Short Answer: Approve L-glutamine against a named specification and your intended application, not the phrase “food grade” or “supplement grade.” A high assay establishes only part of the purchase requirement; identity, moisture, impurities and the reporting method must also match.
A dry capsule blend and a ready-to-drink product present different approval questions. Define the application before requesting a sample, and use the documentation checklist to separate specification approval from shipment release.
Read the COA as a set of linked results
Swipe across the table to compare columns.
| COA line | What to establish | When to hold approval |
|---|---|---|
| Identity and specific rotation | Confirm L-glutamine and the stated method or reference standard | The report says only “amino acid” or omits the identity basis |
| Assay | Record the result, method and whether it is dry basis or as-is | Two offers use different bases without moisture data |
| Loss on drying or water | Distinguish the test methods and agree the applicable limit | A high assay is used to dismiss unexplained moisture |
| Related substances | Identify which impurities are controlled and how | A purity claim has no supporting impurity specification |
| Microbiology and elemental contaminants | Match tests and limits to the intended food or supplement market | A generic certificate replaces product-specific evidence |
Do not turn an example COA into the purchase specification by copying its passing values. Agree acceptance limits and methods first, then compare the shipment’s actual results. If a pharmacopoeial reference is quoted, confirm its edition and the complete required scope rather than accepting a single assay test as full compliance.
Ask what “fermentation origin” covers
Request a manufacturing-route declaration for the exact plant and product. Where your customer requires it, clarify fermentation feedstocks, processing aids, allergen statements and the basis of any non-GMO claim. These are separate questions; the word fermentation does not answer all of them.
Halal or Kosher requirements need certificates covering the offered product and facility, with a valid scope and expiry date. A distributor’s certificate for a different source does not transfer automatically to the material quoted.
A powder approval does not approve a drink
For dry blends, specify particle-size information, bulk density and the mixing or filling problem they must address. Evaluate segregation in the actual blend rather than treating a mesh description as proof of uniform dosing.
For liquids, establish dissolution conditions and investigate stability through your process and proposed shelf life. Published aqueous studies show glutamine degradation depends on conditions including temperature and pH; they do not establish stability in your beverage. Require a suitable finished-product assessment before committing to an ambient liquid application.
Confirm local permission for the intended use separately from raw-material purity. The US amino-acid food provision has specified conditions; it is not blanket approval for every product format. SunShare’s current catalog has no dedicated L-glutamine page, so supply and grade availability must be confirmed through a specification inquiry.
Have an L-glutamine specification to check?
Send the target standard, recent COA, dry or liquid application and destination. We can review the sourcing request and confirm whether a matching supply and document set can be offered.
Submit an L-glutamine specification