolerance and label declaration must be reviewed. |
Quality assurance and supplier approval
For repeat purchasing, Ferrous Sulphate should be approved through a formal supplier qualification process. The buyer should maintain an approved specification, COA history, supplier questionnaire, traceability records, change-control expectations and finished-product analytical plan.
COA review
Check lot number, manufacturing date, expiry or retest date, hydrate form, iron assay, identity, insoluble matter, moisture, heavy metals and packaging condition before releasing the material to production.
Traceability
Request traceability from manufacturer to shipment. For export orders, align invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, batch documents and container or pallet references.
Food safety system
Ask whether the production site operates under recognised food safety or quality systems such as HACCP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRCGS, IFS, GMP or another customer-accepted programme.
Change control
For long-term projects, confirm notification expectations for changes in manufacturing site, process route, hydrate form, specification limits, packaging, carrier system or certifications.
Regulatory and labelling notes
Ferrous Sulphate is regulated differently across markets and food categories. Some countries define mandatory fortification levels for staple foods, while others allow voluntary fortification or restrict specific population groups. Nutrient declarations, iron claims, health claims, minimum or maximum limits and permitted compounds must be confirmed against the destination country's regulations before commercial use.
Buyer responsibility: Global Food Additives can support sourcing coordination and document collection, but the buyer remains responsible for confirming legal use, permitted dosage, final label wording, nutrient claims, serving-size calculations and suitability in the destination market.
Packaging, storage and logistics
Food-grade Ferrous Sulphate should be packed to protect the product from moisture, oxidation and contamination. Packaging selection is especially important for hydrated forms, fine powders and premix-ready products that must remain free-flowing during storage and transport.
Typical packing
Supplier options may include 20 kg or 25 kg bags, cartons, drums, foil-lined bags or smaller sealed packs depending on grade, particle size and order quantity.
Storage guidance
Store tightly closed in a cool, dry, clean area away from moisture, direct sunlight, strong odours and incompatible materials. Reseal opened packaging promptly.
Handling controls
Use clean tools, dust-minimising handling and controlled dispensing. Avoid cross-contamination with allergens, colours, strong oxidisers or materials not approved for the food production area.
Export preparation
For international shipments, align product description, HS code guidance, origin certificate, shelf-life remaining, halal or kosher status, food-grade declaration and destination-specific import documents.
Documents to request
- Product specification or technical data sheet
- Lot-specific certificate of analysis
- Safety data sheet where applicable
- Food-grade or intended-use statement
- Hydrate form declaration
- Total iron assay and elemental iron calculation basis
- Fe2+ / Fe3+ or oxidation-status information where applicable
- Particle-size or sieve analysis
- Country of origin and manufacturer information
- Shelf-life, expiry or retest-date statement
- Storage and handling instructions
- Packaging specification and pallet configuration
- Allergen, gluten, GMO, vegan, halal or kosher statement if required
- Heavy metals and contaminant declaration where required
- Microbiological specification where required by application
- Carrier, coating or anti-caking declaration for premix-ready grades
- Change-control or notification policy for repeat supply
- Market-specific declarations requested by the destination country
Important: product availability, permitted use, fortification levels, claims, labelling, dosage limits and documentation depend on supplier, hydrate form, origin, destination market, food category and customer responsibility. Buyers should verify regulatory status and final suitability before commercial use.
How to request this product
Send the product name, required hydrate form, target iron assay, elemental iron requirement, particle size, pure powder or premix-ready preference, quantity, destination country, preferred packaging, expected shipment date, Incoterms, application area and required documents. If you already purchase Ferrous Sulphate, attach or describe your current specification, COA, target dosage, premix formula, label declaration or finished-product standard so supplier options can be compared accurately.
Recommended inquiry format
Example: “We need food-grade Ferrous Sulphate, monohydrate or specified hydrate form, target iron assay required, application: flour enrichment / cereal fortification / mineral premix / nutrition powder, quantity: 500 kg trial or annual contract, destination: EU / GCC / USA / Africa, required documents: TDS, COA, SDS, food-grade statement, heavy metals declaration, allergen statement, GMO statement, halal certificate, origin certificate and shelf-life declaration. Please quote FOB / CIF / CFR with lead time.”
Useful answers
What is Ferrous Sulphate used for in food manufacturing?
Ferrous Sulphate is used as an iron source for food fortification, flour enrichment, cereal fortification, mineral premixes, nutrition powders and selected beverage or specialty nutrition applications where local rules permit. Exact suitability depends on grade, dosage, matrix, process, regulation and supplier documentation.
Is Ferrous Sulphate the same as Ferrous Sulfate?
Yes. “Sulphate” is the British spelling and “sulfate” is the American spelling. Both names generally refer to iron(II) sulphate / sulfate salts, although hydrate form and grade must still be confirmed.
Which hydrate form should be requested?
The correct form depends on the application, target elemental iron level, process, packaging and supplier availability. Monohydrate is commonly evaluated for dry premixes, while heptahydrate and anhydrous grades have different iron content and handling behaviour.
Why is elemental iron calculation important?
Ferrous Sulphate contains iron plus sulphate and, in hydrated grades, water of crystallisation. Dosage must be calculated using the elemental iron contribution of the exact grade, not simply the total Ferrous Sulphate weight.
Can Ferrous Sulphate affect taste or colour?
Yes. Ferrous Sulphate can contribute metallic taste, colour shift or oxidative changes in sensitive foods. Application trials should check sensory quality, colour, rancidity and nutrient stability through shelf life.
Which documents should be requested?
Buyers commonly request a technical data sheet, approved specification, certificate of analysis, safety data sheet, iron assay, hydrate declaration, food-grade statement, origin statement, allergen declaration, GMO statement, halal or kosher certificate where required, contaminant declaration, shelf-life information and packaging details.
Can Global Food Additives source Ferrous Sulphate?
Global Food Additives can review sourcing options for Ferrous Sulphate according to hydrate form, assay, particle size, quantity, destination, packaging, lead time and required documentation.
Is Ferrous Sulphate permitted in every country?
No. Iron fortification permissions, mandatory or voluntary fortification rules, permitted compounds, dosage limits, label declarations and nutrient claims depend on destination-market legislation, food category, serving size and customer responsibility.
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Send product name, hydrate form, target iron assay, elemental iron requirement, particle size, quantity, destination country, application, packaging preference, delivery term and document requirements. Our team will review your inquiry and respond from [email protected].
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